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Parkour for Seniors


((PKG)) PARKOUR FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
((TRT: 04:18))
((Banner: Parkour for Seniors))
((Banner: Filmed early in the pandemic))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Map: Alexandria, Virginia))
((Main characters: 1 female; 1 male))
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Thats a good practice. Now switch direction.
((Rich Brune, Parkour Participant))
My name is Rich Brune. Im going to be 72 years old.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Now well put our hands on our right elbow and
well make a circle in the sky.
((Rich Brune, Parkour Participant))
Im a 35 year resident of the city of Alexandria. Im a member of
several fraternal and military organizations.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Step over. Squat. Stand back up. Legs
together.
((Rich Brune, Parkour Participant))
Im currently retired and enjoying life.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Shake your foot out for a minute. We're gonna
go to the other foot.
Rich Brune: Nancy.
Nancy Lorentz: Excellent.
((Rich Brune, Parkour Participant))
I was a director on the Parks and Recreation for nine years and at
one of my last meetings, she came in and gave a presentation on
PK Silver and I said, Hmm, that sounds kind of interesting! Said
sign up and I did.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: This is making your muscles do the work and
not loading up your joints.
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
I have known Rich for three years now.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Nice, Rich!
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
I think Rich has gotten a lot more confident in his movement and
he is also a lot smoother when he moves around. ((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Very good!
((Rich Brune, Parkour Participant))
I like it. Im with my peer group of senior citizens and it is a non-
stressful event. You stretch muscles but it's not offensive if you
can't do it.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Slowly come down here and were going to
gently make a little circle with our knees. Anytime were playing a
game or dealing with an obstacle, you are encountering an
obstacle that you are uncomfortable with, you dont have to do it.
OK? We dont want you working through pain.
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
I first saw Parkour in the movie Casino Royale and it was the
opening sequence thats very exciting. And when I saw it, I knew
right away it was something special.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Watch your head. Dont bop your head on the
wall. Absorb with your arms.
Rich Brune: Here you go, perfect.
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
Parkour includes all-natural movement. Parkour for us at PK
Move is best practiced outdoors. We can do any environment, a
natural environment like a wood, a forest or a field or we can do it
in a city landscape. The urban landscape is where Parkour first
began outside of Paris.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Afghan Parkour Society))
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
I communicate on a weekly basis with a wonderful group in
Afghanistan which is trying to make peace through Parkour with
all the different tribes that are around the country to try to get the
young men training together and have these experiences of
building community together.
((NATS))
Nancy Lorentz: Make a little circle with our knees.
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
We developed PK Silver because we really wanted to make an
evidence-based program that would welcome people 50 years
and up with no upper age limit. We do take certain elements out
of it. For instance, we dont have a lot of jumping in our classes
and we keep the obstacles fairly low. This is not to say that a
very fit 55-year-old couldnt do a really big jump.
((NATS))
Man: On there and over and around.
((Nancy Lorentz, Co-founder- PK Move, Program Creator- PK
Silver))
We find that Parkour and PK Silver, in particular, offers three main
areas of benefits for older adults. In making that physical leap,
you become stronger in your body, but it also helps you in your
mind. When you go over an obstacle, when you overcome an
obstacle, it gives you some kind of emotional strength as well.
((NATS))
Rich Brune: When I walk, I walk deliberately. I pick my feet up.
Im more agile and more flexible than I was four years ago.
((Rich Brune, Parkour Participant))
Now through this training, Ive learned to be more observant of my
environment and look out for falls and fall prevention.
((NATS))
Rich Brune: When Im racking pool, I squat instead of bend
down. I want to be physically fit for the rest of my life.
((NATS))


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