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Seven Dimensions of Wellness

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By Jasmine Jafferali

874584_mossWhat is “wellness” per se? There are many definitions, and 20 years ago, wellness didn’t exist. But today, the industry is growing fast, and the term “wellness” is being overused, abused and it is not being used in its appropriate context. Wellness is achieving one’s full potential; it is self-directed and an ever-evolving process. Wellness has seven dimensions: occupational, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, environmental and physical. When all of these dimensions are met, then we are considered whole or complete. Wellness is more than just products to make us feel good or be physically fit.

Here is what each of the seven dimensions mean:

1. Social Wellness. This is how a person contributes to their environment and community and how he or she builds better living spaces and social networks. The social dimension encourages contributing to one’s environment and community.

2. Occupational Wellness. Occupational development is related to one’s attitude about one’s work, and recognizes personal satisfaction and enrichment in one’s life through work. The choice of profession, job satisfaction, career ambitions and personal performance are all important components of this dimension. To be occupationally well, a person is ultimately doing exactly with what they want to do in life and are comfortable with their future plans.

3. Spiritual Wellness. The spiritual dimension recognizes our search for meaning and purpose in human existence. It does not mean one is religious, but that it is better to ponder the meaning of life and be tolerant of the beliefs of others than to close our minds and become intolerant. Spiritually well people take time out of their day for spiritual growth and learning. They have a clear sense of right and wrong, and they act accordingly.

4. Intellectual Wellness. This dimension recognizes one’s creative and stimulating mental activities as well as expands knowledge and skills while sharing his or her gifts with others. The intellectually well person is open to new ideas, thinks critically and seeks out new challenges. These people will stretch and challenge their minds with intellectual and creative pursuits instead of becoming self-satisfied and unproductive.

5. Emotional Wellness. This dimension includes the capacity to manage one’s feelings and related behaviors, including the realistic assessment of one’s limitations, development of autonomy and the ability to cope effectively with stress. Emotionally well people have the ability to express feelings freely and manage feelings effectively. They are also aware of and accept a wide range of feelings in themselves and others.

6. Environmental Wellness. This includes the ability to promote health measures that improve the standard of living and quality of life in the community, including laws and agencies that safeguard the physical environment. The environmentally well person is aware of the earth’s natural resources, conserves energy, buys organic foods and products, and enjoys and appreciates spending time in natural settings.

7. Physical Wellness. This is what we all do well in our health clubs. It is met through the combination of good exercise and eating habits, taking precautions for self-care and receiving appropriate health screenings throughout our lives. It also means taking personal responsibility and care for minor illnesses and knowing when professional medical attention is needed. Physically well people understand and appreciate the relationship between sound nutrition and how their body performs. The physical benefits of looking good and feeling terrific most often lead to the psychological benefits of enhanced self-esteem, self-control, determination and a sense of direction.

Integrating Wellness into Your Facility

What are you doing in your programming to promote wellness? First, you have to decide what will wellness means in your facility. Does your facility have spa amenities, dietitians, offer corporate wellness programs, physical therapists/chiropractors or a recycling program? Wellness is more than just going to the gym to work out these days. It means getting a sports massage, attending a health seminar or seeking the expertise of a registered dietitian. It is helping the member to relieve stress and educate health through other means besides physical fitness.

It is predicted that the wellness industry will be the next trillion-dollar industry, and in the next 10 years, an additional $1 trillion dollars of the U.S economy will be focused on getting Americans healthy through programming and treating the whole person.

Americans are already spending more than $200 billion in the industry, including $150 billion per year in the nutrition industry (of which $19.8 billion are on supplements) and $24 billion for fitness clubs. The need for personal, customized care is growing because people are willing to spend the money to safeguard their youth and be well. It is time to shift our focus, get creative and develop wellness-based programs for our members.

Jasmine Jafferali, MPH, is the Program Coordinator and an instructor for Educational Fitness Solutions, Inc., Professional Certificate in Women’s Personal Exercise Training and Wellness. She has a diverse fitness background with over ten years of industry experience in campus recreation, corporate wellness, and the commercial health club setting. To learn more about her program, visit: http://www.efslibrary.net

15 Secrets Boomers Can Use to Stimulate the Mind

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By Linda Hampton

Stress free living includes all areas of your life. When your mind is not active, it tends to lose its functionality. Your simply not as alert as you use to be. Feeling dull and confused can be stressful. If you keep up this inactivity for a long time, you could cause you to suffer from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, brain fog, and memory loss. One advantage of stimulating your mind regularly, you have a better outlook in life.

Here are some activities that are sure to prevent your mind from being idle:

1. Play some games that require you to analyze shapes, puzzles, and pictures. Several examples are picture puzzles, card games, optical illusions, strategy games, visualization puzzles, crossword puzzles, and deduction games.

2. Read regularly and often. This helps improve your problem solving skills and memory retention. What you read depends on what your interests are. A favorite of many readers are self-help books, which stimulate the brain and let you figure out the solutions.

3. Exercise is known to bring oxygen to the brain with better blood circulation. Exercising doesn’t only have physical benefits; it also increases brainpower by creating neurons.

4. Meditation is believed to relieve stress, increase IQ, and allow your brain to function at a higher degree. It stimulates the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for complex thinking and performance.

5. If you’re having difficulty concentrating on the task at hand, try some deep breathing for about 10-15 minutes. This increases the flow of oxygen into the brain, increasing brain functionality.

