To Your Health | Summer 2015

Summer 2015

Home-grown stories about fitness and healthy living

Unique ways to get and stay fit 6

18 High school runner

Ultrasound makes new waves in medicine 8

19 Winning the battle

Vibrant seniors living life to the fullest 10, 11 Mother and son celebrate miraculous recovery 12 Emotional toll of sports injuries 14

is back on track

to lose weight

20 Better sleep

for better health

22 Gaining weight comes

with surprising challenges

24 Former athlete’s

weight loss success

Pursuing passions

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Ready to be inspired? At the outset, there may appear to be little similarity between a high school athlete and a senior citizen. But when the athlete suffers a debilitating injury, the two have more in common than appears on the surface. In this, our fourth annual To Your Health, we spoke with athletes, parents, a physical therapist and a personal trainer about the challenges of being sidelined and the psychological impact of going from a high level of physical activity to little or none. Conversely, three senior citizens shared their thoughts on the fitness limitations they’ve experienced as part of the aging process, and how they fight to keep moving; from young to old, all have learned that remaining physically active to the degree possible is as important to the mind as to the body.

people in our community who have succeeded in losing weight and improving their overall health. When combined with regular exercise, their physical and emotional changes are especially inspirational, as you’ll see when you read about our two weight loss champions in this issue. And on the note of fitness (yes, it’s a repetitive theme in this publication), how many of you have played FootGolf? Hula hooped? How about pickleball or stand up paddle board yoga? These are but a few of the unique sports that allow you to get and stay fit while having fun, and we hope you enjoy learning about them as much as we did. We hear much about the benefits of healthy eating and staying active, but sometimes we need inspiration from others before we fully commit to taking better care of ourselves – we hope you find that and more in this year’s To Your Health.

And since obesity continues to be a national epidemic, each year we offer stories about

Patti Stokes publisher/editor

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A different take on fitness Hooping It Has your fitness routine become – well, routine? Or maybe you’ve given up exercise altogether because it’s just not fun anymore (if it ever was considered fun). It may be that all you need is something new and unique to jazz up your workout. What follows is just a sprinkling of ideas that could add the spark you need to get you up and moving – and have fun while you’re doing it!

by Annette Joyce Let’s take a journey back in time. Visualize your childhood. It’s a gorgeous summer day. You’re barefoot in the yard and you’re twirling a plastic hula hoop. It made you happy and it got you moving. Summerfield resident Tammy Shearer, a certified hoop instructor, is passionate about helping people regain that sense of joy and become physically fit through hooping. Shearer, 45, became acquainted with this low-impact exercise in the fall of 2009 while at an outdoor festival; after giving it a try, she’s been hooping ever since. You might have seen her in Center City Park in downtown Greensboro or on the lawn of her Brassfield office,

where she spends a good portion of her lunch hour hooping. Maybe you’ve even taken one of her classes. If you have seen her hooping, you’ve likely noticed the pure joy she radiates. “There are so many benefits,” says a smiling Shearer. “It’s lots of fun, a great stress reliever and burns calories. Hooping burns about 100 calories every 10 minutes.” After taking up the activity, Shearer lost 15 pounds in the first five months simply by hooping 30 minutes a day. She says it toned up her entire body, especially whittling away at her waist. Key to its popularity is that hooping is something anyone can do, almost anywhere. “You can do it at home in your yard or in your living room to your favorite music,” says Shearer. She suggests using whatever music “makes you bounce in the car.” This spunky lady personally prefers the contemporary Christian songs played on K-Love, but says any music works, from Def Leppard to Clint Black. The main thing is to tune into music that you enjoy.

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Shearer is adamant that anyone at any age can learn to hoop, even if they’ve never been able to keep the hoop up and moving.

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The secret? It’s in the hoop, she says.

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Summer 2015

Forget those thin, plastic hoops you find in the toy departments of the big box stores. You need an adult hoop, which is larger and heavier. “The bigger the hoop, the easier it is,” says Shearer. “An adult hoop will hit somewhere between your belly button and your shoulders.” Having found it difficult and expensive to order adult hoops, Shearer decided to make her own. Through Handmade HOOPS by Tammy, she produces shiny,

Photo provided by Tammy Shearer

Hooping instructor Tammy Shearer discovered the joy of exercise and lost 15 pounds after taking up hooping.

colorful hoops that are not only easy, but fun to use. Along with the bigger hoop, Shearer says you must focus on the type of body movement that will keep the hoop going. “It’s not a round and round motion. It’s a slow rock back and forth or side-toside,” says Shearer as she gracefully moves the hoop from her waist, up and around her shoulders and back down again. Shearer offers both 30-minute and hour-long hula hooping classes. She starts out with a warm-up, moves to the core and then the arms. She’ll finish it out with a bit of hoop dancing. Although she says most of her students are women, there are some men who’ll often join in. Shearer gets a lot of gratification from

teaching people who have never been able to hoop, and especially enjoys seeing people’s faces light up when they’re able to keep the hoop twirling for the first time. “I have found my gift from God in helping people realize they can do this no matter what their age or ability,” she says. “The more they practice, the better they get.”

Want to hoop? Hooping classes are offered at Studio Eleve’, 210 Main Street, Suite 238 in Kernersville. To contact, call (336) 497-5437 or visit www.studioeleve.com Shearer also helps lead free Community Hoop Jams on Sundays, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Greensboro Arboretum (weather permitting). Adult hoops and individual lessons available from Handmade HOOPS by Tammy; find it on Facebook or contact Shearer at (336) 908-6779.

Golf + soccer = FootGolf by Annette Joyce “FootGolf – say what?” That’s the kind of response Rick Regan, owner of Stonewall Golf Course in the Stokes County community of Germanton, gets when he mentions FootGolf, a growing sport that combines a soccer ball and a traditional golf course with 21-inch diameter holes. Introduced in Europe about 15 years ago, FootGolf is relatively new to the United States. The game is played on a golf course in the same way that golf is played. However, rather than hitting a golf ball with a club, FootGolf players kick a soccer ball. The goal is to move the ball from the tee into a

continued on page 28

Meet Betty Jordan, MD

“

It’s been almost a year since I joined Eagle Physicians, and I’m excited to be a part of an institution that has flourished in a constantly changing healthcare environment.

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”

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Jeb Bryant tees off on the FootGolf course at Stonewall Golf Course.

