Maintaining our Health in 2021!

Maintaining our health seems to me to be one of the most important things we can do and yet often it’s the most neglected. Staying healthy and fit is surely not the easy path, but rather the harder road to travel. I am fortunate to live in a very active outdoorsy community. People walk, run, bike and skateboard past my house daily, helping me to stay motivated. I strive to maintain my daily walks as well as strength training and yoga. I do these three things because I’ve found, over time, they help me to stay limber, resilient and strong. Our January issue is packed with great ideas to help us stay on track and feeling our best.

In our feature “Integrative Hospital Care,” Marlaina Donato delves into new research and patient interest in healing therapies from acupuncture to aromatherapy, once viewed skeptically by physicians, are now increasingly being included in hospital care across the country. More than 75 university medical centers and health systems are working to integrate them into the medical model, offering approaches to soothe patient anxiety and lower pain that might include touch therapy, reiki, biofeedback and yoga.

Pinching pennies while pursuing a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge, but in her article “Frugal Wellness,” Yvette C. Hammett shows us how it’s made easier with such strategies as buying frozen organics, focusing on seasonal fruits and vegetables, eating lentils and beans for protein, and going online to compare pharmaceutical prices in nearby stores. It’s also wise to prioritize spending and plan ahead for wise shopping.

In these pandemic times, fitness is more about better health and inner peace than weight loss. This month’s article “Staying Fit in 2021,” by Marlaina Donato, details how gyms and studios are offering safer environments for workouts and classes; trainers are working virtually with clients; streaming-fitness websites are drawing subscriptions with programs like yoga and muscle-building; and fitness apps, some of them wearable, are proving to be heavy-hitters. To help people handle stress, popular tools like foam rollers as well as meditation classes and apps are also being offered.

No matter what your three things are, whether it’s gardening, walking the dog, visiting cultural venues, or a walk in one of our wonderful West Michigan parks, find the motivators that help you to maintain your health and stick with it!

To conscious living,
Pamela Gallina, Publisher