Physical Fitness for Healthy Aging

Holistic Practitioner Spotlight with Jennifer Lawson, Fitness Instructor & Aromatherapist

We are speaking with Jennifer Lawson, BS, IAC, CGFI on how she works to optimize fitness with aging populations

Tell Us a Story About Your Fitness Classes and How Older People Greatly Benefit

I am so fortunate to work with my students who live in assisted living and nursing home communities and don’t have to travel for these fitness classes. The classes, though small, are filled with participants ranging in age from 65 to 103! There are a few men who show up but I would say that 90% are women.

Universally, the reason these people show up is their interest in feeling better. Exercises are gentle, yet quite effective in reducing their muscle stiffness. They come because it energizes them. And some hope to reduce medication requirements.

Fitness classes offered are seated or chair yoga, tai chi, weight lifting, stretch bands and stability (balance exercises). Right before the class starts, I generally spray the room with an aromatherapy blend that with deep breathing has a positive subtle calming affect. The blend varies depending on the weather and temperature.

Students always report feeling better physically after each class and their mood elevated. They appreciate having a regular activity without having to travel. It gives me a great deal of joy working with this population. The communities and Silver Sneakers pay for my services so that the participants don’t have to worry about the cost. They can just show up and keep showing up.

Why and When Did You Choose the Holistic Path?

As a child and into my adulthood, I was very ill with chronic kidney infections. After surgeries and multiple medications that had side-effects and didn’t help, I decided to try something different when I was pregnant with my first child and had a terrible kidney infection.

I found the benefits with herbal remedies and wanted to learn more. Eventually I went back to college after the birth of my second child and discovered many other alternative therapies and was especially drawn to aromatherapy.

I enrolled in the Integrative Therapies Program at Metro that focused on Holistic Healthcare in conjunction with Allopathic care. I incorporated Yoga, diet, and aromatherapy into my own treatments. Now at 43 I am healthier than I was at 23, even after having 3 children.

What Lessons Have Your Work and Personal Experiences Taught You?

First of all I have learned a very important lesson of accepting personal choices. As an ex-smoker and ex-junk food addict,  I finally recognized that my health was in jeopardy and I made the decision to quit all of these addictive behaviors.

I see many people in the same situations and I just want to tell them what to do to fix it. But I know that if I did give advice, they would not listen and probably would not like me afterwards either. I remember my own grandmother had just quit smoking because of a lung biopsy. She was telling me how I had to quit or I would end up like her. Then I remember thinking, “that will never happen to me, I am not like her.” Then at 30 I can’t carry my own baby up the stairs because I can’t breathe. So it hits me and I decide to make a change.

I understand now that everyone must come to their own conclusions and cannot be forced to see what they are doing wrong. This has been the hardest lesson for me. So, I help by example by helping people feel better through fitness, aromatherapy, and holistic lifestyle.They don’t have to be trapped in a failing body, no matter their age.

To do this, in addition to fitness classes, I offer multiple wellness-promoting group classes including Wellness Education, Herbal-craft, Aroma-craft, Pain Relief, and more.

Biography

Jennifer is a Senior Fitness Instructor, Wellness Educator, Herbalist and Aromatherapist. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Integrative Therapies with a minor in Nursing from Metropolitan State University of Denver  in 2012.

Jennifer has Certifications in:

• Integrative Aromatherapy from the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy in Boulder, 2013.
• Group Fitness Instructor from ACE, 2016.
• Silver Sneakers for Senior Fitness Classes, 2018.

Jennifer is personally experienced with using herbal remedies since 2000 and Aromatherapy since 2012. She has been an Instructor in Wellness Education, Herbal-craft and Aroma-craft classes since 2013 and Fitness classes since 2016.

Jennifer Lawson, BS, IAC, CGFI
Fitness Instructor & Aromatherapist
Mother Jai’s
PO Box 1975
Arvada, Colorado  80004

Visit Jennifer’s Website

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