Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 
professional who offers semi-private/virtual fit-
ness classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit. 
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness. 


As people live longer, many are asking the same question: how do we 
keep our brains sharp as we age? One idea that has gained attention 
is called “cognitive reserve.” This term describes the brain’s ability to 
handle damage or aging while still working well. It reflects how efficiently 
the brain uses its networks and how well it can find alternate 
pathways when parts of it are not working as well. In simple terms, it 
is like having a backup system. The more reserve you have, the better 
your brain can keep going even as changes occur. 

Researchers have found that lifestyle plays a big role in building this 
reserve. Education, social activity, and mental challenges all help. But 
in recent years, exercise has become one of the most studied tools for 
supporting brain health. 

Not all exercise works the same way. Studies show that regular physical 
activity can support memory, attention, and thinking speed. Exercise 
increases blood flow to the brain. It also supports the release 
of chemicals that help brain cells grow and connect. One of these is 
called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. This substance 
helps protect and repair brain cells. 

Aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling, or swimming, has been studied the most. Research has shown that 
people who do regular aerobic activity often have better brain function than those who are inactive. Some 
studies also show changes in brain areas linked to memory, such as the hippocampus. 

But newer research suggests that adding variety may matter even more. Exercise that combines physical 
movement with thinking tasks appears to give added benefits. These are sometimes called “dual-task” activities. 
For example, dancing requires learning steps, keeping rhythm, and moving the body at the same time. 
Sports like tennis or pickleball also require quick decisions, timing, and coordination. 

These types of activities challenge both the body and the brain. Because of this, they may help build cognitive 
reserve more effectively than simple, repetitive movement alone. Strength training is another area of growinginterest. While it was once thought to mainly benefit muscles and bones, studies now suggest it may also support 
brain health. Resistance training has been linked to improvements in executive function. This includes 
skills like planning, focusing, and controlling actions. 

In some studies, older adults who took part in regular strength training showed better performance on thinking 
tests compared to those who did not. These results suggest that lifting weights or using resistance bands 
may play a role in keeping the brain sharp. 

Balance and coordination exercises also deserve attention. Activities like tai chi and yoga require control,
focus, and body awareness. Some studies have found that these forms of exercise can improve attention and 
reduce the risk of falls. They may also support mental well-being, which is closely tied to cognitive health. 

So what does this mean for everyday people? The key message is not to rely on just one type of exercise. A mix 
of activities may offer the best support for the brain. Aerobic exercise helps with blood flow and overall brain 
health. Strength training supports important thinking skills. Activities that require coordination and quick 
decisions challenge the brain in new ways. 

It is also important to stay consistent. The benefits of exercise build over time. Short bursts of activity are helpful, 
but regular participation appears to be more important for long-term brain health. 

Another important point is intensity. Some research suggests that moderate to vigorous activity may provide 
greater benefits than very light activity. However, the best exercise is one that a person can do safely and 
continue over time. 

Age does not seem to limit the benefits. Studies have shown that even people who start exercising later in life 
can see improvements in cognitive function. This is encouraging news for older adults who may worry that 
it is too late to make a difference. 

At the same time, experts caution that exercise is not a cure for conditions like dementia. It is one piece of 
a larger picture. Healthy eating, good sleep, social connection, and mental stimulation all work together to 
support the brain. 

There is still much to learn. Scientists continue to study which types of exercise work best, how often they 
should be done, and how long the effects last. While results can vary, the overall trend is clear. Staying physically 
active is linked to better brain health. 

For those looking to support their cognitive reserve, the advice is simple. Move your body often. Try new 
activities. Challenge both your muscles and your mind. Exercise is the best way to help the brain stay strong,
flexible, and ready for the challenges of aging. 

ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown IS LUCK REAL? 


The idea of “good luck” sits in a gray space between 
reality and imagination. On one hand, luck clearlyexists in a practical sense. Random events happen 
all the time—someone wins a lottery, narrowly 
avoids an accident, or happens to meet a person 
who changes their life. These outcomes are influenced 
by chance, probability, and circumstances 
beyond anyone’s control. In that sense, luck is real: 
it reflects the unpredictable nature of life. 

However, what people often call “good luck” is 
shaped heavily by perception. Humans are wired 
to look for patterns and meaning, even where none 
objectively exists. If something positive happens, 
we may label it as luck rather than coincidence or 
the result of our own preparation. For example, a 
student who studies consistently and performs well 
on an exam might still say they were “lucky,” even though their effort played a major role. This 
shows how luck can be partly imagined—a mental shortcut to explain outcomes. 


