Resident Rosa Liokumovichprepares to duplic<strong>at</strong>e SheilaLederer’s yoga posture.She also does laughing exercises. “It’swonderful therapy. Then there is ‘the lionthing,’ when I ask the residents to take a bigbre<strong>at</strong>h, open their mouths wide, and roar.”“Yoga means union of mind and body,” sheexplains. “I figured maybe I could get theseresidents to think about wh<strong>at</strong> I’m saying and thentry to do it themselves.”Sheila is thrilled with her success. “I have seenamazing results in people who rarely respondto anything else. They smile, they laugh, andsometimes they even talk back to me. Of course, Idon’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” she grins.From their feet to their heads, Sheila willencourage her pupils to move every part of theirbodies they can. She tries to vary the exercises,although she notes th<strong>at</strong> it can be challenging tofind something new to do with wheelchair-boundresidents. Still, anyone walking by the area isastonished <strong>at</strong> the activity she elicits from some ofthe usually passive residents.Sheila dispenses advice together with her yogamovements. There is this recommend<strong>at</strong>ion: “If youpractice hugging your knees into your body, evenwhen you are in bed, it’s good for digestion.” Shealso tells her students to focus on their bre<strong>at</strong>hingwhen they are afraid. Since bre<strong>at</strong>h control is a keypart of yoga, Sheila teaches participants to bre<strong>at</strong>hein and out on counts of three.She also does laughing exercises. “It’s wonderfultherapy. Then there is ‘the lion thing,’ when I ask theresidents to take a big bre<strong>at</strong>h, open their mouthswide, and roar.” She recalls one man who seldomsays a word suddenly letting out a big roar. “Heclearly needed to do so!”Yoga is an integral part of Sheila’s life and sheis definitely an advoc<strong>at</strong>e for the practice. “I’mvery active, and yoga quietens me and keeps mecentered. It’s also gre<strong>at</strong> exercise. It’s strengtheningand keeps me very fit. Yoga is portable, too; you cando it anywhere. I’ll continue doing it my whole life inone way or another.”She is also developing a new cadre of yogapractitioners with the certified nursing assistantswho accompany residents to class. “I have themdoing it as well. It’s wonderful to see them inaction,” she says.On one recent occasion, as Sheila was leaving <strong>at</strong>the end of a class, a resident who generally neverspeaks looked <strong>at</strong> her and called out, “Where are yougoing?” Says Sheila, “Having him connect with mefelt very good. And we’re having a good time, too.”22 Jewish Senior Living summer 2008
PAST…PRESENT…FUTUREOn January 22, 2008, all 11 living past presidents of the JewishHome of San Francisco convened for the first of wh<strong>at</strong> will becomeestablished semi-annual meetings – either focusing on importantissues facing the Home, or of a more social n<strong>at</strong>ure.At this historic inaugural g<strong>at</strong>hering, the presidents’ talents, skills, leadership, and philanthropicsupport were recognized. Their decades of commitment provided an inspiring bridgebetween the Home’s current professional and lay leadership in <strong>at</strong>tendance and consultantswho discussed contemporary trends and innov<strong>at</strong>ion in the senior living industry.Standing, L. to R. James Davis, Leonard Berger, David Friedman, Arlene Krieger, Stuart Seiler, Richard Rosenberg, Douglas HellerSe<strong>at</strong>ed, L. to R. William Lowenberg, Frances Green, Barbara Rosenberg, Victor Marcussummer 2008Jewish Senior Living23