The Charlotte Jewish News - February 2007 - Page 7
Your Body is a Temple
By Linda Roochvarg, M.D. and
Shira Capellini
Who is responsible for teaching
us about health and wellness these
days? Where do we learn to exer
cise properly and to make healthi
er food choices? How do we leam
about the benefits of resting our
bodies or the reasons we should
go to the dentist twice a year?
Most schools have done away
with RE. classes; at work we’re
often pressured to work late and
skip lunch; and family traditions
make it difficult for us to turn our
backs on Grandma’s sacred latkes
cooked in chicken fat. Despite all
the pressures to follow the
unhealthy crowd, each of us can
choose to take responsibility for
our own wellness and educate our
selves to live healthier lives.
Fortunately, community out
reach groups like Wellness
Coalition America and Hadassah
are here to lend us a hand. These
two organizations are joining
forces on Thursday, February 22
from 7-9 PM to put on a dynamic,
educational, interactive event
called “For, the Health of It:
Optimizing Wellness.” It will be
held at Temple Israel across from
the Sandra and Leon Levine
Jewish Community Center in
Shalom Park. The public is invited
and it’s free.
The keynote speaker for the
evening is Terrie Reeves,
Coalition founder and president.
She launched Wellness Coalition
America in the summer of 2004,
Terri Reeves
but her vision for the organization
began to materialize many years
earlier. For more than ten years,
she has been on a quest to educate
and empower people of
all ages and walks of life
to achieve their personal
best. Her passion for
wellness is fueled by
more than 20 years of
experience as a fitness
professional in the areas
of dance, aerobics, mar
tial arts and yoga. She
frequently speaks as a health
advocate to corporations and com
munity groups to help people
understand the importance of
making informed choices regard
ing their health.
Other speakers include Dr.
Linda Roochvarg, board-certified
pediatrician; Shira Capellini, exer
cise and sports specialist; and Ann
Henderson, nutritionist. They will
S/^
join Terrie in walking guests
through four basic steps for
achieving total body wellness,
which include proper ways to
move, fuel, rest and maintain our
bodies.
Moving your body refers to
intentional exercise, such as going
to the gym; but it also includes
daily activities like taking the
stairs, carrying groceries, walking
the dog, gardening, and cleaning
house. Moving your body gener
ates energy, bums calories,
increases blood flow, improves
mood, increases flexibility, and
raises metabolism.
Fueling your body with the
proper vitamins, minerals, and
nutrients provides energy; helps
sustains brain power; maintains
healthy hair, skin, and nails; and
can also enhance mood.
Resting is more than just sleep
(although it’s still impor
tant to get the recommend
ed 8 or 9 hours of shuteye).
You can rest without clos
ing your eyes by taking
“me time,” focusing on a
hobby like knitting, read
ing, journaling, meditating,
or even taking time for
prayer. Rest leads to higher
productivity, higher use of brain
power, a more positive attitude,
and greater ability to focus. It
refreshes your mind, body, and
soul.
Maintaining your body means
instead of waiting until something
has gone awry to see your doctor,
you proactively schedule a check
up with your primary care physi
cian and follow his or her recom
mendations. Plus, at least once a
year, you participate in general
health screenings, which will flag
any risky test results.
The bottom line: total body
wellness is achieved by treating
your body like a temple. Leam to
move, fuel, rest and maintain it so
you can be your personal best.
“For the Health of It:
Optimizing Wellness” promises to
be an evening filled with inspira- ,
tion, motivation, education, and a
lot of fun. Bring your friends, your
questions and an eagerness to
leam; and be prepared to get
involved and support each other.
Taking care of you is a great way
to start the New Year.
Wellness Coalition America is a
team of like-minded health and
business professionals working
together to make people healthier.
The organization strives to be a
“Health Advocate” through its
Care Management System, which
includes: wellness and disease
management programs; consulting
(Continued on page 8)
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