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Ultrasound is making new waves throughout medicine by Wayne Mogielnicki Wake Forest Baptist HealthWire

(336) 643-5515 • 1580 Hwy 68 N, Oak Ridge www.drdevaney.com

Mention “ultrasound” and most people likely will think of an image of a fetus in a mother’s womb. But while providing peeks at the not-yet-born is one of ultrasound’s most common applications, that’s only a small part of the picture. Ultrasound, also called sonography, is probably the most widely employed imaging tool in medicine today. The technology uses high-frequency sound waves inaudible to humans to produce images from inside the body. A device called a transducer that is placed on the skin sends the sound waves into

the body and records the echoes as they bounce back, thus defining the size, shape and mass of soft tissues and organs. This information is relayed to a computer that translates it into images on a monitor, allowing doctors to view, interpret and evaluate what’s going on inside the patient. Ultrasound testing is noninvasive, safe, painless for patients and capable of providing accurate images without the radiation that’s part of X-rays and CT scans and the magnetic fields of MRIs. It is also far more portable and far less expensive than other imaging technologies. Not surprisingly, its use is growing exponentially. “The use of ultrasound is probably

Photo courtesy of Cameron Dennis/Wake Forest Baptist HealthWire

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Dr. Tobias Kulik of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis practices his ultrasound scanning technique on Dr. Tomi Sampson of the Providence Brain and Spine Institute in Portland, Ore., a fellow participant in a continuing medical education course in neurovascular sonography at Wake Forest Baptist’s Medical Center’s Program for Medical Ultrasound.

continued on page 27

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Seniors live life to the fullest Still active in their 90s, John and Beulah Marvin look forward to every new day by Patti Stokes STOKESDALE – John and Beulah Marvin attribute their long lives at least in part to “good genes” and an active lifestyle. You might also factor in their long, loving marriage – the couple will celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary this October. John, who is 92, enjoys pointing out that Beulah is older than he is (she’s 93), and that he was taught to respect his elders and has put that lesson into practice. When the couple moved to Greensboro in the late 1950s, the home they bought was on a hill, and every time

they came and went they had to go up and down stairs. That never presented much of a problem until Beulah had a hip replacement in her 80s and the stairs became too much to negotiate. The couple considered various living scenarios before settling in at Countryside Village Retirement Community in Stokesdale, where they found a 2,300-squarefoot detached home all on one floor with a carport, abundant closet space and windows, and kitchen and living areas overlooking a beautiful wooded backyard. That was about 10 years ago, and they couldn’t be happier with their living situation. The couple still drives (though Beulah avoids driving on the “super highway”), and they make annual treks each spring and fall to their cottage in Edisto Beach,

South Carolina. In the winter, they head to Orlando, Florida, for at least a few weeks.

Countryside residents for dinner at a local restaurant.

Though Beulah has scoliosis (curvature of the spine), she said regular exercises for about 20 minutes the first thing each morning have kept her away from the back surgeon.

Even what could be seen as the drudgery of regular doctor’s appointments is viewed as an activity, and the couple usually enjoys having lunch out afterward.

Beulah also goes to 30-minute fitness classes in Countryside’s activity room on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and to water exercise classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays – that’s after she and John get back from their weekday coffee group meeting at 8:30 a.m., by the way. Then there is Bingo at 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

When not traveling, socializing, exercising and going to the doctor and out to eat, the couple divides their time between Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, where they have been members

continued on page 23 Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

John and Beulah Marvin

For their main meal of the day, which is usually at lunchtime, the Marvins often dine at Countryside, where they enjoy the food as well as the fellowship with other residents. Once a month they enjoy joining other

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Don’t stop until you have to Despite health setbacks, seniors find joy in traveling, learning new things and experiencing life by Patti Stokes As a college student, Jerry Cooke, 79, learned that humans have three parts — mind, body and spirt. “If you don’t exercise all three, you won’t be as healthy,” he said. “As for the physical part, most people haven’t taken that very seriously.” He’s not one of them, however — and he’s had some serious enough health issues to deal with.

to stress over a business situation, resulted in bypass surgery and not only gave him pause physically, but emotionally. “If you bring enough (stress) on you and don’t find a positive outlet for it, it will kill you,” he said. “Just like a sailboat in a hurricane, you are going to get knocked around — and I got knocked around. I do believe prayer can be a wonderful help — but sometimes we get past hearing it.” Several months after his surgery Cooke returned to work, but he said the heart attack had taken a lot of steam out of him.

O

In the meantime, his son, Philip, who was 33 at the time and had been involved in the In 1972, after business for experiencing lower many years, had back problems “carried things and being in along very well” intense pain, Cooke — so well, in fact, finally went to an that Cooke decided W orthopedic doctor. to let Philip continue Je r ry s/ N e k C to carry them along. to “While the doctor was ook e | Photo by Pat ti S evaluating my X-rays, the Cooke became comfortnurse came in and she said he could able with his new lifestyle, but in probably do the surgery, but I might not 2008, he had another setback — again, be any better off. She suggested a series while playing tennis. Prior to taking the court, he noticed one of his hands was of exercises that took about 20-25 minnumb and his balance was off. utes, three mornings a week. I’ve been doing them ever since — even when I “I felt like I was going to fall — but I travel — and have never gone back to played three games of doubles.” the orthopedic doctor.” The following week, he mentioned An avid tennis player, Cooke has the incident during a checkup with his routinely played one to two times a week cardiologist. over the years. In fact, it was during a “The next thing I know, I am talking tennis match in May 2001 that he had a with a neurologist,” Cooke said. heart attack. An MRI confirmed he had had a “It was the most intense pain I have stroke, though fortunately, there were no ever had,” he said. The heart attack, which he attributes

continued on page 23

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Mother and son celebrate life with marathon finish Seventeen years after being given a 10 percent chance of surviving a virus attack on his heart, Bryce Gardner and his mom run 26.2 miles together by Annette Joyce Last February, Tammy Gardner and her son Bryce began kicking around the idea of running a marathon. There was one coming up about a month later in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, and they talked about running it together. Although Tammy, an Oak Ridge resident and Realtor with Allen Tate, had

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KIDS’ MEMBERSHIPS

been putting in some miles training and running 5Ks (3.1 miles), 10Ks (6.2 miles) and even a half marathon, the 55-yearold wasn’t sure she was prepared to tackle 26.2 miles. Bryce, 34, who lives in Raleigh and was working full-time while going to school, wasn’t sure he was prepared either. Still, when the gun went off to signal the start of the race on Saturday, March 28, the mother/son duo found themselves standing at the start line at daybreak. “We took off excited and anxious and wondering why and what we had done,” says Tammy. “I expected Bryce, at 6’4”, would run his race and I at 5’6” and somewhat older would finish much later. However, I was pleasantly surprised when

FITNESS

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he said he was going to run this with his mom. What an awesome experience!” The two not only ran, they talked, laughed and sang along the way. They greeted volunteers with a hearty good morning. They crossed paths with a deer and witnessed a glorious beach sunrise. “Four hours, 55 minutes and 28 seconds later, we crossed the finish line holding hands high and exuberantly claiming, ‘We did it!’” says Bryce. While successfully running a marathon is a feat in itself, this is not the first time mother and son had pulled together to reach the finish line victoriously. When Bryce was a 17-year-old senior at Oak Ridge Military Academy and close to graduating, he became ill. Initially, he was diagnosed with allergies and strep throat.

