The
Wellness Factor
I despise the gym.
Oops! Did I say that out loud? I
know that sounds sacrilegious coming from someone who works at a fitness
facility, but it’s true. Maybe it’s
because I was brought up to see fitness from a different view than the current
trend, maybe it's because it reminds me a little too much of gym class in middle
school, maybe I just don’t like to exercise inside… Most of what we hear about fitness now–a-days
is about how to look better, about losing weight, about pushing ourselves beyond our limits. But I think that one
important side of fitness is being forgotten-WELLNESS!
Wellness has to do with having a balance of health in
the body, mind and spirit. Each aspect
on its own is important, but bringing them together is what creates a balanced
and fulfilling life. My mom has a unique
outlook on wellness that she has passed down to me and one of the first lessons
I remember learning was about taking care of myself. When I was young I was encouraged to take
days off from school not only when I was physically sick, but when I was
over-stressed. It’s a lesson that I still
carry with me today but honestly, when I was growing up I thought many of her
ideas were kind of weird but she was never discouraged by me telling her
that!
Now, however, I tend to agree with her. Wellness is a forgotten aspect of health in
many gyms around the country. Fitness is
so focused on the body and how we feel physically and how we look that I get
frustrated with gyms, and forego them all together! I believe that there is so much more to being
a healthy individual! An article that I read recently talks a little bit about how
to be an empowered person. How to Talk to Your Daughter About Her Body
by Sarah Koppelkam (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-koppelkam/body
image_b_3678534.html) is an article that discusses ways to
talk to your daughter about her body without causing her to feel self-conscious
about it. This passage in particular
spoke to me.
“Encourage your daughter to run
because it makes her feel less stressed. Encourage your daughter to climb
mountains because there is nowhere better to explore your spirituality than the
peak of the universe. Encourage your daughter to surf, or rock climb, or
mountain bike because it scares her and that's a good thing sometimes.
Help your daughter love soccer
or rowing or hockey because sports make her a better leader and a more confident
woman. Explain that no matter how old you get, you'll never stop needing good
teamwork. Never make her play a sport she isn't absolutely in love with.”
This passage captures the essence of wellness for
me. Wellness is less about fitness and
more about quality of life! Activities
including meditation and yoga are just as valuable as running and weight
training since they include benefits such as lowering blood sugar, increasing
attention span, helping with insomnia, improving energy levels, protection from
injury and much more! We have an
activity here at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center that I think is a great alternative
to the traditional work out! The DeepWater Volleyball class is a wonderful social
event for many of the participants of the class! They get to see friends and play a fun game
while swimming and stretching. I feel
like it’s the best of all worlds!
Wellness is about finding the right balance between
health in the body, mind and spirit for you, and it’s different for
everyone. It includes fitness, intellectual
stimulation, social interaction, introspection, the whole shebang! All that is needed to create a happy life!
By Alyssa Bingham
Upper Valley Aquatic Center:
Lifeguard
Welcome Desk Attendant
Marketing Intern
