Oh Shine On, Shine on Harvest Moon is for a colorful autumn season for the Senior Champions in Williamsburg and surrounding area. Our wonderful active older adults were energized, empowered and engaged in a “autumn colors and moonlight” Theme music wellness session this week.
We began with a wellness exercise with included guided deep breathing to recorded music. Then we residents moved and grooved with colorful vegetable shakers to the tune “I like to Eat (Shake), Eat (Shake), Eat (Shake), ____ shaker!” The various colorful Vegetable shakers included: cucumbers, squash, watermelon, pumpkins, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, potatoes. We also moved and grooved together reaching high, low, in the middle, fast and slow.
Then each senior champion shared how they liked to eat their vegetable. Responses included: Pumpkin Pie, Cucumber Tomato Salad, mashed potatoes, stuffed peppers.”
Then we discussed growing the vegetables in the garden and the healthy benefits of eating vegetables for our bodies and growing.
To reflect on the beautiful moon this time of year, we then sang a few moon songs including: “Shine on Harvest Moon, By the Light of the Silvery Moon” and transitioned into moving as a team with a large white scarf to the song “Fly me to the Moon.”
Then sound shape drums were distributed, the residents tapped several patterns and rhythms on the sound shape drums, emphasizing starting and stopping together. Then each individual tapped in rhythm to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
Lastly, we drew pictures of moons and stars on the drums. We then discussed the beautiful full lit moon in the evening, seeing falling stars and space station.
The closing activity included a deep breathing wellness
activity to “Moon River” and inviting each resident to share how she felt from the music session. Reflective comments included: “wonderful, loved it all, lovely and awesome.”
