Work and play. Indulge and regulate. Exercise and relax. Participate, but pace your involvement. Regardless of age, a healthy lifestyle demands commitment with balance. According to a Morro Bay certified personal trainer and fitness adviser, Suze Crowley, “Balance is a big word with lots of meanings. I emphasize it is never too late and never too little.”

For over 25 years, Crowley has served others. Although she semi-retired two years ago to spend more time with family and on personal projects, she still works three days a week at FitnessWorks of Morro Bay or helps clients through her personal training business, AIM Accentuate Improve Motivate (suze@att.net). “I missed working with people. Seniors seem to be my forte.”

She explained the literal concept of balance. ”As we get older we have physical changes that challenge our balance. Vision, bone density, posture changes, and alertness – these changes contribute to balance issues that may cause falls and other procedures. I don’t mean to be trite, but if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. I work on the core muscles that give us strength and self- confidence.”

When her daughter, Nicole, was one, Crowley discovered aerobics at the Morro Bay Community Center. “I was asked to take over the ‘Off Your Rocker’ class. I loved choreographing the movements to the music and taught classes for Morro Bay Recreation.” Foot surgery slowed her down. “I was also a physical therapist aid for TherapyWorks (of Morro Bay). I wanted to teach ‘Fit for All’ classes at FitnessWorks. It was a natural progression after therapy for many clients.”

She taught choreographed fitness classes five days a week – each with a different routine. “People knew me as the crazy lady walking the streets of Morro Bay with ear buds making strange movements. I was practicing while walking to work.”

Today she focuses on personal training. “Some people need the motivation of a trainer to keep up their exercise program. Others might need to get started.” Crowley explained one client signed up for balance training because he loved to fish the area creeks, but felt tippy on the pebbles in the streams and didn’t want to risk a fall.pt

Crowley said, “Fear of falling, low blood pressure, an inner ear problem, changes in vision are some contributors to a balance problem. One exercise I do to test my balance is standing on one leg while brushing my teeth.”

A fall is the obvious warning sign that balance training would be helpful. But if one stumbles at curbs or on uneven sidewalks or trips over the dog, it is probably time to focus on balance to prevent a future fall that may disrupt life as you planned to live it.