Denton County Living Well Magazine November/December 2016 | Page 38
H
ow fit are we? You may
think I’m talking about our
bodies, how we want to get
or maintain fitness. Maybe
like taking a walk every
day, or having a gym membership.
But, I’m referring to another type of fitness––emotional fitness.
FITNESS
Webster’s dictionary defines fitness as
the quality or state of being fit. Physical activity in conjunction with good
nutrition benefits a person by lowering
the risks for cardiovascular disease
and helps you stay active. In addition,
according to the President’s Council
on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition it also:
• Prevents other chronic diseases
such as cancer and stroke (all three
with heart disease are leading
causes of death)
• Controls weight
• Reduces fat
• Promotes development of strong
bones and muscles
• Increases energy and self esteem
as well as decreases the potential
for becoming depressed
• Relieves stress
• Improves sleep
There are so many benefits! What if we
can condition our minds to work with our
active bodies and lifestyles? It’s teamwork
between mind and body. Sounds good,
right? A perfect balance. It requires a lot
of effort from us but it can be done.
“Caring for the mind is as important as
caring for the body. In fact, one cannot
be healthy without the other.”––Sid Garza-Hillman
EMOTIONAL FITNESS
During our current times, we deal with
busy schedules and many tasks at hand
that make up our normal day. What
about connection? Do you think it’s as
important? Not only the connections with
people, jobs, and circumstances that sur-
Emotional
Fitness
By Julie Alvira, MD, MBA
round us, but I’m talking about connection with our intimacy. Staying connected
with all areas of our lives in order to have
strength and a sense of balance––an homeostasis. To have the power to bounce
back emotionally and take action in difficult situations, while building resilience.
That is emotional fitness.
If we are physically fit but our mind is
not, there is an unbalance. There are
centers across the globe that provide services and treatment for individuals who
don’t feel emotionally fit. Psychological
research has shown that as we age we
tend to regulate emotions more effectively. Studies have presented that with age,
people prioritize their goals better by
making them more meaningful using cognitive and behavioral resources. Younger
adults tend to focus on the negative part
of circumstances while older adults focus
on positive thinking and images. We are
addicted to our thoughts so when we
process them negatively, our energy is
drained with over thinking, self-criticism,
guilt, anger, and many other emotions
that prevent success.
CORPORATE FITNESS
Nowadays, companies have internal
corporate wellness strategies to approach the concept of emotional fitness and wellness by practicing corporate competency. They know that their
employees are the gold of the organization and understand that emotional
health issues impact numbers and a
company’s business.
ShoreTel, a technology company,
gives freedom to employees to design
their own routines and help each other
to live a healthier lifestyle. Aetna, a
medical insurance company, promotes
meditation and yoga as part of their
wellness programs to reduce employees’ stress levels and to stimulate productivity. Booz Allen Hamilton, a management and technology consulting
company, understands wellness and
has in place a program that includes
cardio exercise and mental health education. Kirkland & Ellis, an international law firm, has a wellness program in
place that includes meditation, webinars, and coaching. And the list goes
on and on!
TRAITS OF EMOTIONALLY
FIT PEOPLE
• Confidence and self-esteem: They
know what they are capable of
and don’t need the approval of others. They are working on their own
achievements or on the route to get
there.
• Mindfulness: They are living here in
the present. The past gave them experiences to have tools and work on
the now.
• Resilience: If they fall, they get back
up––stronger and better.
• Commit to themselves: They believe
in themselves without fear but with
faith. They are real, mature, vulnerable, and driven.
• Boundaries and limits: They know
how to say “no.”
Julie Alvira, M.D., MBA, Healthcare Management creator of AJBodysculpt. www.
ajbodysculpt.com. A health, wellness, and fitness platform that provides you with the
necessary tools to get into a healthier lifestyle. Health & Wellness Speaker/ Corporate
Wellness Consulting/ Coaching/ Writer. You can see her fitness videos in
Youtube: AJBodysculpt. Contact: [email protected].
36
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016