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Our September meeting was excellent, thanks to our featured speaker and club member, Mike Guillory. Mike has studied neuroplasticity, the science of keeping brain cells vibrant and growing. Learning new movements as we age can actually increase our number of brain cells and increase our brain power. There are three main components of successful neurogenesis (generating new brain cells) - feeding your brain, exercising your brain and getting sleep for your brain. The best way to feed your brain is with protein. Some additional foods to focus on are fatty fish, dark coffee and green tea, organic blueberries, turmeric-curcumin, organic broccoli, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, nuts (especially walnuts), organic oranges, eggs. Avoid smoking and alcohol which are poisons to the brain! Mike explained how exercising is the most effective way to turn stem cells into neurons that make connections in the brain. Aerobic exercise is the best. Blood flow to the brain is key. That means getting your heart pumping with deliberate movements that you have to focus on - dance, yoga, tai chi, even different strokes in swimming. Learning a new skill also challenges your brain, as do thinking activities like crosswords and chess. According to Mike, the worst invention in the world for our brains was television. The last way to ensure that we're generating new brain cells is getting good sleep. We should be getting 7-8 hours of solid sleep every night, as that is when your body floods the brain with nutrients and allows it to recharge. Club members can go to our page on the OHCC website to access Mike's handout. Thanks, Mike! We all learned a lot. Mark your calendars for our final meeting of 2023. On Thurs., Nov. 16 at 6 pm we will gather in Abravanel Hall. A short business meeting including the election of 2024 officers will start off the evening. Then, we'll enjoy a light supper and socialize with other members. Last year's autumn party was a great success, and this year will be the same. Oh, did I mention that this is free to members? This is a great time to renew your membership or join the club for the first time. If you join now, your membership will be good through all of 2024 for just $10. Drop off a check to the OHCC Swim & Wellness Club at the clubhouse. Ask for a registration form from our folder so that we have your name, address, phone and email. You can also pay your membership dues at Do Dues Day on Saturday, January 13th. Club member and lap swimmer Patti Waterman spends summers in Montana. Before returning to OHCC in September, Patti participated in the annual State Senior Olympics in Helena. This event showcases 15 different sports and draws about 300 athletes from all over the state. Patti entered six swimming events and took first place in all six. And set five state records for 70–74-year-olds. Congratulations, Patti! ~ Sara Stewart, Club VP | OHCC LIVING | NOVEMBER 2023 | 45 Swim & Wellness Club Happy Thanksgiving. You have opportunities four times each week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to exercise your body and keep it fit. We hope you will join in the fun and fitness! Your first class is FREE so you can try the class and see how it works for you before joining. Our instructor is fully qualified and a professional Yoga Instructor. Her name is Cheryl Todd, and she will be at the concierge desk in the Clubhouse lobby to check you in between 10:45 and 11:15 am and ask you to sign the attendance sheet and pay $5 cash before the Chair Yoga Class begins. She will be on the large stage at 11:15 am so you can easily see her movements and hear her instructions from your chair in a sitting position. You can choose to stand behind the chair for about 10 minutes, before class ends, so she can lead you to practice your standing poses for improved balance and posture. On Tuesday, we have a different professional Yoga instructor, Tatis Cervantes-Aiken, who lives in Ocean Hills Country Club. She has her class from 8 to 9 am in the Majorca Room in the Clubhouse. Please bring a mat for her Chair-to-Mat class and join the other people who exercise with Tatis. This class is absolutely FREE because she is a resident and does not charge for her class. We recommend that you come early as only 15 people can fit in the room to exercise using the chair and mats on the floor. Contact Carol Farrell, Secretary and/or Barry Farrell, VP at phone number (760) 842-8352 for more information or check the OHCC website for The OH Senior Fitness Club. Senior Fitness Club Club member Mike Guillory explains ways to increase our brain power Patti Waterman shows off her six first place medals from the State Senior Olympics