for Active Older Adults
Newsletter for Active Older Adults
for Active Older Adults
Newsletter for Active Older Adults
for Active Older Adults
The Power of Two: Why
a Workout Partner is the Secret to Staying Active
By SilverSneakers | February 17, 2025
Staying active is one of the best things you can do for your health, especially as you get older. But sometimes, it’s hard to find the motivation to exercise. That’s where a workout partner comes in! Whether it’s a spouse, a friend, or even a neighbor, having someone by your side can make a world of difference.
More Motivation, More Fun
Let’s be honest, working out alone can sometimes feel like a chore. But when you exercise with a partner, it becomes a social event! You can encourage each other, celebrate progress, and even laugh through the tough parts. Knowing someone is counting on you makes it harder to skip a session, which keeps you both on track.
Better Workouts, Better Results
Exercising with a partner can help you push yourself just a bit more. Maybe you hold a stretch a few seconds longer, try a new move, or walk an extra block. A little friendly competition or encouragement can keep you from giving up too soon. Plus, sharing your successes—no matter how big or small—enhances the joy of your achievements!
Safety First
As we age, balance and stability become more important. A workout partner can help make exercising safer. They can provide a steady hand during stretches, assist with weights, or simply be there to seek assistance if needed. Having someone nearby can give you extra confidence to try new activities.
for Active Older Adults
The Power of Two: Why a Workout Partner is the Secret to Staying Active
By SilverSneakers | February 17, 2025
Strengthen More Than Just Muscles
Working out together isn’t just good for the body—it’s good for the mind and heart, too! Social connections are key to maintaining a positive outlook and reducing feelings of loneliness. Sharing a fitness routine can strengthen friendships and deepen bonds, making exercise something you look forward to rather than a task to check off.
Easy Ways to Get Started
Not sure how to begin? Here are a few simple ideas: Take a walk – Strolling around the neighborhood or a local park is a great way to chat and stay active. Join a class – SilverSneakers® offers group classes designed for all fitness levels. Bring a friend and enjoy the energy of working out with others.
Try partner exercises – Simple activities like passing a medicine ball, stretching together, or doing seated exercises side by side can make a difference.
It’s
Never Too Late to Start
The best part? You don’t need to be a fitness pro to enjoy the benefits of working out with a partner. All it takes is a commitment to move more and support each other along the way. So, grab a friend or loved one and start reaping the rewards of an active lifestyle—together!
for Active Older Adults
Newsletter for Active Older Adults Corned Beef Veggie Hash
I love Corned Beef Veggie Hash with eggs for breakfast or brunch. Adding chopped veggies makes it even healthier!
PREP TIME:10minutes mins COOK TIME:15minutes mins TOTAL TIME:25minutes mins
YIELD: 4 servings COURSE: Breakfast, Brunch CUISINE: American
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion (finely chopped (about 1 cup))
2 cups chopped cooked potatoes (preferably Yukon gold 1/2-inch dice)
1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
1 cup finely diced green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
freshly ground black pepper
2 cups finely chopped (cooked lean corned beef (9 oz))
Instructions
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium heat.
1. Add the onion, bell pepper and carrots and cook 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the veggies are tender.
3.
2. Mix in the potatoes, season with salt, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper.
4.
Cover and cook until golden, stirring about 5 to 7 minutes.
5. Adjust salt to taste.
Add the corned beef and press down so it’s in a single layer and continue to cook uncovered until the bottom is nicely browned, stirring after a few minutes.
6. Serve with fried or poached eggs for breakfast.
7.
Nutrition Serving: 1scant cup, Calories: 300kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 14.5g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 4.5g
Newsletter for Active Older Adults Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread Muffins
These whole wheat Irish soda bread muffins are delicious, the perfect start a lazy cold March Sunday morning. Speckled with raisins, they are sweet and perfect enjoyed with a hot cup of tea.
PREP TIME:10minutes mins COOK TIME:20minutes mins COOLING TIME:5minutes mins TOTAL TIME:35minutes mins YIELD: 12 servings
COURSE: Breakfast, Brunch, Snack CUISINE: American
Equipment
12 cup muffin tin
Ingredients
baking spray
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3 tbsp chilled salted butter
1 cup 1% buttermilk
3 tbsp honey or agave
1 large egg (beaten)
3 oz raisins (about 2/3 cup)
Instructions
1.
2.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray muffin tin with baking spray.
In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt).
Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Stir in raisins.
In a small bowl, stir together buttermilk, honey (or agave) and egg until blended.
4. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
6.
5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.
7.
Remove tin and cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes before removing muffins from tin; finish cooling on rack.
8. Nutrition
Serve warm or cool completely and store muffins in an airtight container or ziplock bags at room temperature.
Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 147kcal, Carbohydrates: 24.5g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 3.5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol:24mg, Sodium: 148mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 10g - WW Points: 6
Newsletter for Active Older Adults
Newsletter for Active Older Adults Just For Laughs!!
What falls during March but never gets hurt?
A: The rain.
Why is everyone so tired on April 1?
A: Because they’ve just finished a long, 31-day March.
What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four-leaf clover?
A: A rash of good luck
What did the Irish potato say to his sweet heart?
A: I only have eyes for you
Did you meet that mushroom over there, I hear he’s the life of the party. He’s a pretty fun-gi!
Why did the robin go to the hospital?
A: It needed tweetment!
What do you call a well-dressed lion?
A: A dandy lion!
for Active Older Adults
Newsletter for Active Older Adults Chair Yoga Moves of the Month:
Ujjayi Breathing
A great starter pose: Sit up tall at the edge of your seat and place your hands on your waist. Take a deep breath in through the nose, expanding through your sides and abdomen, then exhale slowly. Repeat for ten breaths.
Cat/Cow
This pose helps to relieve back and neck tension. Inhale and arch your back to look up at the ceiling. Exhale through your spine, pulling your abdominals in and rounding your back as you bend forward. Repeat this movement five times.
Circles
To release and relax the hip muscles, circle your hips clockwise five times while seated without moving your upper body, then counterclockwise five times.
Sun Salutation Arms
This pose helps lengthen the spine and releases tension in the shoulders and neck. Sitting tall, breathe in and lift your arms up, pressing your palms overhead. On an exhale, float the arms back down to your sides. Repeat five times.
for Active Older Adults
Newsletter for Active Older Adults
Hidden Picture Puzzle
Newsletter for Active Older Adults 20 Fun Facts About the Month of March 2025
By Brandon Specktor Updated On Feb. 03, 2025
The month of March isn't just about Patrick's Day and the start of spring! Check out these fun, interesting and surprising March facts!
How much do you know about the month of March? This month isn’t just about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the first day of spring (which falls on Thursday, March 20 this year). In fact, our third month of the year is full of surprising history, folklore and fun facts!
Below, we ’ re sharing some of the most interesting March facts, perfect for playing a game of March trivia during your your spring gathering. What is March known for? What does March represent? All of your burning questions about the month of March are only a few scrolls away! From details about March birthstones and birth flowers to insight on March’s correlation to one of the planets and vasectomies (how shocking!), you’ll be an expert on the month of March in no time!
1. March was once considered the first month of the year
Welcome to the third month of the year—or if you were born before 150 B.C., the first! According to the oldest Roman calendars, one year was 10 months long, beginning in March and ending in December. It may sound crazy, but you can still see traces of this old system in our modern calendar: Because December was the 10th month, it was named for the number 10 in Latin (decem), just like September was named for seven (septem). January and February were the exceptions: They were just two nameless months called “winter,” proving that winter is literally so awful, it doesn’t even deserve a spot on the calendar.
2. March symbolizes transformation and new growth
As the bridge from winter to spring, March carries strong symbolism: new growth and transformation. It’s the time when animals awake from hibernation and when people around the world partake in spring celebrations—along with spring cleaning rituals to make their homes feel new. It also heralds the start of a new astrological year, transitioning from Pisces season to Aries season.
3. March has two birth flowers March’s birth flowers, delightful daffodils and charming jonquils, have different meanings. But take note: All jonquils are daffodils, but not all daffodils are jonquils! Daffodils represent rebirth and hope, while jonquils represent affection and love. Daffodils are believed to have been named after Narcissus, the son of the river god, Cephissus, from Greek mythology. Legend has it that Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in the water. He was so entranced that he fell into the pool and drowned, with one daffodil blooming in his place of death.
Newsletter for Active Older Adults 20 Fun Facts About the Month of March 2025
By Brandon Specktor
Updated On Feb. 03, 2025
4. March has two birthstones
March has double birthstone magic: Aquamarine, with its watery name, was like a lucky charm for Roman sailors, who believed it protected them on the high seas. Some also thought it could cool tempers, prevent poisoning and increase the chance of epiphanies. Meanwhile, its birthstone buddy, bloodstone, has an association with bravery and vitality that goes back to the Middle Ages and Christian legends.
5. March is the best month for basketball—and the worst month for productivity For civilians, the month of March is known for one thing above all others: brackets. March Madness, as the NCAA calls it, runs from March 18 to April 7 this year. But despite being an exciting month for college-hoops fans, March is not the best for U.S. employers. According to the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, productivity decreases during March Madness, with U.S. employers losing around $13.3 billion in productivity during the tournament.