6. Take fish oil supplements. Studies reveal that the 2 major fish oil components are EPA and DHA. They boost focus and strengthen the part of the brain that is responsible for emotions.

7. Listen to soothing music as it strengthens the brain’s right hemisphere and studies show that structure even changes from listening to this type of music often. It also boosts your emotional intelligence.


8. Write to improve your memory and stimulate your thought processes. Making articles, blogs, and journal entries are ideal for keeping your mind alert.

9. Get sufficient sleep. If you’ve slept well, you do not get brain clutter and your memory is improved too.

10. Many people swear by painting as a tremendous brain booster. It also sparks creativity. You might have a creative side that you have yet to discover.

11. Have a full breakfast. It is effective in supplying energy to the entire body. Don’t skip breakfast, you are placed at disadvantage mentally and physically.

12. Go for a walk. It allows you to rid your mind of worries and it’s a terrific form of exercise for the body too.

13. Take at least one serving of fruit juice a day. Fruit juice has nutrients that refresh and revitalize the brain. For enhanced focus and high energy, try cranberry, pomegranate or blueberry.

14. Caffeine. You may think of caffeine as something good but it’s on this list because it does stimulate the brain and leads to better focus as well as thinking ability. A word of caution is needed though, since it can be harmful if you take too much of it. So one of two cups a day is fine. Consuming 300 mg (3 cups) of caffeine is generally considered safe

15. Take up drawing as a hobby. This activity also stimulates the brain. Bring out your colored pencils to start stimulating your brain.

You don’t have to do all of these to reap the effects. Choose several that you know you can do well and those that are fun for you to do. You can do a few of them with a friend. Remember that the brain needs to be taken care of too.

Linda Hampton RN, MSN a Wellness and Stress Management Breakthrough Life Coach is the publisher of Transition Your Life, a free 5-part ecourse full of revealing information to help you deal with the stressful changes in your life.

How to Belly Laugh

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At first glance this title may just confuse those who already think they know what laughing is and how to do it. What many people do not realize is that there is a big difference between casually giggling at a silly joke and thoroughly enjoying and taking the time to really laugh during moments that are just too hysterical to pass by. I like to call this sort of laugh, the sort of laugh that comes from deep down, a “Belly Laugh.” The sound of such a laugh is hard to describe, because everyone has their own unique laugh, but you know it when you hear it and you feel it when you do it. Belly laughs start from the core and can shake your body for as much as 15 minutes, however the effects of it stay with you and keep you feeling happy the rest of the day. In our fast paced society, it is sometimes considered a waste of time to laugh. There are many reasons people these days do not laugh as much as they used to. Some people are insecure about their laughing habits, or afraid to look too childish, but the fact of the matter remains the same, laughing is good for your health.

Some people abstain from belly laughing because they are embarrassed of their laugh. I think that was my problem. My husband told me one day at the beginning of our marriage that he did not know what my laugh sounded like. At first, I defended myself and reminded him of how many funny times we have shared and some of the jokes I have laughed at and told. He agreed that we have enjoyed lots of hilarious times, but he could only remember what my faint chuckle sounded like. He was right. For a long time I was insecure about the way my laugh sounded in public and so I stifled it. I was afraid that my voice would crack or that I would snort if I laughed too hard. I felt uncomfortable when I laughed in public because I worried everyone else would hear my laugh and think it sounded awkward compared to all the other perfect, beautiful laughs. What a ridiculous notion! When something is genuinely funny, we should laugh, not be concerned about what other people think. Do you judge other people based on the quality or quantity of their laughter? Probably not. It is unlikely that other people are paying such close attention to you during a funny moment that they are listening closely to your laugh and determining whether or not your laugh is a good one or a strange sounding one.

Another reason people are afraid to laugh out loud is because they do not want to look childish in a professional environment. It is true that children laugh more than adults. In fact, the average pre-schooler laughs and smiles about 400 times per day, however laughing will not make an employee or employer look foolish. In fact, recent research suggests that the workplace needs to lighten up, because 63% of respondents in one study said that the stress they felt at work has impacted their health and family life negatively. Many companies are actually trying to bring humor back into the corporate world, because the employers know that by incorporating fun back into the working environment, employees can maintain a sense of happiness and be more efficient with their work. So laugh a little at work, be the one who encourages others to actually take pleasure in their occupation. No one will assume you are foolish. They will just think you are trying to enjoy the time you spend at the workplace. And who knows, maybe you are just what someone else needs to feel a little more comfortable and start laughing as well.

Laughing should be part of our everyday lives. Each time we give one good, belly laugh, we burn about 3.5 calories and we release endorphins. When these endorphins are released into the body, there is an exhilarating effect similar to the effects of a hard workout. Laughing also invigorates and replenishes our cells, souls and minds by increasing our oxygen intake. A good belly laugh can also boost immunity, relieve stress and even increase our pain threshold.

So there you have it. You owe it to yourself to look for the funny moments in life and not just chuckle. Do not worry about what your laugh sounds like or what other people will think of you. Just remember the benefits to your health. Give a good old-fashioned belly laugh the next time an unexpected comical thing happens during your busy day. Like the old saying goes, “Live well, love always and laugh often.”

Courtney Lewis is the manager of Sweetly You where you can find unique bath and body products and create custom bath and body gift sets.