Valeria remembers what it felt like to leap out of bed with energy and purpose. As a national track and field champion in Bolivia, she once lived in a body that felt limitless. Movement was her joy and her freedom.
But by the time she was seventy-six, everything had changed. Rheumatoid arthritis left her in pain. Tasks she once did without thinking — walking across the room, standing without effort, keeping her balance — became daily struggles. “As a young, strong, athlete, I never imagined that I would find myself struggling to do the most basic tasks,” she said. “I also found that I didn’t have the balance I used to have. I became worried about falling and what that might do to make things worse – but I sure didn’t want to give up!”
Even through the pain, Valeria carried her personal motto: “get out & live!” She knew she wanted more for herself and for her family — her children, grandchildren, and great-grandson. She just wasn’t sure how to get there.
That turning point came when she heard about Vivalon. Though hesitant — especially about her English — Valeria pushed through her fear. She took her first walk to the Healthy Aging Campus, determined to try. “I was nervous about going to a new place,” she recalls, “but I wanted to improve my health, so I mustered up my courage and got up and got out.”
The moment she stepped into her first Tai Chi class, things began to shift. Her pain didn’t disappear overnight, but something powerful happened: she felt welcomed, supported, and capable. That one class led to another, and then another. Soon, Valeria was exploring Qi Gong, yoga, ballet, and even jewelry making. She joined nutrition classes. She made new friends.
Now, she walks to Vivalon every day — her “warm up” before class — and calls the center her second home. “I don’t want my family to suffer, so I must take care of my health. That’s what I do by coming to Vivalon every day.”
The difference has been life-changing. “Thanks to Vivalon’s health and falls prevention classes, I don’t live in pain anymore,” Valeria explains. “I’m more aware of how I move now. I feel steady and more confident. I leave class feeling light and energized, so when I get back home I am ready to live.”
Her instructors see that transformation, too. Tai Chi teacher Leela Satyendra shares: “We repeat specific movements to create body awareness and strengthen balance responses. One of my students recently avoided a fall by shifting her weight instinctively, because her body had practiced those types of movements in class. That’s the power of this work.”
Chair yoga instructor Jane Rivera tells a similar story of resilience: “A dear student of mine had a stroke. She lost her balance, her speech, and her strength. But she did not lose her will to heal. She started chair yoga at Vivalon on Zoom, taking baby steps. Now, five years later, she’s regained her independence. She credits yoga at Vivalon for her recovery.”
For Valeria, the changes are more than physical. They are emotional, even spiritual. “I’m determined to keep strong, not just for myself, but for my family. I pray for the people who support Vivalon, and thank them. I want all the blessings that they have given to me and others to be available for generations, because I have never seen anything like this. Vivalon is a blessing to me and to the world.”
Stories like Valeria’s remind us what’s possible when courage meets opportunity. They show that even in the face of pain, independence and joy can be rediscovered. Your support helps make this transformation possible. With your generosity, more older adults in our community can find their way back to strength, connection, and hope.
Donate to provide falls prevention and other healthy aging programs for people like Valeria here.
Falls Prevention Week is September 22-26!
Join us for special activities focused on staying strong and steady, including balance checkups, movement mini-sessions, and home-safety tips. Click here to learn more.