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month

The next day, when he and his mom left to visit the new doctor in town, Dr. Robert Fried, Bryce and his family had no idea of the rough terrain that lay ahead. “I buckled up for a ride to the doctor that would shape and mold my life in ways that were unimaginable,” says Bryce. Tammy remembers every detail of that scary period in their lives, including how, on that first visit to Dr. Fried, he calmly suggested her young son visit a cardiologist that same day. The cardiologist’s office was crowded, but Bryce was quickly ushered in for tests. After hearing the cardiologist instruct his nurse to get a coronary intensive care bed for her son, Tammy’s legs nearly gave out. She and Bryce took off for Moses Cone Hospital and as Tammy

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After about two weeks of this, the teenager awoke one night gasping for breath and feeling as though an elephant was sitting on his chest. His mom drove him to the emergency room, and they were later sent home with instructions to see their family doctor.

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says, that’s when the “the roller coaster ride began.” The diagnosis he received was inconclusive, but confirmed that a virus was attacking Bryce’s heart. That evening the doctor told the family they needed to prepare for the possibility of a heart transplant.

That evening the hospital reserved the “quiet room” for the large gathering of family members and friends. “I refused to go (in there) as I felt there was no need to accept losing this battle,” says Tammy. “God had given me a peace that Bryce was going to be okay.”

“I dismissed this on the basis that God is the mighty healer and this would not be necessary,” says Tammy. “Some people call this my ‘Blonde Faith’.”

Bryce’s condition continued to deteriorate, however. The virus had damaged his heart and spread to his liver. He was sent to Duke Medical Center.

A few days later, that faith was tested when Bryce suffered two strokes.

Until this point, Bryce continued to believe he was going to be fine. He even told the many visitors who came by to see him that he would be home shortly.

“The first stroke affected his language and organization center and the second took his whole right side,” says Tammy.

“I was told that we were waiting on an ambulance because the helicopter was already in use,” says Bryce. “I started to question exactly how fine I was going to be (if I needed to be airlifted to another hospital.)” At Duke, Bryce had surgery to insert a chest

tube and give the doctors the ability to get an internal view and take a biopsy. “After the surgery, the doctors told us that if he lived through the next couple of days and the virus didn’t go to another vital organ – he was showing signs of kidney failure and decreased lung function – that Bryce would be put on the heart and liver transplant list ASAP,” says Tammy. But, something happened along the way and miraculously, Bryce began to improve. Two weeks after first entering the hospital, Bryce, who had been given a 10 percent chance of survival, came back to his Oak Ridge home and a few days later walked across the stage to accept his high school diploma. “The doctors at Duke kept him under evaluation for transplants for six months,” says Tammy. “He went to therapists and continued to heal and grow stronger.” Although a quarter of his heart is not functioning properly, Bryce hasn’t let that stop him from living life to its fullest. Just a couple of weeks ago he graduated

from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he earned his master’s degree in Urban Planning and Economic Development. He currently works for the Planning and Mapping Department in Holly Springs, North Carolina. In his free time, he continues to work out and run to stay fit and healthy. The completed marathon is special to the Gardner family for a number of reasons. First, it was a chance for the entire family to bond. While Tammy and Bryce ran the marathon, Bryce’s son, Blake, and Bryce’s girlfriend, Chandler, competed in the 5K. Family patriarch, Bryan, acted as coach and shuttle driver. Additionally, proceeds from the event benefitted the American Heart Association, an organization whose research helped save Bryce’s life. And finally, the marathon provided closure. “This race signifies to my family and me that with patience and perseverance, we can reach the finish line,” says Bryce. “It might just take 17 years, though.”

Photo provided by Tammy Gardner

Bryce Gardner and his mom Tammy recently ran the Emerald Isle Marathon together in support of the organization that helped save Bryce’s life, the American Heart Association.

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s e i r u j n i s t r o Sp take emotional toll cann athletes o When not able to do what they love doing, athletes often become discouraged, and sometimes, depressed by Patti Stokes with contributions by L.A. Logan

For competitive athletes, the emotional effects of a sports injury can be just as distressing as the physical.

In her article “Coping with the emotional stress of a sports injury,” featured on sportsmedicine.about.com, sports psychologist Elizabeth Quinn said athletes react to injuries with a wide range of emotions which may include denial, anger, sadness and even depression. “An injury often seems unfair to anyone who has been physically active and otherwise healthy,” wrote Quinn.

Andy Michels, owner of Oak Ridge Physical Therapy in Oak Ridge, has worked with hundreds of athletes in his over 20 years as a physical therapist and he knows firsthand the emotional effects of an injury on someone accustomed to being physically active. “I have a girl right now with an ACL injury and she said, ‘I can’t even go to the games (to watch her team play),’” said Michels.

When Northern Guilford High School football star CJ Freeman went down last fall with a lower leg injury in the 3AA NCHSAA Football State Championship game, he thought at first the sharp pain was just tenderness from a previous ankle sprain. “But the more I walked, the more it hurt,” he said. “It was a different type of pain. The trainer took off my cleats, and they told me I couldn’t go back in the game. “I sat there and cried like a baby.” A week after the championship game, Freeman was told he needed surgery.

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Weston Haack Photo courtesy of Jill Haack

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Northwest High School football player Weston Haack suffered two torn ACLs in an 18-month period.

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Losing that part of myself helped me build a personality outside of sports.”

Summer 2015

File photo | C.J. Freeman

I sat there and cried like a baby.” Northern High School football player CJ Freeman, after coming out of the team’s 3AA NCHSAA Football State Championship game last fall.

“Honestly, for the first month I wasn't motivated,” he said. “I didn't know how to respond to this situation because I've never been in it. It took a lot of moral support from my family and friends to make the healing process positive and fast.” Northwest Guilford High School football player Weston Haack, a wide receiver, has also had to work through injuries – he tore his right and left ACLs within 18 months of each other. “It was a shock to me,” said Haack of his injuries. “Being young didn’t help. When you hear you tore your ACL, you look at professional athletes who are struggling to get healthy. You ask yourself, ‘How is it going to affect me?’”

File photo

Physical therapy helps you get back to life.

Jamaal Johnson says suffering a torn meniscus several years ago was emotionally devastating, but he believes he is a more well-rounded personal trainer because of the experience.

“The first three months of an ACL tear is the lowest part for an athlete because you’re not out doing what you love to do,” he said.

with functional exercise using your body weight. Then, try to build that muscle or injured area up in conjunction with the rest of your body.”

Though battling through his injuries was difficult, Haack, who will graduate from high school this June and plans to become a paramedic, said they helped him become the person he is today.

He personally learned his own lesson when he tore a meniscus in two places while playing basketball several years ago.