6. March is the most popular month for vasectomies
March Madness is a cherished time to reacquaint oneself with the couch, especially during the early tournament days when dozens of games unfold consecutively. In other words, it’s the perfect week to recover from a vasectomy! According to Live Science, the number of vasectomies surges by 50% during the first week of March Madness. Why? Patients typically need “at least a day with ice” to keep swelling down, urologist Stephen Jones, MD, told Fox News, “ so if they’re going to spend a whole day doing nothing, it’s not hard to figure out that they’d want to do it on a day they’d like to be sitting in front of the television.”
7. March was named after Mars
March was actually named for the Latin Martius—aka Mars, the Roman god of war and a mythical ancestor of the Roman people via his wolf-suckling sons, Romulus and Remus. With the winter frosts melting and the ground becoming fertile for harvest again in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March was perfect for farmers to resume farming, as well as for warriors to resume warring.
Incidentally, the Pentagon still seems to agree with this Roman tradition: With the exception of the recent war in Afghanistan, almost all major U.S.-NATO-led military operations since the invasion of Vietnam have begun in the month of March. To name a few: Vietnam (initiated March 8, 1965), Iraq (March 20, 2003) and Libya (March 19, 2011).
8. The Ides of March led to Caesar’s downfall
We’ve all heard it uttered, but what does “beware the Ides of March” actually mean? On the Roman calendar, the midpoint of every month was known as the Ides. The Ides of March fell on March 15. This day was supposed to correlate with the first full moon of the year (remember, winter didn’t count then), and as a result, it was marked by religious ceremonies. But thanks to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, we know it for another reason.
Supposedly, in 44 B.C., a seer told Julius Caesar that his downfall would come no later than the Ides of March. Caesar ignored him, and when the fated day rolled around, he joked with the seer, “The Ides of March have come. ” The seer replied, “Aye, Caesar; but not gone. ”
Newsletter for Active Older Adults 20 Fun Facts About the Month of March 2025
By Brandon Specktor Updated On Feb. 03, 2025
Caesar continued on to a senate meeting at the Theatre of Pompey and was summarily murdered by as many as 60 conspirators. Ironically, the spot where Caesar was assassinated is protected in today’s Rome as a no-kill cat sanctuary. So if someone tells you “beware the Ides of March,” they are probably just being a jerk or letting you know they’ve read Shakespeare.
9. March 1: As the saying goes, March comes “in like a lion and out like a lamb.” That was certainly true on March 1, 2007, when a detachment of 170 Swiss infantrymen accidentally invaded neighboring Liechtenstein after getting lost on a training mission. Luckily, after explaining the mistake to Liechtenstein, the Swiss army was given directions and returned home safely.
10. March 2: On this date in 2016, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after nearly one full year on the International Space Station, setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted trip to space.
11. March 6: The Day of the Dude encourages participants to honor The Big Lebowski by takin’ ‘ er easy all day, man, and maybe buying a new rug—it’ll really tie the room together.
12. March 7: The popular board game Monopoly was invented on March 7, 1933.
13. March 9: Daylight saving time begins, freeing American city-dwellers from the constant refrain of “it’s dark before I even leave work.”
14. March 14: Pi Day celebrates the annual occurrence of 3/14 with math jokes, pi-reciting competitions and (of course) freshly baked pie.
15. March 17: St. Patrick’s Day turns the Chicago River green, among other festivities. And on this day in 1973, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” first hit the Billboard Top 200 chart at number 95. A mere 14 years later (736 chart weeks, to be exact), it finally left the top 200 for the first time, setting a still-unbroken world record.
16. March 20: The sun shines on the equator for the vernal equinox, giving us a near 50-50 split of day and night.
17. March 21: The day Twitter was launched in 2006. Founder Jack Dorsey inaugurated the social media site with his profound first tweet: “just setting up my twttr.” We can’t believe he spelled it that way either!
18. March 28: Get ready to show your cat some love on Respect Your Cat Day! This is the day to go all out on your furry friends. Gift them a new toy, an extra treat or spread the word about this unofficial celebration of kitties!
19. March 30: Looking to join a walking club or get some extra steps in this month? Well, why not start on Take a Walk in the Park Day? Take a stroll at your local park, bring a friend for company and share photos of you connecting with nature.
20. March 31: Any Parisians or Paris connoisseurs? Celebrate Eiffel Tower Day, an unofficial holiday meant to honor the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower on March 31, 1889. If visiting Paris isn’t on your list for the month of March, bring the French vibes to you! Decorate your home in Parisian decor, print out photos of the Eiffel Tower to adorn your walls and indulge in afternoon tea while wearing berets.
Hartville Senior Center at Windham Bridge
Hartville Senior Center at Windham Bridge