An episode to catch everyone up on what’s been going on in the life of someone in their early 60s with a progressive health condition. Waning energy prohibits many of us for reaching all of the goals we’d like to achieve. It takes time to acclimate to a new normal and reassess which goals are most important and how best to achieve them dealing with new limitations. Foremost for someone with myotonic dystrophy, like myself, is getting enough sleep so I have energy to maintain a regular movement practice even with shifting mobility.

The annual May Movement Challenge I’ve produced for the last three years will change. To stay current, join the Movement Challenge Facebook group. If you live near the north coast of California, or plan to visit, check out a new local program – Leslie’s Accessible Walks.

My guest for this Glass Half Full podcast episode is Patrick Regan. Patrick is a young man living in Alaska with SMA (spinal muscle atrophy) who uses AAC to communicate. We've gotten to know each other through online BORP classes -- Tai Chi and Pilates. 

Our communication previous to our Zoom podcast recording was through Zoom’s chat. Patrick is not able to speak and uses technology to communicate via text or assisted speech.

Our podcast recording was the first time I actually saw him live since he usually has a photo of himself in the Zoom window. And he varies the photos so I’ve seen him dressed up for different themes especially in the Rumba with Tina dance class.

 Anyhow, Patrick has proven himself to be quite tech savvy and I wanted to learn more about the AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) he uses.

I don’t know who coined the term movement is medicine, but it resonates for me. My early experiences with exercise were not joyful; grade school physical education was bad medicine. But once I started dancing with friends in high school – before carding and ID checks were mandatory – I experienced movement in a positive way. Shortly after college I started a yoga practice which was medicine for my body and mind.

In this podcast episode I tell my story of what led up to the 2021 launch of the May Movement Challenge -- a month of free online movement classes that are meant to be accessible and adaptive for anyone and everyone.

You’ll also hear from Natalie Graniela – one of the several movement instructors participating in the annual May Movement Challenge. Natalie talks about her gyrokinesis movement practice and working with senior adults as well as people with different bodies and abilities.

For more information visit the website: https://maymovementchallenge.com,  register for this year’s month of free online movement classes: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvd-yhrDsrGNB8RbtdI8mhTYG-_BUJ90mB,  and join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/166227591989420