Around the world with Atlas - February 2025 - Iceland
Resident's Birthdays
5th Paul Bishop
12th Gloria McCrorey
23rd Pat Callahan
24th Dixie Dorsey
24th Lisa Thomas
Month's Celebrations
9th Super Bowl LIX
14rh Valentine’s Day
17th President’s Day
21st National Caregiver Day
Events Spotlight
12th Valentine Dinner
19th Birthday Luncheon
27th Mardi Gras Party/Dinner
Icelandic Vibes
Alexa, play “Joga” from Björk’s album “Homogenic”
Homogenic is the third studio album by Icelandic recording artist Björk. It was released on 1997 by her own label One Little Indian Records.
Björk Guðmundsdóttir has consistently pushed musical boundaries, blending genres like electronic, classical, and avant-garde. Her music, art, influence and carisma have resonated far beyond Iceland, making her an international symbol of creativity and individuality.
The Animal in You: Birthday Critters
February 1-6: Dog
You are an extremely lovable, active person with a passion for life and a quick wit. You can be shy, but your curiosity and sense of humor know no bounds. You love to explore new things, but sometimes all you want is a little quiet time.
February 7-14: Dove
Your happy-go-lucky approach keeps you centered. Even when times get tough, you are upbeat and spread cheer wherever you go. You are a very good listener and are known to give good advice.
February 15-21: Turtle A kindhearted individual, you make an effort to treat others with care and respect. You are a very generous person and expect nothing in return for your good deeds. You are also a superb host who loves making celebrations special.
February 22-28: Panther
You are mysterious, calm, and easygoing, even when under pressure. You strive to do your best and always make lemonade out of lemons. Your friends know they can always rely on you to help them out.
Resident Ambassadors
This month we wanted to recognize the Resident Ambassadors for Independent Living and Assisted Living areas. These Ambassadors are the key to making new residents feel welcome.
When new residents move in, an Ambassador is “assigned” to them to make sure the new resident is acclimated to the community. Each new resident receives a “Welcome Home” card and a bag of homemade potpourri. The Ambassadors make sure that all new residents have a current month Activity Calendar and are personally invited to attend events.
In addition to taking the new residents “under their wings”, Ambassadors help the Activity Department in so many ways. Decorating for special events, delivering the daily activity calendars, encouraging all residents to participate in special activities, promoting upcoming outings, and to many other things to list.
Thank you to all Resident Ambassadors!
Iceland
Around the World with Atlas
Iceland’s dramatic landscape is shaped by its active volcanism and vast glaciers. It is home to over 130 volcanoes, including Eyjafjallajökull, and Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.
During summer, Iceland experiences the Midnight Sun, with almost 24 hours of daylight. In contrast, winter brings long nights, creating the perfect setting for Northern Lights displays.
Yoga for Seniors: How to Get Started
You’re never too old to reap the rewards of yoga. For seniors who are looking for a safe, effective way to enhance their physical health and overall wellness, the stretching, breathing, and meditation practices of yoga can be a great solution. In fact, as you will see, doing yoga regularly can result in a host of benefits for older adults, from greater flexibility and improved balance to lower stress and better sleep. Yoga cultivates a mind-body connection, combining stretching and strengthening postures with deep breathing and relaxation. Despite its roots in Eastern philosophy, yoga as practiced in the West is generally focused on physical fitness. It still has a spiritual aspect, but it is not overtly religious. People of all faiths and belief systems can benefit from participating in yoga. Yoga can be an excellent way to keep your body strong and healthy without the joint stress that comes from other activities like weightlifting or jogging. And it’s never too late to begin: You can start yoga at any age. (Just be sure to clear it with your doctor before you get going.)
Here are some of the benefits of yoga for seniors:
*Better balance: Many yoga poses for seniors focus on strengthening the abdominal muscles and improving your core stability. That can help you become steadier on your feet and reduce your risk of falls.
*Improved flexibility: Yoga movements can be fantastic stretching exercises for seniors. Holding a pose for several breaths encourages your muscles and connective tissues to relax and loosen, which helps to increase your range of motion.
*Enhanced breathing: The breathing control practices of yoga can expand your lung capacity and improve your pulmonary health.
*Stronger bones: If you’re worried about brittle bones and osteoporosis, try yoga. For older women and men, a consistent yoga routine that includes weight-bearing postures can help bolster bone strength.
*Reduced anxiety and stress: Through meditation and mindful breathing, yoga encourages you to focus on the present and find a sense of peace. Research has demonstrated that that can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
*Better sleep: Yoga can help alleviate sleep disturbances, which are common complaints among seniors.
*Reconnecting with your body: Life’s stressors and events have a way of separating us from ourselves. Hormonal and other physical changes can make our bodies feel more foreign over time, and a sense of disconnection can set in between mind and body. Yoga offers the potential to work on your mind, body, and spirit at the same time, and for you to integrate those changes in your daily life.
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Share our good news:
Recipe Spotlight:
Cream Cheezy Cucumber Bites
Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup cream cheese,
room temperature
• 1 tablespoon minced chives or onion
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled
Directions:
1. Combine cream cheese, chives or onion, parsley, mayonnaise, paprika, and lemon juice in a medium bowl.
2. Using an apple corer or small melon baller, scoop out the center of the cucumber. Pack with cheese mixture.
3. Wrap cucumber with plastic wrap and chill until served.
4. Slice into 1/4-inch disks and serve.
Cooking Tidbit:
To make your cream cheese room temperature faster, keep it in its sealed foil or original container and submerge it in a bowl of warm water for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping over halfway through.
Resident of the Month
Resident Ambassadors
Monark Grove Greystone’s Resident Ambassadors have been busy meeting and greeting new residents, always making sure the new neighbors feel welcome. Thank you for all you do.
Associate of the Month
Velencia Kynard
Velencia Kynard has been with Monark Grove Greystone for just a few months but has proven to be an invaluable part of the caregiving team. She embodies compassion, care and empathy for the residents she serves. Always with a smile. Congratulations Velencia.
Jólabókaflóð
(Icelandic Christmas book flood)
A Love for Literature:
Iceland boasts the highest number of published authors per capita. The Icelandic tradition of gifting books during Christmas, known as Jólabókaflóð (Yule Book Flood), reflects their deep connection to storytelling and literature.
Collaborators