“Losing that part of myself helped me build a personality outside of sports. It was hard, but I’m not going to complain about it,” he said. “You think about the big picture. Every little obstacle is a win, that’s how you have to look at it. I’m very step-oriented now.” As a certified physical trainer with SNAP Fitness in Oak Ridge, Jamaal Johnson has been at both ends of the injury spectrum. When working with clients who are recovering from an injury, he stresses the difference between working through the pain versus working through the burn. “You do want to push through the burn and fatigue the muscle, but you don’t want to push through the pain,” Johnson said. Continuing to exercise – with modifications – and being around people who motivate you is essential for recovering athletes, Johnson said. “Working from the point of the injury, you begin to test the injured body part

“The hardest thing for me was not being able to do things I knew I was capable of – like running hard or jumping high. I went down for about six months where I was pretty emotionally devastated; at the time, I was in college, and after class I didn’t have a desire to do anything.” It took Johnson about a year to recover physically and emotionally, and to trust his knee. “When you develop an injury and you recover, the fear of hurting it again increases your chances of hurting yourself.” After fully recovering, Johnson said he was stronger than he was before the knee injury, and the experience has made him a more well-rounded personal trainer. “I know some of the fear (injured) athletes have and the pain they have gone through,” he said. “When you lose your athletic ability, the process you go through is just like any other grieving process. Having gone through that myself, I definitely think it helps me to be more encouraging and understanding of what people go through.”

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Sidelined, but back on track High school freshman, athlete learns life lessons while recovering from a broken femur bone

Unfortunately, near the end of the regular season, he took a bad hit during a JV football game and heard a distinctive bone-splitting sound, which was accompanied by searing pain.

by Patti Stokes

“I knew immediately I had broken a bone,” Peyton said. “I didn’t know what bone it was, just that I couldn’t move my right leg.”

In only his second year of running track at a competitive level, Peyton Haack had already made a name for himself in the youth track world. Last summer, after qualifying for USA Track and Field competitions at the state level, he went on to qualify at the regional level, then placed second at nationals in the 13-14 age group. Though Peyton has a passion for track (he hopes to run in college and someday, for Team USA in the Olympics), the All-American track athlete enjoys other sports as well – including football. Until last fall, the high school freshman had never had a serious sports injury.

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In agony as he was carried off the field and onto the sidelines, he remembers one of his coaches standing over him and praying. “I really felt that. I felt Him there with me.” It wasn’t until he and his parents got to the emergency room that X-rays confirmed Peyton had broken his femur (thigh bone); rapidly losing blood, he was immediately prepped for surgery. “With the bone being right next to the femoral artery, I could have died on the spot,” Peyton said. “It was really incred-

Summer 2015

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Peyton Haack (left) and his father, Erik. After breaking his femur in a JV football game last fall, Peyton followed a slow road to recovery and learned some valuable life lessons along the way.

ible how I got out of it – I lost over 2.5 liters of blood. The only reason I can think of why I got through that was my faith.” After his surgery, Peyton said he had a lot of questions going through his mind, such as when would he be able to walk again, run again, go home – and just be “normal” again. Then, over the next five days as he

was lying in a hospital bed, he began planning his recovery. “I was told it would take six months to recover, which meant I’d have two weeks from then until the first track meet of the season.” Recovery follows its own course, however, and Peyton hadn’t factored

continued on page 26

Fighting a winning battle Already 50 pounds lighter, Amanda Davis sets her sights on reaching her goal weight by this summer by Annette Joyce Until last year, Amanda Davis’ life was completely packed. She worked 40 hours a week as a retail store manager, interned 20 hours a week and attended college fulltime to become a paralegal. She spent her free time reading and watching Korean TV dramas to teach herself the language. With such a full schedule, working out and eating nutritiously were at the bottom of her priority list. She admits she survived on ramen noodles and often ate late at night. Not surprisingly, she gained 40 pounds and tipped the scales at 235 pounds.

I want to lose weight in a healthy way. I don’t want to be skinny. I want to be healthy.”

It was last September that Davis decided it was time to make a lifestyle change. Her co-worker, Michelle Fonzi, had talked about working out but had struggled to be consistent with her workout routines. The two decided

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they would help each other. Davis remembers their first workout session together. The two walked around Oak Ridge Town Park. It took her 20 minutes to complete a mile, and even then she was gasping for air. It was a miserable beginning, but she stuck with it.

continued on page 25

After graduating in May 2014, the 24-year-old quit her retail job and began working full-time at Ingle Law PLLC in Oak Ridge. Even though her schedule was more sane, she was still exhausted and had little energy. She was also extremely unhappy with the photos of herself that were showing up on Facebook. “I kept seeing pictures of myself,” she says. “I didn’t realize how big I’d gotten.”

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Research has shown the amount and quality of our sleep can alter a hormone that controls appetite, called ghrelin, which can increase our appetite and craving for carbohydrates. This can lead to consuming extra calories and ultimately, to weight gain.

 Consume caffeine earlier in the day. It can take six to eight hours for caffeine to get out of your system.  Exercise is key, but do not exercise too late in the day. Try to work out at least three hours before you go to bed.  Get on a regular schedule by going to bed the same time every night, even on weekends.  Eat and drink only small amounts before bedtime to avoid indigestion and the need to go to the bathroom during the night.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, despite the national average of only six and a half hours sleep during the week. A significant amount of research shows that insufficient sleep leads to eating more during the day (on average, an extra 250 calories per day – that can cause two extra pounds of weight per month without proper exercise), and can also cause impaired glucose tolerance, which increases your risk for developing diabetes. In addition, not getting enough sleep causes your body to release stress hormones that increase your risk for heart disease.

 Avoid watching TV or being on your computer for at least one hour before you go to bed.

Following are nine strategies for healthy sleep.

 Try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.

 If you nap during the day, limit it to no more than 20 minutes and nap before 3 p.m.  Don’t lie awake in bed for longer than 20 minutes. If you still can’t sleep, go do something to calm you down, like reading a book, until you feel sleepy.  Check with your doctor if you have ongoing problems with your sleep. Your physician may be able to perform a sleep study to analyze your sleep patterns or give you medications to help you sleep.

