Art of Movement

Led by Ms. Eileen Jones, who has been teaching this beloved class for over 51 years, the Art of Movement helps older adults improve flexibility, posture, balance, and coordination while fostering relaxation and enjoyment through mindful movement. Offered to the Tower League congregation and the wider community, these classes encourage harmony of body, mind, and spirit through gentle, expressive motion. ART OF MOVEMENT CLASSES FOR OLDER ADULTS A message from Ms. Eileen Jones, class instructor The Art of Movement classes are designed to increase flexibility and health for older adults. Focused exercise results in better posture, reduces back and joint pain, and expands the capacity to relax. A mobile, free body, which gives one a sense of harmony and enjoyment, is important throughout our lifetime. The best results from these activities come from understanding some of the basic concepts of this program. Awareness incorporates what we are doing, what parts are moving, and their relationship to the whole of the body, the where in space and the feeling of what we do. Thinking. Feeling. Doing. In teaching the Art of Movement with Older Adults, I see how the sense of enjoyment and of new possibilities increase as we become more confident about moving and are able to feel secure and self-reliant as balance and coordination improves. As we age many body processes are slowing down. Physically, we are more vulnerable, balance can become problematic, and old injuries and arthritis create pain and stiffness. At the same time, the psychic journey becomes increasingly inward and our sensitivity to the transitoriness of life is heightened. It is a time that our spiritual values are deeply questioned. Our need for a sense of worth, relatedness, and belonging is strong. The benefits of the class result in learning how movement is both functional and expressive and our natural way of communicating. The pleasure and fun of meeting others and in the groups’ exploring common and…