Your lifestyle directly influences your health. Have you ever been asked, "Are you healthy or are you well?” Being healthy and being well are not the same thing, however, one directly influences the other.
Your health is multifactorial and is measured by your body being free from disease (cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.). Wellness is measured by your lifestyle choices used to reach your state of health (nutrition, exercise, meditation, yoga, not smoking, etc.). So, ultimately, your health is directly influenced by your lifestyle (e.g., wellness) choices.
What does this mean? If you choose to exercise or meditate that’s a lifestyle (wellness) choice that influences many dimensions of your wellness and health.
What wellness dimensions am I affecting? There are 9 dimensions of your wellness or areas you can control that directly influence your health. These areas include physical, emotional, social, occupational, environmental, intellectual, spiritual, creative, and financial. Whew- that’s a lot!
One dimension can impact all of them. Imagine if you don’t like your job (occupational wellness), it creates a stressor in your life affecting your emotional and social health (to mention a few) and eventually creating a physical problem (e.g., cancer or heart disease). Wellness is the balance you choose in your life to promote good health (finding a job where you thrive and not just survive).
How does exercise influence our health and does the type of exercise matter?
If you want the mental health benefits from physical activity, make sure to include exercise that raises your heart rate. Examples include biking, jogging, pickleball, tennis, brisk walking, etc. Increasing blood flow to the brain has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety (Harvard Health, 2023). In addition, The Department of Health and Human Services stated that exercise improves physical and mental health, so it’s good for the mind and body! (Reed, 2021). Think about all the dimensions of wellness you can influence if you exercise!
How does strength training improve my health? If you want to stay independent and move pain-free, include strength training at least 2-3 days a week. Strength declines quickly as we age and being strong supports all the other activities we enjoy (biking, jogging, pickleball, tennis, golf, etc.). Strength training keeps our joints strong and healthy, allowing us to do all the things we enjoy, and not to mention it keeps us independent in our everyday lives.(Harvard Health, 2023).
We are here to help you with your health and wellness goals!
- Take inventory of your dimensions of wellness. What areas of your lifestyle need to change for optimal health? Meet with a personal trainer. We are experts in helping you achieve your wellness goals.
- Exercise safely. Injuries will slow down your progress toward achieving your health goals! Work with a personal trainer to ensure you are moving right and moving safely.
- Accountability. Make sure you show up and do the work. Personal trainers and group exercise classes help hold you accountable.
The Houstonian Club helps you get to a healthier place by offering different amenities to enhance many dimensions of wellness. Spa services, group exercise classes, personal training, swimming, indoor and outdoor running, tennis, pickleball, yoga, Pilates, dining, social events, and many more! Make sure you check out all the benefits you receive with your Houstonian Club Membership! To learn more about personal training at The Houstonian Club, please contact Fitness Manager Travis Hudnall at
thudnall@houstonian.com.
Shantelle Weichers
Houstonian Club Personal Trainer
Purdue University Global Health and Wellness Adjunct Faculty
Sources:
Harvard Health (2023). Retrieved October 22, 2023 from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/exercise-and-fitness#exercise-fitness1
Reed, P (2021), Retrieved October 22, 2023 from https://health.gov/news/202112/physical-activity-good-mind-and-body