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What — you want to gain weight? Just as with being overweight, being underweight comes with challenges by Patti Stokes Sean Gentile, art director for PS Communications, grew up with a “skinny kid” mentality. “I was self-conscious as a teenager, but I tried not to let that be known,” admits Gentile, now 28 and 5’9”. “My height never bothered me, but I didn’t like being the ‘skinny kid.’” In college, he wanted to gain strength but didn’t feel comfortable in the gym, so he enrolled in a weightlifting class. “That was my turning point,” he said. “After learning how to do strength exercises the right way, I became comfortable and got the ‘gym mentality.’ I even got a little ‘built.’” Unfortunately, after college he stopped

going to the gym … and got “skinny” again. At 23, Gentile weighed about 140 pounds and his muscles were nowhere to be seen. Determined not to forever be a “skinny kid,” he vowed to make some changes. His first step was to undergo a “dirty bulking” phase in which he consumed as many calories as he could, regardless of nutritious content (though he wouldn’t necessarily repeat this approach). Then in January 2010, he decided to buy himself a gym membership. He quickly began seeing results, and even “buffed up” a little, he said. But then, he had a setback when he injured his shoulder. “It was just a tiny tear, but every time I moved my shoulder to pick up something that was a little too heavy, it was just miserable,” Gentile said. While trying to recuperate, he did exercises that involved no weightlifting; still, the shoulder continued to nag him. Fi-

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nally, his physical therapist, who knew the mechanics of Gentile’s injury were minor, assured him it was okay to (cautiously) work through a little bit of discomfort. “At first, I just wanted to get to where I could operate without pain,” he said. “Ultimately, my goal was to get back to where I was before, then surpass that.” After reading about how to exercise without harming his injured shoulder, Gentile returned to the gym for full-body workouts. “At any other point it might have been a little embarrassing to use such light weight, but I had to throw that out the window,” he said of stepping back into the gym. “I told myself, ‘If this takes me somewhere, great — and if not, dang!’ “Within three weeks I felt better during and between the workouts,” Gentile said. “From there I worked my way to pull-ups. That was a really good moment, and that sent me to where I am now.” Weighing just under 160 pounds, Gentile continues to focus on gaining muscle weight. “I’ve now gone well past where I’ve ever been,” he says of the 15-plus pounds of muscle he’s added since early 2014. “It’s really weird to look at myself and not just see ‘skinny’ anymore.” Besides working out, he’s also very intentional about what he eats. “I pay attention to the ratio of protein, fat and carbs — that has helped with leaning out but still gaining muscle.” However, it’s a challenge to consume 3,000 calories from

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Tired of being “skinny,” Sean Gentile used a trial-and-error method of diet changes and strength training to gain muscle mass.

mainly “lean and clean food,” he said. “It’s difficult to feed yourself enough to gain weight on that diet, whereas you could just go through a drive-through, eat fast food every day and gain all you want.” At the dietary end, he’s found meal planning to be key. “When I first started (planning and cooking meals at home), it seemed overwhelming and was kind of miserable. But now I cook just about every night, and at the most, it only takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. “It’s interesting how the mind works,” he observed. “When you create habits, doing them becomes a reward. I love going to the gym now — and once you see the results, you get excited about it and want to do it more.” Is there an end goal? “I don’t think so — there are big physiques that I think are ridiculous, and I hope I stop before I get there (but I’ll still probably think I look skinny),” he said. “I liken it to the art of bonsai, where the philosophy is, it’s a living sculpture and is never finished. I’m always just trying to improve.” And as for developing healthy eating and exercise habits? “That has had a huge impact on my self-esteem and confidence,” Gentile said. “I feel very much like I am in control — and I didn’t use to.”

continued from page 11 permanent effects from it. Though he’s still on medication, Cooke stresses it’s important to listen to your body, because at one point after his heart attack, he felt overmedicated and “not so great.” He gradually decreased his dosage and has felt better ever since. Mindful of his weight, he adheres to a healthy eating regime and he and his wife, Phyllis, eat their “principal meal” in the early afternoon with only a light snack in the evening. Did I mention the knee surgeries? Cooke has had them on both knees, but in good weather still plays tennis on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and he regularly works out at Spears YMCA. “As you get older, you can build fences around yourself — and you have to be careful about that,” Cooke said.

continued from page 10 for nearly 60 years, and Flat Rock United Methodist Church in Stokesdale; they also enjoy spending time with their two children (a daughter, 70, and a son, 59) and their families, and reading during their quiet time. And this time of year, John has a few prize tomato and red pepper plants that he carefully watches over. Like most people, the Marvins have had some heartaches in their lives – during her first pregnancy, Beulah carried twin girls but unfortunately, only one survived. In the years that followed, she had three miscarriages before their son was born. “I always wanted several children, but it wasn’t meant to be,” she said. The Marvins have also had their bouts with cancer and other health issues (you don’t live to be in your 90s without having some issues, they say matter-of-factly). John has had five major operations – one each for a hernia, gallbladder, colon cancer, removal of a lung and finally, lower spinal stenosis. Just a few years ago, after the doctors found a spot on one of Beulah’s lungs, she underwent 18 treatments of radiation. She

He would love to have a motorcycle again, like the one he bought when he was in his late 50s and he and Phyllis took two memorable road trips through the country, but recognizes he’s not physically strong enough to balance it. So he’s resigned himself to staying close to home, right? Wrong. In March, he bought a travel trailer to haul with his pickup truck and he and Phyllis, who is 77, are planning a cross country trip this summer. “I have had to learn a lot of things,” he said of his latest purchase. Like how to hitch the trailer to his truck, and how to handle the water and sewer. But, he said he has had time to work with it and learn to understand it — and learning something new exercises his mind. “I think about those fences, and I try not to build them,” he said. came through it like a trooper, and the doctors have claimed her to be cancer-free. Beulah said it’s only been recently that she’s felt her 93 years. Bouts of bronchitis seem to come a little more frequently and last a little longer; coupled with that, she has been diagnosed with diastolic heart failure.

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A few months ago the couple even joined their daughter on a river cruise in Holland and Belgium (Beulah said their daughter made all the arrangements, including assistance in the airports). As for having a daughter who is also a senior citizen, Beulah finds it hard to believe. “She is quite active,” she said of her daughter. The apple obviously doesn’t fall far from the tree. “As long as I’m able, I’m going to keep going,” said Beulah with spirited determination. And when she can no longer keep going and it’s time to leave this world, she wants her children to have a celebration – because life has been good to her. “I thank the good Lord every day for having such a good life,” she said.

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Leaner, stronger, and ready for the next milestone One hundred pounds lighter, Oak Ridge resident Todd Sugg reconnects with the athlete he once was by Patti Stokes By his late 30s, Todd Sugg had ventured a long way from the athletic football player he had once been while at Northwest High School and on into his college years. Back then, it took a massive amount of calories to fuel the physically active and fit young man. Like most people, Sugg’s routine changed dramatically after college — including his physical activity level. However, he continued to eat almost as much as he had in his youth, and that’s when the weight started piling on. At 38, he topped out at just over 400 pounds. At his heaviest, even the simplest physical activities were laborious. He got winded after brief bouts of throwing the football with his young son, Ty. Workdays, largely spent at a desk, took all the energy he could muster up. Socializing was also taxing, and he preferred spending his evenings sitting on the couch and

watching television. In 2010, his father, who was in his 50s, was diagnosed with diabetes. Not long after, a visit to Sugg’s family physician confirmed his blood pressure and cholesterol were both high. “The doctor said I was really overweight, and he prescribed medicine for my blood pressure,” said Sugg. But with little change in his diet or activity level, Sugg’s health further deteriorated and blood tests a year later revealed he was pre-diabetic. “That’s when I finally asked the doctor, ‘What can I do?’” He was referred to Dr. Karen Bowen with Novant Health Bariatric Solutions in Kernersville. After a consultation, Bowen prescribed medication to help curb his appetite; she also recommended he go on the Paleo diet, which is based on lean meats and vegetables, and some fruits and nuts, little or no grain and dairy products, and no processed foods. Ready to regain control of his body, Sugg and his wife, Kelli, made a pact to change their eating habits. After emptying their pantry of all the unhealthy food, they began to carefully plan out their meals — including leftovers for Sugg to take for lunch on workdays. When he visited Dr. Bowen again,

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

After being diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and prediabetes, Todd Sugg decided it was time to take control of his health.

