I want to change negative perceptions about aging. As a wellness professional and someone who has always been very physically active, I was stunned at the powerful impact negative aging stereotypes had on my own expectations and behavior. At 44 years old I stopped dancing professionally, succumbing to years of ageist programming…. that negative story assuring aging equals decline physically and mentally until dependence and death. But I changed my mind about aging and it changed my life. At age 47 I started performing again with a university-based dance company, and I know now I can continue to dance as long as I give myself the tools to be successful. View On the Move. I’m committed to offering tools to reframe the aging experience so people can age with vitality and purpose in body, mind and spirit. I’m also committed to creating wellness programs that engage older adults as active partners in well-being and reflect that aging well is a probability rather than just a possibility.

I’ve been a health and wellness professional since 1980; first as a dance and physical education instructor at Montana State University, then as Director of Young at Heart, MSU’s exercise program for adults 50+, and most recently as an internationally known author, speaker and corporate consultant in wellness for adults. View Kay's biography

This broad range of experience offered me both a unique perspective on healthy aging and a simple but profound revelation. Wonderful programs, equipment, instructors and settings do little to motivate people to change lifestyles. To change lifestyles you must first change belief systems about aging. Expectations directly impact actions and outcomes, making the “aging equals decline and poor health” myth one of the most destructive self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture. My mission is to provide program approaches and tools that reveal myths about aging, overcome age bias in health promotion and healthcare, and encourage individuals to make conscious choices about aging well in body, mind and spirit. I want to help people write their own story about aging well through the full lifespan.

Please visit the publications link for practical tools like the Six Dimensions of Wellness for creating a balanced life View Whole Person Wellness. Learn about behavior change research to help move forward on your journey to wellness View Motivation. Learn how the destructive nature of ageism impacts individuals at any age, and gain insight into why many adults completely avoid physical activity even when it’s been proven beneficial to health View Ageism as a Barrier. Visit my blog for useful resources, strategies for reshaping your views of aging, and an ongoing dynamic dialogue. View inspiring stories of people of all ages choosing to live well, regardless of significant obstacles and disabilities, demonstrating the power of personal beliefs to impact outcomes. I invite you to make comments, send me inspiring stories, and offer your own hard-won insights to the discussions.

Finally, visit the products link for award winning resources designed to reinforce the message that aging well through the full lifespan (regardless of challenges and circumstances) is a probability, not just a possibility. Watch for special opportunities created through health promotion partnerships, offering access to the resources you need for creating an environment of wellbeing.