Tour of Homes

Spark Creativity at Any Age

Cool Pool Workout

Tour of Homes - Back by Popular Demand

Birds were singing, trees were budding and flowers were blooming. Spring was definitely in the air! A number of you joined us for the Spring Tour of Homes hosted by our Members in May, and saw retirement at Park Springs in full bloom.

Guests enjoyed a complimentary lunch, and had the opportunity to meet current Members and talk with them about life at Park Springs. Following lunch, a variety of Member homes were open for tours at our award-winning community.

Those who attended this popular event were delighted by all the choices and personalized amenities and services offered at Park Springs - from restaurant dining and fitness programs to well-designed homes and a full continuum of on-site health care.

A key message our Members emphasized at the event is that you don't have to be "ready" for a retirement community - you just have to be ready to enjoy life like you always have, only with more convenience, freedom, opportunity and great friends, who just happen to be your neighbors.

If this kind of lifestyle sounds good to you, then you won't want to miss our next Tour of Homes in the fall, and discover firsthand how we bring retirement to life at Park Springs.

Or, better yet, don't wait until fall to experience all our community has to offer. Call us today at (800) 671-3818 to schedule your personal tour and lunch - on us.

Tap into Your Inner Creativity

As a child, many of us spent countless hours designing original masterpieces by simply using a couple of crayons and a piece of construction paper; building blocks; or tissues, scissors and glue. Think you may have lost your creativity over the years? Think again.

At Park Springs, we encourage Members to tap into their inner creativity, and we celebrate the inspired endeavors of our Members. Whether you've always wanted to take guitar lessons, learn how to salsa dance, speak a new language, or are picking up a paint brush for the first time, we believe everyone has a creative spirit longing to be set free.

Discovering your creative side is not only fun and exciting, but it also offers numerous benefits as you age. In fact, according to a study by Dr. Gene Cohen, Director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University, and author of The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, creativity positively impacts the overall well-being of older adults, promotes independence and reduces some of the risk factors that contribute to the need for long-term care. In addition, Cohen's research suggests those who connect with the world through imagination - like we did as children - will have emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual benefits that are far-reaching.

Ways to Spark Your Creativity

Want to get bring more creativity into your life, but don't know where to begin?

• Enroll in one of the many personal enrichment classes and programs offered at Emory University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, from poetry and oil painting to computer training and photography.
• Check with the Fulton County Arts Council for an additional list of creative programs and opportunities in the area.
• Call (800) 671-3818 to schedule a time to meet with us and share your creative passion. We have the resources available to help you get started on your next pursuit.

Take a Creativity Quiz

If you're still a little skeptical as to how creative you really are, try taking this simple online exercise we found to be interesting and fun:

The 6-Minute Creativity Quiz poses 10 questions and nifty Web scoring to help you realize your creative potential.

A Cool Pool Workout - Summertime or Anytime!

You don't have to be a lap swimmer to get a workout in Park Springs' pool. You can easily design your own low-impact fitness routine that will be gentler on your joints and body, but still offer calorie-burning and muscle-toning benefits.

Exercising in a swimming pool offers a number of advantages over other exercises. The water reduces the pounding your body takes, but also offers resistance. For these reasons, professional athletes often use water workouts to rehabilitate injuries. Water exercise can build both cardiovascular fitness and muscle mass, while burning in the neighborhood of 400 calories an hour during demanding training.

Developing your own fitness routine in the water is relatively simple. First, like any exercise, remember that a good warm-up and cool-down, as well as stretching, are recommended. Spend approximately 5 minutes doing light movements at the start and end of your workout.

The Aquatic Exercise Association recommends building your fitness routine to include intervals of the following movement elements:

• Run/Jog, using similar motions as you would on land, either in sprinting fashion or accentuating movements like high knee lift, high heel kick or arm pumping.
• Sideways or Backwards Walk/Jog at a slower pace to work on flexibility, balance and coordination.
• Cross-country or Downhill Ski, mimicking a cross-country skiing motion by placing one leg forward and one leg back, then jumping to switch legs, swinging your arms in the opposite direction from your legs. Another option is jumping side-to-side, with knees bent, simulating downhill skiing turns.
• Tread Water, using exaggerated arms movements to stay afloat.

While it's easy to design your own swimming pool workout to meet your exact needs or fit into your schedule, Park Springs also offers a selection of group aqua aerobics and water fitness classes to keep Members fit, motivated and invigorated during the summer months, and throughout the year.