Sugg had lost 40 pounds. She recommended he start exercising. “I hadn’t moved very much and it was hard at first,” he said. At the invitation of his sister-in-law, he joined her recreational volleyball team; his weight loss accelerated. Next he added regular walks at Oak Ridge Town Park; he lost more weight. Then someone gave him a gift certificate to CrossFit. “I met with one of the trainers (at CrossFit/Oak Ridge), and went through their Foundations program,” said Sugg. “After I got through five classes, I told my wife, ‘This is it —I’m in love with this! I’m signing up and doing a monthly membership. “So I got in there and slowly progressed … I saw some of what other people could do and I thought, “When can I do that?” Along with the athletic trainers, Sugg credits the camaraderie he found at CrossFit with his success (since he began almost two years ago, he has lost another 60

pounds of fat and gained muscle mass). “One thing I love about CrossFit is the community is so open — everyone gives you encouragement as you go through your journey,” he said. These days, Sugg continues to eat healthy (planning and preparation are key,

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he stressed) and rises four mornings a week to join his “CrossFit family” at 5 a.m. for a workout before heading to the office. He’s off his blood pressure medicine and his cholesterol is almost within normal range. As for his energy level — if it’s any indication, when they’re throwing the football, he can sometimes outlast Ty. “I love that!” said Sugg, who is also playing on a recreational softball league. The psychological benefits of losing weight have also been huge. “I’ve always been an outgoing person, but for a while I didn’t want to go anywhere — I wasn’t very sociable, and sometimes I felt ashamed.” “Mentally, I think I can do it now,” he said. “Also, some of the things we do in CrossFit, you’re like, ‘If I can do this here, I can do that at work’ … everything transfers in life.” Inspired by his fitness success, many have asked for his advice. Sugg said he tells them the first step is recognizing they need to do something. “Next, get the help you need — go to your doctor and tell him you want to get things under control. Do the research, set small goals, and when you make your plan, stick to it — don’t do it for a week and say ‘It’s not working.’ Nobody runs before they walk — you’ve got to put in the work to get results, and it’s going to

continued from page 19 “It was really hard when I first started. There was a lot of pain and soreness – but that’s normal,” she said. “If you just stick with it every day and try for a little more each time you work out, it does get easier.” Now 50 pounds lighter, Davis has added some running to her workouts, although she admits she prefers a fast walk. She and Fonzi walk/run a couple of miles most evenings and once a week they’ll log in a longer workout of five to six miles. The good feelings she gets from exercise have become addictive, and Davis sometimes will add a few more miles after her regular sessions. “If I had realized how much fun being

take a while before you see progress.” Oh, and there will be “hiccups,” Sugg warned. “You can’t dwell on them — gather your stuff back up, and keep going.” At 40, Sugg now celebrates the little as well as big things that come with being leaner and more fit — like when his family went to the Outer Banks and he could climb the steps to the top of the Hatteras Lighthouse. And the day he and Kelli went out to eat and for the first time in years he could sit in a booth instead of needing a table for extra space. “That was the greatest feeling,” he said. One hundred pounds lighter than when he started his weight loss journey and measurably stronger and more fit, Sugg is focusing on his next two goals: to lose 50 more pounds and go to the CrossFit Games as a master athlete in his age group. With so many successes behind him (including two promotions at work), he has no doubts about achieving those goals. “If I hadn’t changed course, I probably would have had a heart attack,” he said. Instead, his daughter Katie tells him how happy she is that he’ll be there to someday walk her down the aisle. And he remembers the day that Ty teasingly poked him in the belly, then said, “You’re not squishy anymore!

she’ll often eat what the family is having; she just takes smaller portions. The main thing is that she doesn’t let herself get hungry, so she snacks throughout the day on carrots, yogurt and veggie straws. Davis says her weight loss program has been very trial and error. “I didn’t incorporate everything all at once.” She’s also had setbacks. For instance, when she first started walking, her ankles would swell and become red. She spent a lot of time stopping and stretching. Compression socks and the proper shoes eventually took care of that problem. And, she’s had setbacks regarding food. During Christmas vacation she was out of town for several days and gained a few pounds, but she quickly got back on her program. Another time, after a really bad day, she had a Big Mac – but again, she put that behind her and moved on. “I never want to go back to seeing 200 on the scale again,” she says. Although she still has a ways to go to reach her goal weight, Davis is de-

termined to get there. She’s losing two to three pounds a week and hopes to achieve her goal weight by mid-June. In the meantime, she’s enjoying the benefits of what she’s already accomplished. Her greatest satisfaction is the abundance of energy she now has. Plus, she’s been an inspiration to friends and church members who have seen what she’s doing and want to do something about their own weight. As for advice to others, Davis says the biggest thing is that you have to want to do it for yourself. She also suggests finding someone to support you. She gives Fonzi a lot of credit in motivating her and helping her stay on track. There is also the extra incentive provided by her grandmother. “After finding out that I was working to lose weight, Grandma told me if I lost the weight, she’d buy me a new wardrobe,” Davis says. At this rate, it won’t be long before she’s using her new-found energy on an upcoming shopping spree.

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continued from page 18 setbacks into his plan. First, there were the nightmares. “It was hard for me to sleep – I would have images (of my femur breaking). It was really scary.” Then in January, about a month after being cleared to walk without crutches, he went back to the surgeon expecting to be cleared for running. He was told the bone was still healing, however, and running would have to wait. “That was a big challenge when I found out I wasn’t where I needed to be,” he said. A month later, he went to the surgeon again – and again, he wasn’t cleared for running. “That’s when I realized I wasn’t going to make track (season),” Peyton said. It was about this time that Peyton’s parents, Jill and Erik, realized how much their son was suffering psychologically from not having enough physical activity. “Just a half hour of physical therapy wasn’t enough – as a trained athlete, he needed more than that,” Jill said. Since Peyton still wasn’t supposed to put much weight on his leg, his parents decided to get him a mountain bike. It wasn’t long before he experienced both a physical and emotional breakthrough. “Once we started to fulfill that (physical activity) need, he started to have his personality back and began to gain weight,” Jill said. It was on his fourth trip back to the surgeon that Peyton was finally cleared to run. At first, even running a half mile left him extremely sore; still, he said the mental aspect of being able to run was great. He’s since worked back up to running several miles at a time and is grateful to be pain-free. And, he recently put on a helmet and pads for the first time in months and practiced with his JV team at Northwest. “It was almost cleansing to put the equipment on and get back on the field,”

