Living Well

Here's an interesting fact. Where you live can have a huge impact on your health.

You may think that this is just common sense. After all, different areas vary widely in such factors as air and water quality, crime rates and so forth.

But it's not just the air or the water in your particular location, but the types of lifestyle choices that location fosters. Of course, the market is responding to this and planned "wellness communities" are springing up all over the U.S.

If you are thinking of a community that has golf courses, spas, gyms, biking and hiking trails, you
would be right. But that's not all.

These new wellness communities are hiring wellness directors, trainers, nutritionists, wellness coaches and other professionals to help create a wellness culture in the community and to assist residents in achieving their wellness goals.

But moving to one of these wellness communities will cost you...plenty.

The Cliffs, a wellness community near Asheville, North Carolina, gets $750,000 for a one bedroom cottage and goes up to $5 million for a 4000 square foot, four bedroom house.

So what if you don't have the bucks, or the inclination to move to a wellness community? How can you improve your living environment so that you are supported in making healthier choices for yourself and for your family?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Set aside a mini-spa day for yourself at home. Be sure to plan for one and a half to two hours when you won't be interrupted. Be creative and formulate your own routine. Put on some relaxing music.
Add your favorite bath salts to a hot tub of water and soak your cares away. Take time to really relax. Slather on a moisturizing lotion after you get out. You get the
idea!

2. Get outside. Explore local nature trails and parks or botanical gardens. Walk barefoot on the grass
of your lawn. Even going to a mall that has a courtyard area with plants and flowing water
can reconnect you to nature.

3. Sign up for a new body class. Make a commitment to explore yoga, Pilates or even a martial art.

4. Join a reading group, or if you like to write, a local writers group. Do something to stimulate
your intellectual and creative side.

5. Take some time each day to quiet your mind,  either by meditation or just listening to beautiful
music.

6. Consider hiring a professional Wellness Coach to help you map out a plan and achieve your goals.

Even if you incorporated all of these suggestions into your life, the cost would be minuscule compared
to moving to a wellness community.

And the benefits will be priceless!

Comments

[Sushil Dhar]

Dear Ellen,
Thank you so much for these simple but very effective tips.I do agree we all know about them but it is people like you who can motivate us to actually get down to them.
Best Regards,
Sushil.