Cognitive Health, the ability to think, learn, and remember, is an important component of brain health:
- Motor function – how well you make and control movements
- Emotional function – how well you interpret and respond to emotions
- Sensory function – how well you feel and respond to sensations of touch, including pressure, pain, and temperature
5 Things to Focus on for Maintaining Cognitive Health:
- Take Care of Your Health
- Eat Healthy Foods
- Be Physically Active
- Keep Your Mind Active
- Stay Connected
Physical Activity
Studies link ongoing Physical Activity with benefits to the brain. In one study, exercise stimulated the human brain’s ability to maintain old network connections and make new ones that are vital to cognitive health. Other studies have shown that exercise increased the size of the brain structure important to memory and learning.
Keep Your Mind Active
Keeping intellectually engaged has been found to show benefit to the brain. People who engage in meaningful activities, like volunteering or hobbies, say they feel happier and healthier. Learning new skills may improve your thinking ability as well. For example, one study found that older adults who learned quilting or digital photography had more memory improvement than those who only socialized or did less cognitively demanding activities.
Formal cognitive training also seems to have benefits. In the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial, healthy adults 65 and older participated in 10 sessions of memory training, reasoning training, or processing-speed training. The sessions improved participants’ mental skills in the area in which they were trained. Most of these improvements persisted 10 years after the training was completed!
This class takes the popular Latin dance-inspired workout of Zumba and makes it accessible for seniors, beginners or others needing modifications in their exercise routine. Zumba Gold builds cardiovascular health by challenging the heart and working the muscles of the hips, legs, and arms with dance moves. Wednesdays @ 8:30 am in the Cordata Gym.
Get a great cardio low-impact workout in the water! Great for all abilities and fitness levels. Looking for a water aerobics class with a twist? Try out Aqua Zumba! It is a fast-paced, body-toning water workout that combines the rhythm of a traditional Zumba class with the increased resistance in the pool. Check 
Twenty-two months ago I announced to Cathy and my co-workers I would be retiring, of course at the time it was a long ways off. Now…I will be officially retired. Yikes!
We are getting into the busy season for Swim Lessons, so make sure you take a look at the schedule and secure your spot for May early! We are offering a bigger variety of classes at different times – we are still running the Angelfish II class in the mornings, so if you have a confident 2-year old, this is the class for you! You’ll also see more Starfish classes offered in the afternoon, for students who are ages 7+ and just starting out in lessons.
Jessie has been employed at BAC since 2006. She is not a full-time employee any longer as she accepted a job at Mount Baker Imaging in August of 2016, but she is still running racquetball and basketball programs. She grew up in Indiana and graduated from Ball State University in 2006. Jessie enjoys water skiing, playing racquetball and anything else close to the water, and of course, spending time with Jasper.
Carly originates from Vancouver, WA and at the early age of 18 she moved to Bellingham to attend Whatcom Community College. In August of 2013, she was hired as a part of the Kids Club staff. Over the course of 3 years, she worked in different departments and became an integral part of the BAC. After a 3 year hiatus from the Club, she is now back serving as our Member Services Director.
Easter Sunday, April 21st. Holiday Hours:
Sunday Step Class will be canceled effective this Sunday, April 21st until the fall.