Strengthen a Neighbor, Strengthen a Community

Three years ago, Merlene's closest friend died. Merlene, who is 74, lost all motivation. Because she was not exercising, she gained a lot of weight. This is where Ivy came in...

Ivy from New Zealand, frequent success story contributor, wrote me in August about her neighbor Merlene:

"You will be pleased that I have a new lady under my wing so to speak. I lent her your book "How To Fix Your Own Pain Without Drugs Or Surgery." Along with giving her advice she tells me that it has changed her life which pleases me."

I wrote to Ivy to ask her if Merlene would be comfortable telling us more on what she did, so others could try it too. Ivy replied:

"I encouraged her to walk again. At first it was difficult, she had difficulty breathing. I noted that she was walking flat footed and taught her to lift her toes. She complained of back pain - I showed her how to lie on her stomach and lift herself up on her elbows before getting out of bed in the mornings. She has now learnt to put her spine into the neutral position. Re her breathing, I showed her how to breathe deeply. She told me that she rolled her neck every day in a circle - she now does the trapezius stretch plus pectoral stretch instead.

"Instead of bad bending, she does squats and lunges while making the bed, doing the vacuum cleaning, going to the fridge and the like, plus gardening.

I checked in with Ivy a while later to make sure all was still improving, and gave her questions to ask Merlene so I could make sure all was well. Ivy wrote again:

"Today I visited Merlene and asked her some questions. She is stronger, breathing has improved, she is more flexible, can walk further, the back pain has improved immensely. She hasn't weighed herself yet, however, is hoping that there will be a weight loss when she weighs herself next week.

"She finds your books "How to Fix Your Own Pain Without Drugs or Surgery" and your Stretching Smarter book very helpful so I left them with her so that she can refer to them.

"She also tells me that your books along with my help and advice has changed her life for the better. She has lost that negativity and feeling positive about life again.

"Merlene is a very quiet, private lady so I try to treat her in a gentle way. She comes from another country and I gather that life has been very hard. She is so enjoying what she is doing. Most important is the fact that she trusts me plus she is very happy you are doing this article.

"Merlene is happy for you to use her name. Re the photo and title (of the article) she would rather it was your choice.
"Hugs
Ivy "

Related Fitness Fixer:

• Why helping is healthy - Fast Fitness - Pro-Social Behavior Improves Health of All
• Functional Lifestyle fitness - Household Fitness in the New Year
• How healthy bending stops back pain - How Often Should You Be Healthy?
• Better stretching- Nice Neck Stretch
• Straighten out first thing - Fast Fitness - First Morning Stretch
• Do Breathing Exercises Work?
• Spotting neutral and non-neutral spine and why it matters - Prevent Back Surgery

Related Fitness Fixer - Ivy's Fun Stories:

• Ivy shows another neighbor in Each One Teach One
• Ivy's fun story of Farm Work, Lifestyle Exercise, and Preventing Overuse Pain
• How Ivy began - Inspirational Ivy

Unrelated Random Fun Fitness Fixer:

• Make Healthier Cleaners

Books:

• How to Fix Your Own Pain Without Drugs or Surgery and Stretching SmarterStretching Healthier, and others, on www.DrBookspan.com/books.

Labels: aging, breathing, depression, fix pain, partner exercise, readers inspiring story, spirit, walking, weight loss

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