Are you an Occupational Therapy Assistant, Recreation assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant or Activities Coordinator?
Do you wish you could do more to improve the physical health, wellbeing and quality of life for the people you care for?
Did you know that recent research shows that dance is one of the best forms of exercise for older people with improvements in mood, balance, agility and quality of life?
Dance has been proven to be the one of the best forms of exercise for older people with improvements in mood, balance, agility and quality of life.
Bupa in their ‘Shall we Dance’ Report said:
“There is considerable and emerging evidence of the benefits of dance as an exercise option for older people. However, too often policy makers in Government and beyond are overlooking the contribution dance can make to the welfare of older people, often concentrating on less inclusive exercise and sports-based activities…. We believe that organisations that provide dance activities for older people in the community, in care homes and hospitals, can make a major contribution to better physical and mental wellbeing of the growing numbers of older people in the population”(1).
What are the benefits of Dance?
Well for starters it’s FUN! It’s also an enjoyable social activity. It encourages conversations and lifts the energy of everyone participating. In addition, dancing always involves music which is one of life’s most precious gifts.
Studies have shown that dance based activities can improve an older person’s aerobic power; muscle endurance; muscle strength; flexibility; static balance; dynamic balance and agility; gait speed and reduce the rate of falls. (2)
Hello! My name is Michelle Locke, I’m the founder of Wu Tao and a Registered Nurse. As a nurse who’s worked in the aged care environment, I understand the importance of providing programs and interventions that improve the physical, mental and spiritual health and quality of life for the people we care for. That’s why I’ve developed this specialised Stretch Dance Relax program for people who may be experiencing physical challenges, cognitive impairment, dementia and other symptoms associated with ageing or disability.
The Stretch Dance Relax program is an easy to implement, non-pharmacological intervention that improves quality of life in older people and is particularly useful for people suffering the symptoms of dementia. A Stretch Dance Relax session consists of easy warm-up exercises, self directed massage, gentle dance movements and relaxing meditations. As a psycho-social intervention the Wu Tao Stretch Dance Relax program brings laughter, joy and fun to residents and their carers. Therapeutically, it improves physical and mental health, improves sleep and induces relaxation.
“Take a moment and imagine a group of your favourite clients. They’ve had a long week of sitting around. They’re dealing with their on-going health issues, missing family and looking a bit low. You bring them together and guide them through a gentle dance process to beautiful music that gets them smiling and laughing in 5 minutes! They swing their arms around, dance the cobwebs out of their bodies and deep breathe like there was no tomorrow. 40 minutes later they are sitting quietly, peaceful expressions on their faces, as they listen to your guided relaxing meditation. When they open their eyes they are beaming with gratitude and warmth.They are so grateful for the opportunity to share this place of joy and fun with you! You can see it in their eyes…..They are happy and relaxed again”.
This is what happens in a Stretch Dance Relax session. In a group session it’s a fun way to reduce stress for both residents and carers. It improves relationships and connection between people and generally increases levels of happiness and well-being within a group.
The program can also be used very effectively with individual clients. It’s particularly useful as a therapeutic intervention with clients who may be displaying agitation and anxiety. Significant improvement has been observed in many clients exhibiting difficult behaviours such as wandering, yelling, anxiety and aggression.
Stretch Dance Relax Certified Training Course
What’s involved?
The training to become a Stretch Dance Relax facilitator can be completed online or by attending a 2 day training program. It ensures you have all the practical and theoretical skills to effectively deliver a Stretch Dance Relax program to your clients individually and in a group environment.
Course Content
- Introduction to Wu Tao Dance and the Stretch Dance Relax Program.
- An overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine healing principles.
- Discussion of recent research and benefits of dance and music therapy.
- Learn the format for a Wu Tao Stretch Dance Relax group session
- Learn best practice methods for implementation.
- Review recent case studies
- Learn how to use the program with individual clients.
- Learn specialised visualisation and relaxation exercises
- Learn when and how to use personalised music therapy with clients.
What will you gain from doing the course?
- The skills to deliver the Stretch Dance Relax Program to your clientele.
- The ability to devise individualised movement programs for clients
- Knowledge of how non-pharmacological tools such as dance can help reduce client anxiety and improve mood.
- Insight into the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to health.
- A beautiful method to help restore the well-being and health of clients.
- Increased physical energy, emotional balance and inner peace for yourself
- The satisfaction of knowing that you are doing something positive and therapeutic for your client
“Wu Tao Dance Therapy has proven to be an effective activity with all residents. Residents present as unsettled and anxious before the commencement of the dance therapy session and are displaying numerous behaviours such as sundowning and wandering. The group brings all of the residents together and gives them something active to focus on which reduces the amount of residents wandering and displaying agitative symptoms. The music used in the session calms the residents and reduces their stress. After the session is finished, the residents are content and willing to sit in the lounge area and listen to music. There is a reduction in the amount of residents rambling and confusion after the session. it is an fantastic program and an asset to Carinya”.
Rachel Parker – Occupational Therapy Assistant at Carinya Care Service
Click here to see how the program is being successfully implemented
Online Training Delivery
- The online program consists of a series of lessons which you can do in your own time at home or in your workplace. We support you to stay on track with the course, by sending you regular lesson emails and we are only a phone call or email away to help with any training queries.
- Your training package includes comprehensive resource materials which includes DVD’s, music CD’s, and a workbook manual to help you to successfully learn and implement the Stretch Dance RelaxTM program. This is posted out to you after your enrolment is received. These resources are also available as downloads through your private online learning portal.
- A certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the training program. Course Cost $597.00 Your investment for this course which includes the complete training online, the audio, video and workbook resources, and personalised mentoring.
Need more information before starting the program? Contact me directly here and I’ll personally answer all your questions.
I look forward to talking with you soon.
