What to Expect from Wellness Section

Wellness is a broad term, but my hope as editor of this section is to provide articles that are informative and practical to our lives. I plan to cover body, mind, and spirit since we need to be healthy in all these areas, at least as much as we can be, to get the most out of life.

For instance, the City of Lake Wales web site has a link for adult activities that lists shuffleboard, tennis, pickleball, ultimate Frisbee, and bridge. https://www.cityoflakewales.com/316/Adult-Activities The library and the YMCA both have yoga classes. The YMCA also has a gym and a pool.

For walking, we have the beautiful path going around Lake Wailes. Our bodies need motion. I hope to give you tips or motivation or a new idea when I cover this.

Harvard Health Publishing has an article, Back to school: Learning a new skill can slow cognitive aging.

Did you know that you can take classes online for free from edx.org and coursera.org? Want to help your child, grandchild, or just review stuff? Khanacademy.org has links for students, parents, and teachers.

Here's a real kicker, Stanford published an article in 2010 called Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter, Longer by Richard Powers. From the article: The only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing.

Reading - 35% reduced risk of dementia

Bicycling and swimming - 0%

Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week - 47%

Playing golf - 0%

Dancing frequently - 76%. That was the greatest risk reduction of any activity studied, cognitive or physical.

While dancing, playing, and learning are fun and good for us, this section will also focus on our spirits. We have a wonderful spiritual community in this town. There are over 50 churches in the surrounding areas to choose from.

This town is special in the way we reach out and care for each other. It is our spirit that draws newcomers to us. No one is a stranger if you say hello. If no one reaches out to you, then you reach out to someone else. This is a pay-it-forward kind of place and I hope your spirit finds nurturing here as well.

From your wellness editor, Nancy Gossard. Send your wellness stories, photos and videos or ideas for section content to Nancy at [email protected].