You can brush up your dancing, learn from a 70-year-old how to hit the archer’s bulls eye, and weigh yourself on an Early American biofeedback device - a penny scale - all at the Arnold Active Aging Festival, which is March 6 as part of the Arnold Sports Festival beind held March 6-8 at various venues throughout Columbus.

These activities, and a dozen more (listed below), all are geared to help you increase your ability to achieve your life goals and do more of the things you want to do.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 6 in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The newest addition to this year’s Active Aging Festival is “Brush Up Your Dancing,” led by Ron Clark, of Dance Plus Ballroom in Grandview. A smorgasbord of other dance studios will run throughout the day, with well-known instructors presenting beginner/refresher lessons and social dancing.

An Evening Social Dance will cap off the evening, from 7-10 p.m., also in the Regency Ballroom. Dance is the perfect fit for the Festival.

“Why dance? To truly enjoy special occasions, for your wedding, for better health (exercise), or just for fun!” says Ron Clark. “Learning to dance is a great balance to relieve everyday stress.”

Clark and his instructors have helped thousands of Central Ohio adults and youth learn and enjoy social and ballroom dancing at Dance Plus Ballroom, and in dozens of rec centers, middle schools and high schools.

The overall focus of the third Arnold Active Aging Festival is to help adults feel better, move better, and be better, says Jim Lorimer, co-producer of the Arnold Sports Festival.

“This is a great opportunity to improve No. 1 — you,” he says.  

Other expert presenters include Upper Arlington artist and collector Chris Steele, and 70-year-old world archery champion Arlyne Rhode.

Steele will bring samples of The American Weigh, his collection of more than 200 penny scales, which captures a slice of Americana, a time when health-conscious Americans monitored their weight daily on penny scales, because the only other scales generally available were in doctors’ offices.

Three attendees can win the opportunity to see a display of Steele’s "100 Best Scales” in their Columbus-area private location. The Smithsonian, Toledo Art Museum, Cincinnati’s Taft Museum and the Columbus Museum of Art have drawn on Steele’s collection for exhibitions.

For Rhode, archery has been a lifetime pursuit and keeps her fit and focused. She won nine consecutive Minnesota National Field Archery Association competitions in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1978, she won the Women’s Professional Flight champion crown and became a record-holder as the Women’s Footbow Flight World Record with a distance shot of 1,113 yards, 2 feet, six inches – a record that still stands in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Rhode has continued to inspire athletes of every age with her record breaking performances. As the 2008 Arizona Senior Olympic Champion, Rhode stunned qualified for the 2009 National Senior Olympics.

Other expert presenters include Scott Sonnon, “Flow Coach” of the Internet; Deborah Redder, designer of the SilverSneakers™ program; David Zid, creator of Delay the Disease: Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease; and Frank Forencich, author of The Exuberant Animal and Play as if Your Life Depends on It.

Sonnon, has been a leader of the wellness revolution for more than 10 years. Chiropractors and medical doctors have evaluated his Ageless Mobility™ program and say his approach helps fight osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and nerve impingement and tendonitis.

Redder is designer and choreographer of the SilverSneakers® Group Exercise Program, which offers an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and a socially-oriented group exercise program that allows older adults to take greater control of their health. Members receive a free fitness center membership and access to conditioning classes and equipment.

Zid has been an accredited trainer in Columbus for 11 years, and currently leads three weekly exercise classes for 180 individuals with Parkinson’s. He will tailor his presentation to persons with Parkinson’s and other diseases, and their caregivers, and will lead a demonstration with 60 of his regular students.

Forencich is creator of The Exuberant Animal: the Power of Health, Play and Joyful Movement, and Play as if Your Life Depends on It: Functional Exercise and Living for Homo Sapiens. Exuberant Animal is a health philosophy that promotes health, vitality and physical happiness by combining the study of human performance with play-based movement training. Participants will learn how to transform their bodies through a multi- disciplinary approach that is invigorating, liberating and life-changing.

Advance sale discount tickets are available for $7 instead of the regular $10 price. Groups also can enjoy curbside drop-off, and free parking and shuttle service for group drivers. Call 614-443-3529 for further information. Admission to the Active Aging Festival, the Evening Dance Party, and 11 other same-day events is included in the same ticket.

 
Arnold Active Aging Festival Schedule:
Friday, March 6, 2009 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hyatt Regency Hotel Regency Ballroom

8:30 a.m.- Exhibitor booths and activities.

9 a.m. - Start your engines! Learn how to lube all your joints for pain-free mobility. Scott Sonnon: Flow Coach of the Internet

9:30 a.m. - Yoga : Easy stretches to get you ready for realistic exercise. Deborah Redder: Designer of SilverSneakers.

9:50 a.m. - Strength: Using light weights to regain bone density and muscle mass. David Zid, ACE-accredited trainer, author of Delay the Disease: Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease.

10:15 a.m. -Preparing for Emergencies: American Red Cross & Columbus Fire Department

10:40 a.m.- Stepping out: Efficient walking tips, and “Discover the Arnold” wellness walk. Dr. Phil Heit, founder of New Albany Walking Classic, and Dr. David. Sabgir, founder of “Walk with a Doc.”

11:10 a.m.- Adult nutrition: Adapting your intake to your changing needs. Panel of experts

11:40 a.m.- The American Weigh: Nostalgic look at early American biofeedback devices, penny scales
Chris Steele, local collector of + 200 penny scales.

12 p.m.- Freedom to travel: Travel, where and when you want. Panel of experts

12:30 p.m.- Financial safety in perilous times

1 p.m.- Play like your life depends on it: Frank Forencich, creator of Exuberant Animal joy-of-movement activities.

1:30 p.m.- Brush up your dancing: Demos and fun beginner group dancing. Ron Clark, Dance Plus Ballroom, Grandview.

2 p.m.- Hit the bulls eye: Archery demo and shooting practice. Arlyne Rhode, 70-year-old archery champion, Guiness Record holder, and editor of US & International Archer magazine

2:40 p.m.- Fencing for adults: Improve focus and balance. Julia Richey, chair, Arnold Fencing Classic.

3 p.m.- Table tennis: Demos and tips from champions, and Ohio Senior Olympics finals. Ed Hogshead, chair, Arnold Table Tennis.

4 p.m.- Active Aging Festival ends.

7-10 p.m.- Evening Dance Party: social dancing, demos, and instruction.