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he said. “It felt good, and it was needed. I love football, and I’m looking forward to getting back into the game.” Peyton and his parents will be moving to Indiana next month, and he’s already met the football coach at his new high school. “I want to play football this sophomore year, just to say I did it again – I just don’t want to end football on an injury,” he said. Reflecting on some of the life lessons he’s gained over the last several months, Peyton sounded wise beyond his years. “I had to stop thinking about how and why it happened and focus on the moment and rehabbing,” he said. “You can’t think about the injury constantly. My faith helped me a lot with it. Whatever ends up happening, I’m still going to have Him. You have to put your mind in a different place and not feel sorry for yourself. It’s awful, but you just have to move on. “My dad has helped me a lot to understand it’s bigger than me and there is a plan to it.” As for that six-month recovery plan he formulated while in the hospital? Well, he’s also learned no matter how well we plan, much of life isn’t in our control. “With all three of our boys (having had five serious sports-related injuries and three surgeries between them), we have learned you have to find something else that defines you – if (your sport) is what defines you, it is so temporary,” said Jill. Erik agreed wholeheartedly, and shared this advice for other injured athletes: “Experiencing the journey may not be what you think about on Day 2 of the injury, but don’t let the injury hold you back from life. Cherish the moments.” Though Peyton wouldn’t want to relive the last several months, he feels he is definitely emotionally and spiritually stronger for the experience. “As I take a step back, I know I’m going to be all right, regardless of whether I can run or whether I can be as good (at track) as I was. There is a plan and a purpose and I am going to be fine.”

patient had to be partially submerged in water for sonography to work.

continued from page 8 expanding at a greater rate than ever,” said Frederick Kremkau, Ph.D., director of the Program for Medical Ultrasound at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. “It’s often seemed to me that we were reaching the end of what ultrasound can do, but that’s never happened.” Kremkau has a singular perspective on the evolution of medical sonography. Though he’s not a physician – his doctorate is in electrical engineering – he has worked with ultrasound technology since the late 1960s and has led Wake Forest Baptist’s pioneering ultrasound education program since 1985. For decades, sonography was employed in only a handful of medical specialties. But “over the years we’ve been able to get more and more information out of the instruments,” Kremkau said, and today ultrasound is used across the spectrum of disciplines, from anesthesiology to urology. Ultrasound’s positive attributes apply to all patients, but they have special A. specifi Color version for print value with two c populations in addition to pregnant women – children and the elderly.

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“Ultrasound has no radiation risk and may be less intimidating than other imaging methods for some kids,” said WHERE GREAT VALUE AND Milan Nadkarni, M.D., medical director B. Black/White version for print of the Emergency Department at Wake Forest Baptist’s Brenner Children’s Hospital. “We use it a lot, and are looking to use it in more instances.”

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Baptist HealthWire

Frederick Kremkau, Ph.D., director of the Program for Medical Ultrasound at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

something created for use on the high seas. The sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the outbreak of World War I two years later spurred demand for a way to detect icebergs and submarines. This led to the invention of systems that used high-frequency sound waves to indicate the size, location and movement of objects underwater – what we know as sonar.

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But the pace of progress soon accelerated. A big step was the invention in the mid-’60s of a transducer that could be placed directly on the patient with the use of water-based gel that permitted the ultrasound waves to enter the body. Major developments since then have included two-dimensional imaging, grayscale imaging, Doppler technology (the same as seen on TV weather forecasts), color imaging, 3-D imaging, 4-D (motion in real time) imaging and, most recently, elastography (which can show the relative hardness or softness of tissue). While ultrasound imaging has become more and more advanced with digital technology, the equipment has become more compact and more mobile. Portable ultrasound consoles have been around since the 1980s, but pocket-sized devices hit the market in

the early 2000s and today there are ultrasound scanners that work with laptops, tablets and smart phones, adding telemedicine to ultrasound’s capabilities. This high-tech portability, Kremkau believes, is ultrasound’s greatest asset. “It’s what we call point-of-care ultrasound, where it can be applied to a patient virtually anywhere – at the bedside, in the home, at the site of an accident, on the battlefield in warfare, any remote location,” he said. “The smaller devices aren’t going to replace the more sophisticated ones, but they’re great for screening and triage, and they can send the data to a hospital for expert evaluation.” Could the hand-held ultrasound device become the 21st-century equivalent of the stethoscope? “I’m not a very good predictor,” Kremkau said. “But I don’t see why not.”

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years many potential uses for ultrasound technology – military, nautical, industrial, scientific, medical –were explored. The first medical application, in the 1920s, was physical therapy, and in the ’30s and ’40s it was employed as a treatment for arthritis, SERVICE MEET eczema and other ailments.

UltrasoundWisH not just a diagnostic ERE GREAT VALUE AND tool. Its various applications C. Seen at a distance include | Small print treating soft-tissue injuries, guiding Ultrasound was first used as a diagphysicians during needle biopsies and nostic tool in the 1940s, but with some other procedures, breaking up kidney PHARMACY PHARMACY serious shortcomings. The machines stones and delivering drugs to very were cumbersome, the one-dimensional precise areas. D. illuminated /Signage - Sizes TBD black-and-white images they produced

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Tucked away in the Germanton countryside, Stonewall, one of about 15 FootGolf courses in the state, offers players a bit more of a challenge than other courses.

continued from page 7 21-inch cup using the lowest number of kicks possible. As with golf, each hole has a par. In FootGolf, that’s the number of kicks allowed to get the ball into the hole. Having recently added a FootGolf course beside his regular golf course, Regan has established FootGolf holes ranging in distance from 80 to 240 yards from the tee and that are par 3 and par 4 holes.

“This golf course is unlike most other courses in the area,” says Regan. “It’s very hilly. People who have played soccer are used to playing on a flat ground. The topography creates a whole other dimension for both FootGolfers and golfers.” Regan is excited to see

Just like golfers, FootGolf players have to dodge various hazards – bunkers, trees and water. At Stonewall, one of the most challenging hazards can be found on the 12th hole where FootGolfers have to navigate the ball through a small grove of trees.

The hole in FootGolf is a whopping 21” across – almost five times the width of a standard golf hole.

