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Exercise Your Brain

Posted by on September 17, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Exercise Your Brain

Did you know that your brain has the ability to learn and grow even as we age?  It’s true, it’s all due to something called brain plasticity or the brains ability to change throughout life.  The human brain is so amazing and it can actually reorganize itself by forming new connections between brain cells.  But just like any other part of our body, we must exercise our brain.  Studies show that along with better sleep, good nutrition, social interaction, physical exercise, brain health can be improved by embracing a new activity that forces you to think and learn and requires ongoing practice can be one of the best things to keep your brain healthy and strong.  Besides all the physical benefits it might be a lot of fun.  So what kinds of things can you do?  Learn to play an instrument or take up knitting, learn a foreign language or do some math problems.  Do it with your spouse or a friend to increase your enjoyment and it will be great to have someone you can practice with.  The possibilities are endless!

Did you know that being kind is good for your health?

Posted by on August 29, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Did you know that being kind is good for your health?

Did you know that being kind is good for your health?

It’s true. According to a University of British Columbia Study,engaging in acts of kindness produces endorphins which are the brain’s natural painkiller. It also showed that perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population. That alone is a great reason to practice kindness. It gets better.

In another study, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that when we give of ourselves, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed, depression is reduced and well-being and good fortune are increased.
Studies have also shown that committing acts of kindness can have a positive effect on blood pressure. Being kind seems to effect all forms of wellness.

What’s more Kindness is Contagious. The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to be kind to others. This could mean that one act of kindness in a crowded room could actually effect and improve the day of dozens of people!

What else do you know of that can help with energy, happiness, lifespan, physical health, pleasure and help other people to have a good day all at the same time?

Why don’t we try it? Let’s go out and commit one random act of kindness and see what happens. It can be as simple as smiling at a stranger or opening the door for someone. Let’s just go ahead and make it a habit. It’s tough out there and everyone deserves a little kindness. You may never know the good that you do for someone else but at least now you know the good that it will do for you.

What’s The Deal With Arthritis?

Posted by on August 25, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on What’s The Deal With Arthritis?

What’s the deal with Arthritis? So many of my clients have pain in joints, back, shoulders, knees, etc and say, “oh, it’s my arthritis.” Although Arthritis is pretty common, it is not really well understood. Arthritis is actually an informal way of referring to 100 kinds of joint pain or joint disease that effect people of all ages, sexes and races. However, it is most common among women and does occur more frequently with aging. Common symptoms include joint swelling, pain, stiffness and a decreased range of motion. These symptoms can be chronic or they may come and go. They may be mild or they may be severe. Do you experience any of this?? I would love to hear about it. In future posts we will talk about ways to treat and possible ways to prevent Arthritis.

Practicing Gratitude Can Be Good For Your Health!

Posted by on August 22, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Practicing Gratitude Can Be Good For Your Health!

Did you know that practicing gratitude can be good for your health? It’s true and there is plenty of research to prove it. There is one study from Northeastern University that found that people who felt grateful for little, everyday things were more patient and better able to make sensible decisions. The March 5, 2018 edition of Greater Good Magazine states that “after 15 years of research, we know that gratitude is a key to psychological well-being. Gratitude can make people happier, improve their relationships, and potentially even counteract depression and suicidal thoughts.” There are also many studies associated with benefits from improved sleep to better cardiovascular heath, from better will power to increased energy levels. Not to mention what being grateful can do for your attitude. With all these wonderful benefits, it seems like practicing gratitude is a no-brainer.

I have a gratitude journal and every morning I write down 10 things I am grateful for and if anything, it makes me actually sit down and take stock of what I have. What do you do to practice gratitude.

Physical Wellness

Posted by on August 20, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Physical Wellness

Physical Wellness promotes taking proper care of your body for optimal health. Optimal physical wellness is a combination of physical activity, healthy eating habits, excellent supplementation and good quality sleep. Being active and eating right promotes a healthy heart, healthy lungs and healthy bones, muscles, joints and gut health. The combination also lowers your risk for a number of health problems and can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and can also help you manage stress. The benefits of Physical Wellness are immeasurable. What do you do to promote physical wellness?

How important are Relationships?

Posted by on August 13, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on How important are Relationships?

How important are relationships?  Today let’s talk about Social Wellness. What exactly are we talking about? Social Wellness refers to your relationships with others. How we interact with friends, co-workers, family members and others that we come into contact with. Social wellness is about building healthy, nurturing and supportive relationships as well as cultivating a genuine connection with those around you. It does not mean you have to have a million friends however studies show that personal relationships are essential to our well-being.

What is Spiritual Wellness?

Posted by on August 10, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on What is Spiritual Wellness?

 Spiritual wellness is being connected to something greater than yourself, and/or having a set of values, principles, morals and beliefs that provide a sense of who you are, where you came from and a sense of purpose and meaning to your life. These principles, values morals and beliefs guide your actions and how you present yourself to the world. Sadly the human spirit is one of the most neglected aspect of our selves and you may not realize how significant a role spiritual well-being plays in your life. What are your thoughts on Spiritual Wellness?

Emotional Wellness

Posted by on August 8, 2018 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Emotional Wellness

One of the 5 dimensions of wellness is Emotional wellness. But what exactly is “Emotional Wellness”? Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times. It doesn’t mean that you never get stressed, angry or sad. Because we are all human and it is normal to feel these things. It just means that you acknowledge and accept your feelings, positive or negative and you have learned how to cope with them and move forward to live an enjoyable life despite it’s occasional struggles, disappointments and or frustrations. In future posts, we will discuss ways that will help us on our journey to emotional wellness.

Due Diligence

Posted by on October 1, 2017 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Due Diligence

Lately it seems that I have been hearing more and more of people becoming very sick.  It seems that people get sick, they are faced with the same very scary treatment options and they move forward in kind of a fog, hoping for the best.  I never ever would recommend that people do not do these treatments but I would recommend that you go out and look for alternative methods of healing that maybe you can do instead of or in partnership with the normal recommended treatments. We owe it to ourselves to look at every single option available.  Unfortunately some options can not be paid for with insurance and there we are once again going back to square one and doing the treatment that  our insurance will cover.  But try to think out of the box.  If ever their was a good time to get out of your comfort zone, this would be it.  When offered an alternative or a partnership option, just take the time to look at it.  Investigate. Learn about it and then make an informed decision. You or your loved one’s life is worth it!  Here is hoping that you will never have to go out on this search and you will lead a happy and healthy live.  Choose to be healthy!

Changing Seasons – A Time to Start Anew

Posted by on September 24, 2017 in Wellness Blog | Comments Off on Changing Seasons – A Time to Start Anew

Fall is in the air and although our summer here in Albuquerque was as beautiful as ever, it is a welcome site.  I have probably told you before how much I love Fall, the changing colors, the crisp days, the State Fair and the Balloon Fiesta but every Fall it is as though I am experiencing it for the first time.  The change from Summer to Fall is big here in the Southwest.  It is noticeable.  It is a reminder of the changes we may need to make in our life.  Whether it be a new job, a new relationship, a new health regime,a new workout plan or a new outlook on life.  What a perfect time to make the decisions we need to make to live a healthier, happier life.  Like the Fall, let us make these changes noticeable so that we can reap the benefits as soon as possible.  It takes 30 days to make a habit so why not start October 1 and we will be set in our new way of life far before the Holidays take over and give us yet another excuse to hold onto things that may not be good for us.  Let the falling leaves remind us to let go of the things that don’t bring us joy and move us forward.  Let the balloons in the sky remind us of how we are lifted up and no longer weighed down when we let go of those things and make a commitment to a healthier life.  Up, up and away.