Creative Movement Classes at the IOA: Pilot Program

Sienna Williams reflects on a recent directed study at the Institute on Aging (IOA). Williams worked with Jessica McCracken, the Arts Program Manager for the Center for Elders and Youth in the Arts (CEYA) and Bay Area artist, Eric Garcia to develop and facilitate creative movement classes for older adults. Classes were offered as alternatives to regularly scheduled group exercise programs. Theme development, physical story telling and music were integral in the development of each class. The experience Williams gained from this directed study prompted her design an upcoming psychological study. The study will measure exercise and creative self-efficacy levels as well as quality of life of older adults who partake in creative movement classes.