“What are the DMV’s hours of operation?” “Who would I call to set up Meals on Wheels?”

the interest in the sport continue to grow and enjoys sharing the benefits that FootGolf offers. “You don’t see a lot of young kids picking up the game of golf, but you do see a lot of kids playing soccer,” he says. “The more kids come out to the golf course and play FootGolf, the more interested they will be in golf.” It’s also a family-friendly sport. “A lot of times parents will play golf and their kids will play FootGolf along with them,” Regan says. With FootGolf, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or have even played soccer or golf to enjoy the sport. All you need is a soccer ball and the willingness to have some fun. Friends Jeb Bryant, 20, and Vann Webster, 21, recently showed up at Stonewall to try out the course. The two had played high school football together but neither had played soccer before. While Bryant had played some

“Are there any financial advisors in this area?”

“Can I reserve a pavilion at Oak Ridge Town Park?”

Keep it handy

Use it often

“We just moved here and need a good dentist.”

Find the answer to these questions and more in the FINDER. It’s jam-packed with valuable information for northwest Guilford County residents.

In print every year • Online year-round at nwobserver.com

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Summer 2015

golf, Webster had no experience as a duffer. Bryant, who lives near the golf course, says he first saw the sport on YouTube and decided to give it a try. “I was looking for something different to do and a way to get some exercise,” he said as he set up the soccer ball. “I like this.” Webster, who lives in High Point, said he decided to give the sport a try after listening to his friend talk about it. Both agree it’s a sport they’ll continue to try to master.

Want to play? For more information about FootGolf, visit the American FootGolf League’s website at www.afgl.us. Stonewall Golf Course, located at 3200 South Friendship Road in Germanton, is one of 15 FootGolf courses the AFGL lists in North Carolina. Call (336) 591-4653 or visit www.stonewallgc.com.

“I just started playing, and it’s kind of addictive,” he said. “You’re running a lot so it’s really aerobic. You really get a good workout. I leave here pretty worn out.”

What’s all this ‘racquet’ about pickleball?

Surprisingly, Northern Guilford High School introduced pickleball to its classes about four years ago, after former PE teacher Reggie Morris visited his mother-in-law, who lives in a retirement community in Florida.

‘New’ sport has been around since the 60s by L.A. Logan It’s kind of like tennis, but played with a ball similar to a whiffle ball. It’s kind of like ping-pong, but played with a larger paddle. It’s kind of like badminton, but without the shuttlecock. This somewhat “new” sport called pickleball has attracted over 400,000 participants in the U.S. It has actually been played in the USA since the 1960s and is especially popular in retirement communities. Pickleball is a sport in which two or four players use solid paddles, similar to table tennis, to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net. Unlike in tennis, the ball is served with an underhand stroke, while played on a court one-third the size of a tennis court. The serving side scores points only when the opponent serves faults. The first side that scores 11 points and leads by at least two points, wins. Pickleball provides many of the aerobic benefits of tennis with less strenuous demands on a player’s body. Since it is not a contact sport, players can safely continue to play well into their senior years. Spears Family YMCA Group Vice President and Executive Director Joe Hennigan investigated the popularity of the sport and decided it was time to introduce it to their facility, said Sarah Freeman, Spears YMCA sports director. “We’ve tried it and it has taken off,” said Freeman. “A lot of the times it’s the same crew. “I’ve tried it and it’s not that simple,”

“We’re trying to introduce more lifelong sports,” said Northern PE teacher Cynthia Jones. “Pickleball is something kids can play throughout their lives. “The cardiovascular endurance that they use is ridiculous. I tell my kids it’s like an outdoor ping-pong game.”

Pickleball came to the U.S. in the 1960s, and is played on a court one-third the size of a tennis court.

said Freeman. “You can get very intense with it!”

catching on and if it had more publicity it would be more so.”

Weekly, you can catch YMCA members like Patricia Meroth and Randy Puitt honing their skills on the court, located at the Y on 3216 Horse Pen Creek Road in northwest Greensboro.

Once Puitt picked up the sport, it was tough to put his paddle down.

Northern freshman and football player Ricky Dorman agreed that pickleball is for all ages, especially if you like tennis. For more information about pickleball, visit www.usapa.org or call the Spears YMCA at (336) 387-9622.

“At an older age, it enables you to be active and meet some really great people,” said Meroth. “It’s really

A pickleball paddle is smaller than a tennis racquet, but larger than a ping-pong paddle.

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29

Yoga on the water

beginner-friendly and offers a challenge for any age and skill level.

by Annette Joyce

“For people who are already doing yoga, it helps them refine their technique and helps if they’re a little bit bored with their practice,” she said. “It’s also fun for the person who’s never tried yoga.”

When you think about stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and yoga, you wouldn’t normally put the two together. But someone has, and the result is an exercise that takes the relaxation of yoga to a new level. Summerfield resident Jo Andra Proia is an avid proponent of this increasingly popular activity. “Yoga goes hand-in-hand with nature and the calming effects of water,” said Proia. As Director of Women’s Programming for Greensboro’s Get:Outdoors Women on the Water, Proia spends a lot of time in the water while kayaking, paddle boarding and doing yoga. A yoga enthusiast, she prefers SUP yoga to traditional yoga. “SUP yoga is magical,” she said. “All the elements come together to give you maximum peace and serenity.” Throughout the summer, Get:Outdoors offers both co-ed and women-only SUP yoga classes at Greensboro and High Point city lakes. Fees for the class include everything you need – a paddleboard, paddle and personal floatation device – and classes are led by a certified yoga instructor from Mind|Body|Fitness Yoga in Greensboro. Proia stresses that SUP yoga is very

As for the paddle boarding, Proia doesn’t see that as a problem for the novice. “With regular SUP, people are usually doing it to get a workout and are going hard and fast,” said Proia. “It’s totally different with SUP yoga. We paddle a little ways from the shore to get to a quiet place, then we spend time stretching and doing yoga.” Plus, exercises can easily be modified to suit individual skill levels. If you’re not able to stand right away, you can always paddle and do the standing poses on your knees. If you fall off, it’s just water, so you climb back on your board and start again. It’s all about what works for you. Don’t misunderstand, though. While SUP yoga might be relaxing and less strenuous than SUP, you’ll still get a workout. “(Doing yoga on the water) is more of a challenge,” said Proia. “You have to really use your core for balance. Your body is working the entire time to keep you balanced.” Proia does have some tips for begin-

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Summer 2015

ners. For those who lack paddleboard experience, opt for a universal board which is wider and more stable. Wear synthetic quick dry clothing.

you don’t ever have to do it again.” More often than not, people are hooked after their first class.

Want to try it?

If you decide SUP yoga is something you’d like to do on a regular basis, Proia suggests investing in a waistband floatation device because it is less cumbersome when practicing the poses.

Get:Outdoors is located at 1515 West Lee Street in Greensboro. Call (336) 294-3918, or find it on www.facebook.com/ getoutdoorswomenonthewater

As a final word of advice, Proia said, “You should just try it. If you don’t like it,

Classes are held at Greensboro and High Point city lakes during the summer.

Photo provided by Jo Andra Proia

Being able to get outside on the water gives stand up paddleboard yoga participants an extra dose of relaxation.

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