Belief in luck can also influence behavior. When people think they are lucky, they often feel 
more confident, take more initiative, and remain optimistic in the face of challenges. This can 
create a self-fulfilling effect: their positive mindset leads to better decisions and persistence, 
which increases the chances of success. Conversely, believing one is unlucky can lead to hesitation, 
anxiety, or missed opportunities. In this way, luck becomes “real” through its psychological 
impact, even if it began as an idea. 

Cultural traditions reinforce this dual nature. Many societies have symbols, rituals, or superstitions—
like lucky numbers or charms—that people believe bring good fortune. While these do 
not change external reality, they can change how people feel and act, which indirectly shapes 
outcomes. 

Ultimately, good luck is both real and imagined. It is real in the sense that chance affects our 
lives, but imagined in the way we interpret and assign meaning to those events. The balance 
between randomness and perception is what gives the idea of luck its powerful and lasting influence. 
Further even, according to Advaita Vedanta and other Eastern philosophies all events 
just arise spontaneously in the boundless oneness of existence with no one ultimately doing it. 
Magic!! 

YOUR MENTAL EDGE 
Mountain View News Saturday, March 28, 2026 
1111 
SPORTS, FITNESS &SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING 
UNLOCK YOUR LIFE 

TAKE A STAND: LOUISE HAY AND THE 
RADICAL POWER OF LOVE 

I was in my mid-twenties, trying to figure out this thing 
called life, when my aunt handed me You Can Heal Your Life 
by Louise Hay. That book set me on a path of self-discovery 
and personal responsibility I've never left. 

When most people think of the self-help industry, they pic-Lori A. Harris 

ture men like Tony Robbins. But few figures achieved the reach 
and lasting impact of Louise Hay, born in 1926 in Los Angeles. She lived boldly and 
visibly into her 90s, insisting that growth, service, and love have no expiration date. 
Hay came to this work the hard way. She survived childhood abuse, poverty, and early 
motherhood, left school, placed a baby for adoption, then reinvented herself, first as a 
New York model, then as a minister, and finally as a motivational author who preached 
that self-love and inner dialogue could heal deep wounds. 

That message would face its most radical test in the mid-1980s, when HIV/AIDS began 
decimating gay communities. In 1985, as fear ran high and compassion was in short 
supply, Hay opened her living room to six men with AIDS. That circle became known 
as "the Hayride." Within a few years, it had moved to a West Hollywood auditorium,
drawing hundreds, sometimes around 800 people, each week for meditation, music, 
and a steady reminder that they were not their diagnosis. At a time when families, 
churches, and even healthcare providers shunned people with AIDS, Hay offered hugs, 
eye contact, and her conviction that "love is the most powerful stimulant to the immune 
system." 

Her stance was simple and radical: these men, so often treated as disposable, were worthy 
of love, tenderness, and dignity. 

That same spirit seeded Hay House, the publishing company she founded in 1987, 
which grew from a tiny pamphlet operation into one of the world's largest self-help and 
spirituality publishers, built by a woman in her 60s. 

Louise Hay was also controversial. Her belief that our thoughts and beliefs powerfully 
shape physical health, including serious illness, drew criticism for potentially blurring 
the line between spiritual support and medical reality. 

And now, modern science has validated much of what she believed. Research on self-
talk shows that our inner dialogue activates different brain states and shapes stress 
reactivity and emotional regulation. Studies in neuroplasticity confirm that repeated 
affirmations can help rewire neural pathways. Work in psychoneuroimmunology demonstrates 
that positive self-regard can lower cortisol and influence immune function. 
Positive self-regard paired with medical treatment is essential to any healing journey. 

So this Women's History Month, I invite you to consider Louise Hay: a woman who 
lived long, built a publishing empire in her 60s, and chose to walk toward a stigmatized 
community when the world looked away. Her instinct that words, spoken inward and 
outward, carry healing power is increasingly supported by science. 

Her story invites us to keep what is life-giving: radical self-compassion, true community, 
and the courage to stand for love. 

What story are you telling yourself about what's possible for your life? Stop by our 
booth at the Wisteria Festival. I'd love to chat with you. 

Lori A. Harris is an Integrative Change Coach and Life Mastery Consultant. She is 
the host of the Unlock Your Life with Lori Harris podcast, founder of the DiscoveringBlack Walden cultural wellness retreat, and a weekly columnist for Mountain Views 
News. Her work helps people break through invisible barriers and build lives they trulylove. Learn more at loriaharris.com. 


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