STRONG Week 1: Mindset

As we start this challenge together, it is important to remember to frame everything in a positive mindset - Check out our Inspiration video for this week!

Hope and Your Heart

"The mechanism for the connection between health and positivity remains murky, but researchers suspect that people who are more positive may be better protected against the inflammatory damage of stress. Another possibility is that hope and positivity help people make better health and life decisions and focus more on long-term goals. Studies also find that negative emotions can weaken immune response.

What is clear, however, is that there is definitely a strong link between “positivity” and health. Additional studies have found that a positive attitude improves outcomes and life satisfaction across a spectrum of conditions—including traumatic brain injury, stroke and brain tumors." 

(from an article on Johns Hopkins Medicine website)

Wellness Wisdom

Group Exercise: a great way to commit to fitness!

1. Find a friend excited to join you on this journey

2. Select 3 different classes to try; then attend each of them at least 3 times

3. Add the classes to your appointment calendar

4. Introduce yourself to the instructor

5. Get to know the other participants and become involved in the class community

Jennifer Niemeyer

Healthy Living Coordinator, Lampeter-Strasburg

Mindful breathing is paying attention to the sensations of breathing: inhales, exhales, breath pace and breath depth.

Practicing this deep breathing exercise can reduce stress, anxiety and pain while improving memory, focus, attention, sleep quality and positive thoughts.

Try this breathing exercise:

• Sit in a comfortable position. 
• Close your eyes or soften your gaze. 
• Breath in through the nose at a count of 4. 
• Breath out through the nose at a count of 6, 8 or 10. 
• Try to make the exhales take longer than the inhales. 
• Repeat 5 - 10 times.

Cori Strathmeyer

Director of Healthy Living