October 2023

Visit our website at: https://vital-aging-network.org/

In this edition

• Maximizing Emotional Health--as a Key Contributor to Aging with Gusto
• About our Aging with Gusto program
• Support VAN during Give to the Max Day on November 16
• Getting a cardio workout during colder weather
• Wellness 50+ news and events

News from Aging with Gusto

For the last several months Aging with Gusto has been sharing one Key Contributor to Aging with Gusto each month in the VAN e-Bulletin. Those Key Contributors are:

1. Doing things that you find satisfying or fulfilling.
2. Striving to maximize physical health.
3. Striving to maximize cognitive health (thinking).
4. Striving to maximize emotional health (feelings).
5. Learning new things and challenging yourself.
6. Having choice and control over decisions that affect your life.
7. Being connected with family, friends and a broader community.
8. Having a sense of purpose, doing things that are meaningful, and contributing to something greater than yourself.

In October, we conclude the series with a column from Aging with Gusto Facilitator Sally Brown who focuses on Maximizing EmotionalHealth--a concept that, in reality encompases all of the Key Contributors

Maximizing Emotional Health

by Sally Brown, Aging with Gusto facilitator

Maximizing Emotional Health is one of the eight key contributors we highlight in Aging with Gusto. When we refer to emotional health we are referring to our feelings, our emotional welling being and our mental health. The research and literature I reviewed defined mental health as one’s emotional, psychological and social wellbeing and emphasized that mental health hugely impacts the overall quality of one’s life.



One of the things we emphasize throughout Aging with Gusto is the importance of having a positive perspective on aging. Our perspective and attitudes affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors and therefore our emotional health. It is easy to get fixated on the challenges that can come with aging and to be influenced by stereotypes and negative messages we have received throughout our lives about becoming old. Yet, most older adults report good mental health and have fewer mental health problems than other age groups. Research tells us that people are generally more satisfied with their lives and are more optimistic as they grow older. Personality traits typically remain stable over time and wisdom and creativity usually continue until the end of life. Read the complete article here.

Learn more about our Aging with Gusto and Confronting Ageism workshops

Aging with Gusto workshops: are designed as a three-part, interactive series of sessions, with each session lasting about 90 minutes. Sessions may be held in person or via an online platform such as Zoom. They are led by trained facilitators.

Learn more about Aging with Gusto by watching this short video.

Download this flyer about the work of Aging with Gusto

Confronting Ageism workshops: are one-session events also led by trained facilitators that guide you and your group through activities that explore the roots and impacts of ageism and create opportunities for you to discover ways to combat them.

Both workshops are available in person or virtually via Zoom.

Jan Cunningham is Aging with Gusto's program coordinator. Contact her at jancunninghamAWG@gmail.com for information about scheduling Aging with Gusto and Confronting Ageism workshops for your groups.

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Aging with Gusto leads three events in October

Wednesday, October 4,  Vital Aging Network partnered with the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging to offer a program entitled Combating Ageism. This was the third time the two organizations partnered to lead a discussion about the fundamentals of ageism, how to recognize it, and take-home strategies to address ageism.  

Wednesday, October 11, Aging with Gusto, in partnership with AARP, offered a course on Confronting Ageism. Participants learned about ageism and its impact on our lives, the benefits of aging, and some ways to confront ageism that may occur in our lives.

Tuesday, October 17.,  Aging with Gusto will lead a group of volunteers from Senior Community Service in a discussion entitled What Contributes to Your Aging with Gusto. The presentation will discuss the contributors to aging with gusto and offer participants practical strategies to implement the contributors into their lives.

Support VAN on Give to the Max Day, November 16!

Support the work of the Vital Aging Network on Give to the Max day, November 16.

To donate, click here.

Get those screenings and preventive care procedures

During the COVID pandemic, many of us delayed regular visits to our doctors and those important screenings, preventative tests, and vaccines that we know are important to our health. It was understandable--access was limited; we were getting conflicting messages about the safety at medical care facilities; and, frankly, we just didn't know what was what!

But things are different now. And if you know you're overdue for an appointment with your primary care doctor, or if you have passed that due date for a preventative test, the best time to make an appointment is today!

You'll have yourself to thank for your continued good health and vitality

Getting a cardio workout during colder weather

by Mia Bremer

If you’re not an avid skier, fat-tire mountain biker, or ice-skater, getting your cardio exercise in the winter months gets tougher. As we start to put our road bikes away and the sidewalks get snowy and icy, we may not be able to keep up a pace that allows us to exercise our heart muscle outdoors.

 If you’re lucky and have access to group exercise classes nearby, that’s a plus. Even so, there are some days when snow and ice may keep us from venturing out but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your cardiovascular exercise in your own home. Resistance training is easy – a few fitness bands or dumbbells and a video or a workout you’ve devised will keep your muscles strong. The CDC recommends strength training twice a week. The more difficult part of your fitness regimen may be getting enough cardiovascular exercise which the CDC recommends we do for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Here are some ways to accomplish this:

Read her entire column here.

News from Wellness 50+

Wellness 50+ community-wide events

Wellness 50+ hosts a series of community-wide events in addition to events organized and led by our community groups (Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and Phillips neighborhood). All of our community-wide events are listed in this newsletter AND are posted on the Wellness 50+ website calendar (https://vital-aging-network.org/wellness-50). Registration for community-wide events is via our Meetup Group "Wellness 50+ Twin Cities". Join the group (Wellness 50+ Twin Cities Meetup Group). You will receive email notifications when an event is ready for registration.

