Healthy Living Resources Blog

Self Care is Key to a Wellness Lifestyle

(Guest Blog Post from Jessica Queller Katz, CMBT, Birth Doula – Essence Myofascial Wellness Center)

The World Health Organization defines self-care as “activities individuals, families, and communities undertake with the intention of enhancing health, preventing disease, limiting illness, and restoring health. These activities are derived from knowledge and skills from the pool of both professional and lay experience. They are undertaken by lay people on their own behalf, either separately or in participative collaboration with professionals.”

Women, men, and children of all ages have come to me in search of relief from a wide range of symptoms, from the occasional tightness in the back, neck, or shoulders, all the way to daily chronic debilitating pain.  In either case, they are all seeking the same…for the pain to go away!  As much as we would like to think that there is a magic pill that will truly take the pain away and out of our body, never to return again, well, it just does not exist.  Yes, medications, OTCs, procedures, etc can relieve the pain symptoms, but that is just a temporary solution. Of course there are true medical conditions that warrant such a treatment plan, but even in those situations, there are a myriad of ways to take care of ourselves to enhance the quality of our daily living.

SELF CARE IS KEY TO RECLAIMING YOUR HEALTH
FOR A WELLNESS LIFESTYLE

• Daily Relaxation & Quiet Time  -  meditation, deep breathing, hot baths, listening to calm music, candles
• Regular Physical Activity  – yoga, pilates, running, walking, swimming, Tai Chi
• Quit Taking It Personally (QTIP) – Learn to “brush more things off your shoulder”
• Filter out the less positive influences in your life  (i.e.:  friends that make your angry or sad)
• Do something every day for YOU that makes YOU happy!  – read a book, get your nails done, etc

These are just a few examples of the myriad of ways to make subtle changes to your lifestyle.  Start with one and practice it until it becomes a routine, then choose another one to work on and before you know it, you are leading a wellness lifestyle.  Taking just five (5) minutes a day to practice self care will afford you a clear mind and body so that you can go about the rest of your day moving more effortlessly through the stressful times.  Your body learns new habits all the time.  It is up to YOU to choose the positive and healthy ones that will support your goal of leading a pain-free, active, and vibrant life!

Essence hosts ongoing Myofascial Self Care classes throughout Monmouth County at health & wellness locations, as well as onsite at corporations.  For more self care tips and information on classes, please contact our center at (732) 539-8141 or visit www.EssenceNJ.com.  

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Jessica Queller Katz is an Advanced MFR Therapist with 350+ hours of continuing education in this discipline. She has trained directly with the authority on Myofascial Release, John F. Barnes, PT, at his seminars and treatment centers, as well as attended seminars as an Assistant Instructor. Her own healing from pain through MFR has awakened her passion for pregnancy and childbirth, which she blends into her practice as a Birth Doula, supporting woman through labor and all stages of motherhood and beyond.