What does wellness mean to you?

The concept of “wellness” is ever-evolving in today’s fast-paced world. Wellness was once a focus on physical health and has now become viewed by many as a more holistic approach encompassing the mind, and soul as well as the physical needs of the body. Simply counting calories and going to the gym is not enough to feel whole, to feel well. Nurturing our emotional, mental and social well-being is now also at the top of to-do lists. Personally, I believe it all comes down to balance. It’s about finding a way to bring harmony to all aspects of life, even when the chaos of daily life makes that seem impossible.

Wellness looks different for different individuals. Each person has their own unique feelings, goals, needs and circumstances and goes about achieving their version of “wellness” in a variety of ways. No matter what the path looks like though, the intent of the journey is something we all share. We are all looking for feelings of vitality, a sense of purpose, an understanding of our own needs and taking care of ourselves. We want to make intentional choices that support our growth, and cultivate healthy habits that allow us to thrive.

Being a Personal Trainer at the Dwares JCC, I was curious to learn how different JCC members view wellness, so I asked them. I received responses like these: “Wellness is about having a well-rounded self-care commitment and feeling good in your physical, emotional, mental and social health. Just feeling good across the board”, “I think about getting your heart rate up, exercising, taking classes, eating well, staying hydrated, keeping stress levels down, having good friends and family. Being persistent, keeping at it, staying active as much as possible”, “It’s a mental and physical state, and emotional and spiritual too. Always striving to be better than you are or maintaining if you’re happy in your current state. Trying to have a work-life balance. Being calm and centered in the midst of the storms. You’re always going to be busy, but as long as your daily practices keep you feeling well and calm, you’re good. What you need to feel well also changes throughout the different seasons of your life”. Our Fitness Director, Rob, defines wellness as “being able to move as well as possible for as long as possible throughout your life and trying to be as mentally, physically and nutritionally healthy as possible”. I was not surprised at the answers being quite similar. We all just want to feel good.

Physical wellness is often the first piece of the puzzle that comes to mind. The most important things we can all do to maintain our physical health is stay active, eat nutritious foods, and get adequate amounts of rest and recovery. For children specifically, summer camps encourage strong physical health by providing outdoor play, exploration, adventure and creative opportunities; all of these contribute positively to their physical health. In today’s highly digital world, where children often see more screens than the outdoors, camps offer a refreshing escape in nature where children can learn, grow and socialize.

Mental and emotional wellness is also something people are becoming more and more aware of. Finding ways to manage stress is crucial on the road to whole wellness. Some helpful ways that the effects of stress can be minimized are to exercise, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, limit caffeine, undertake mindfulness activities like meditation or yoga, do deep breathing exercises, listen to music, spend time outside, connect with family and friends, or join a group in your community. Away from the pressures of school and home life, summer camps allow children to gain independence and a sense of self-worth while learning how to handle challenges, navigate relationships, and express their emotions in healthy ways.

Community and social wellness are also essential aspects of self-care. Human beings thrive on a sense of belonging.  This can be found in summer camps, fitness centers, religious gatherings, sports teams, book clubs, pottery classes, get-togethers with friends and family. Wherever people meet to enjoy each other’s company and grow together, they can bring about a sense of peace and self-worth. We can build that feeling of wellness bit by bit.

Spiritual wellness, which is often overlooked, is about finding purpose and passion. It’s about a sense of wonder and having gratitude for both the small and large blessings that come our way. We are especially nourished by those life events that are beautiful and surprising. For me, through all of life’s twists and turns, I somehow ended up writing a column for the same newspaper, in the same building, that my grandmother, Marylyn Graff, did many years ago, may her memory be for a blessing. Sometimes we must listen to the whispers in our gut when choosing our directions in life, and trust that both our journey and our destination will bring us joy. If we can do that, we will eventually find ourselves just where we need to be.

Ultimately, the word “wellness” means pursuing a life of balance, joy and fulfillment. So, what does wellness mean to you?

LEAH HALUNEN is a personal trainer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.