Upcoming community-wide events

-Halloween Dance Party, October 31, Oakdale Discovery Center*, 1 pm (Currently Full)

We will have Monica Mohn, a line dance instructor, back to lead us in Halloween themed line dances. Dance-friendly Halloween costumes are encouraged. We will socialize with cookies and mulled cider after dancing. Join the waitlist on Meetup (Oct 31 Halloween Dance Party ).

*The Oakdale Discovery Center is located at 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale.

-1st Tuesday, November 7, Evening Hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve*, 6 pm

Join us for an evening hike on the lighted Nordic trails before the snow flies. We will start on the 1.1 mile Yellow trail and have options for longer hikes on the Green and Brown trails. Register on Meetup (Nov 7 Lake Elmo Evening Hike ).

*The Lake Elmo Park Reserve is located at 1515 Keates Avenue N., Lake Elmo.

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Community-wide events we've enjoyed recently

-4th Monday, Biking Brown's Creek & St. Croix River Loop Trails, September 25

We were able to get a nice ride down the Brown's Creek Trail into Stillwater then around the bridge loop before the rain came. The 4.7 mile bridge loop is a very scenic paved trail from downtown Stillwater, across the Highway 36 bridge into Wisconsin then back down the hill to the Lift Bridge. You can walk it or bike it. It is particularly beautiful with the fall colors.

-Fall Paddle, Mississippi River Kayak, September 26 

 We paddled a gentle channel of the Mississippi River starting in South St. Paul. We saw many bald eagles, egrets, blue herons and a green heron. The green heron flew back and forth right in front of us so we got a closeup view. They are much smaller than blue herons and very cute.

This was our last kayak event of 2023. Our first 2024 paddle will be in May.

-1st Tuesday, Hike at St. Croix Bluffs Park, October 3

This hike on the wooded trails of St. Croix Bluffs park should be named the "Mushroom Hike". We came across an amazing variety of mushrooms right along the trail. There were bright orange, bright yellow and even blue mushrooms! Others looked like a round igloo, and some looked like concrete blocks. While we were a bit early for fall tree colors, the mushrooms provided the "fall color and variety" for us.  

-Fall Bike Ride, Kaposia Landing Mississippi River Trail, October 9

We rode along the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) from Kaposia Landing to the Rock Island Swing Bridge Park and back. Temperatures were cool at the start but the sun was shining. We stopped at the interpretive signs and learned the swing bridge history. Warren Samuelson shared that he used to drive across the bridge when it was a double decker with the trains on top and the cars on the bottom. It was closed to use in 1999 and is now a scenic pier out into the river.

This was our last bike ride of 2023. Our first 2024 ride will be in May.

See images from these events below.

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Upcoming Oakdale Wellness 50+ events

Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, October 20, from 9 am-3 pm at the Oakdale Discovery Center*. Sign up at redcrossblood.org.

The Movie Club will discuss Book Club on Tuesday, October 24, at 1 pm at the Oakdale Library*.

The Wellness Book Club will discuss What to Eat When by Michael Poizen and Michael Crupain on Tuesday, November 28, at 6:30 pm at the Oakdale Library*.

*The Oakdale Library is located at 1010 Heron Ave. North, Oakdale

**The Oakdale Discovery Center is located at 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale

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Upcoming Cottage Grove Wellness 50+ events

Scat Cats with Vicky Mountain 

Monday, Oct. 16, from 6-7 p.m. 

Park Grove Library (7900 Hemingway Ave. S., Cottage Grove)

From Baroque music ornamentation to African field songs’ call and response to Louis Armstrong forgetting the words to the virtuosic melodies of Ella Fitzgerald – scat singing is part of the uniquely American style that is jazz.

“Scat” singing is vocal improvisation without words that presents the voice as an instrument. Join Vicky Mountain from the MacPhail Center for Music as she takes you through the history of scat singing and then awakens the creative spark in all with participation in exercises and songs in this free concert for all ages at Park Grove Library. No RSVP required. 

This program is funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Learn to Line Dance

Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 4-5 p.m. 

Red Barn VFW 8752 (9620 East Point Douglas Rd., Cottage Grove)

Come join us for a beginner level line dance class at the Red Barn VFW in Cottage Grove. This is a great warm up or intro class for anyone who may want to practice before attending the Oct. 31 Wellness 50+ Halloween Line Dance party. 

Sign up here: https://LineDanceClassVFW.eventbrite.com

Balanced Wellness Series: Healthy Meal Planning

Monday, Nov. 6 from 1-2 p.m. 

Join Live 2 B Healthy®️ Fitness Professional, Melissa Bailey at Park Grove Library (7900 Hemingway Ave. S., Cottage Grove) for Balanced Wellness, a series of free monthly educational wellness talks for adults ages 55+. The format will be 30-45 minute presentation, followed by a 15 minute sample Live 2 B Healthy®️ fitness class. There will be time for Q&A and handouts will be provided.

Register for this program at: https://washcolib.libcal.com/event/10739780

Opportunities from partner organizations

From River Market Co-op Community in Stillwater

This fall River Market in Stillwater is offering both in-person and Zoom classes.

You can register for any of the classes on River Market website:  http://www.rivermarket.coop/news/classes/

After registration, an email link to join the Zoom presentations will be emailed to you.

In-person classes will be held at River Market conference room, 221 Main St., N., Stillwater.

For more information, email Ola Schmelig education@rivermarket.coop