A Look Into Women's Wellness Routines for National Women's Health Week

Although National Women’s Health Week and we are celebrating by asking a few of the women we work what health means to them. We are fortunate to work with strong women who put an emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle everyday. Scroll through to see how four women (of all ages!) are taking control of their health and taking the steps to live their best and healthiest lives!

Margaret Haff - Public Health and Clinical Trials Coordinator turned Acupuncturist

1. What does health mean to you?
Health to me simply means balance. It means sleeping well more nights out of the week than not, health means making conscious food choices, health means exercising in ways that stress my mind and muscles, but don't exhaust the engine. And most importantly, it means slowing down.

2. What is your favorite healthy activity?
It's either meal prepping on Sundays or reading for 15-30 minutes before bed. They may not sound like your conventional "healthy" activities but they do so much for me in terms of organizing my work week or allowing me to unwind and sleep more soundly.

3. What is one piece of advice you'd give to other women about their health?
Don't get overwhelmed, nothing comes all at once. Start small and commit to one thing first, then build from there. Health may seem hard to achieve but once you get a good momentum - like a long distance run, you're practically on autopilot.

4. What is something you'd like to incorporate into your wellness routine this year?
Adding more weights to my workouts

5. What is your go-to healthy snack?
Hummus with pita chips and veggies

6. How do you practice self-care?
I use mindfulness meditation while I'm with patients to strive to be fully present in whatever is going on with them. I also get acupuncture regularly!

Sarah Bergstein - Author, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and Certified Life Coach

1. What does health mean to you?
My definition has changed so much over the years but right now it’s the art and science of listening to my body and providing simple, natural tweaks to improve the level of health I seek. For me, that means simple nutrition, frequent movement, quality sleep, stress reduction, and natural treatments first for ailments and sickness before turning to medications.

2. What is your favorite healthy activity?
Cooking. Hands down. And mind you I’m not an incredible cook nor do I have the best tools or most amazing recipes. But eating and nourishment of our bodies for energy is one of the most basic and essential things we need as humans. Too often we try to gameify, simplify, speed up, or convenience the processes of food shopping, cooking, and eating. I believe strongly it should be exactly the opposite. If eating is essential and food can be medicine, it’s super important we learn how to feed ourselves and how to eat!

3. What is one piece of advice you'd give to other women about their health?
If you exercise and eat well and try to rest and try to reduce your stress and spend money on gyms and classes and clothing and health items...but you talk negatively to yourself in your head about your body and your goals and your commitment...then it is all for nothing. Honestly, you may as well do none of it. So with my clients, we focus on how we talk to ourselves and learning to love ourselves before we ever build a workout or plan out macros. Your ability to meet your definition of success when it comes to your health, wellness, and fitness, starts in your head and in the words you speak to yourself. Once you can make that conversation a positive one...anything is possible!

4. What is something you'd like to incorporate into your wellness routine this year?
My boyfriend and I eat out once a week and don’t pick items based on their calories or how “healthy” the items are. We go out to enjoy ourselves and eat things we want to try. It’s so fun! We also do a lot more biking and hiking and walking as opposed to just simply going to the gym for a strenuous workout. We feel so good because we’re enjoying ourselves more!

5. What is your go-to healthy snack?
I’ve always loved apples. I like to pack one in my bag for the day or cut one up and eat it at home. Fresh fruit and veggies are where it’s at for me!

6. How do you practice self-care?
Our bodies are designed perfectly with its own system to speak to you to address its needs. Too often we think we can outsmart our body by controlling how we treat it...forgetting at the end of the day that our bodies are designed for survival at all costs. Self-care, to me, is an ongoing and loving conversation with my body to ensure I’m giving it the best care possible. Think of a mother and how closely and in tune she is to taking care of her baby. That’s exactly the same loving mindset we can adopt to take care of ourselves. When we’re hungry—eat. When we’re thirsty—drink. When we’re tired or cranky—sleep. When we’re restless—move. It sounds so simple—and it is—we just have a habit of complicating things.

Julie Schwartz - Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Specialist

1. What does health mean to you?
For me, health is about balance, and feeling strong with the highs and lows that life presents.

2. What are key elements in your healthy self-care routine?
Diet, exercise, sleep and meditation are all key elements of health for me. Obviously acupuncture and Chinese herbs play a role too.

3. What is your favorite healthy activity?
Swimming, gardening, and playing with my kids all help me feel strong, balanced, healthy and happy.

Irene Reinke - Tai Chi Instructor

1. What does health mean to you?
It means eating in a way that gives you maximum energy, that feeds you at a cellular level, with a goal of beauty inside your cells and organs rather than a goal of conventional beauty.  It means moving your body in a way that is pleasurable, sensual and strengthening, that makes you feel confident in your body. It means emotionally embracing how you look and your emotions and feelings, not belittling yourself. Intellectually it means encouraging curiosity and openness, even at the risk of seeming silly or naive. It means spiritually to find what helps you find meaning and connectedness, again at the risk of others disapproval or scoffing. And finally it means to feed and keep alive your sexuality, with or without a partner.

2. What is your favorite healthy activity?
Dancing (actually movement in its many manifestations)

3. What is one piece of advice you'd give to other women about their health?
Don’t stop being open to sexuality and sensuality.

4. What is something you'd like to incorporate into your wellness routine this year?
Learning more about Taoism and Tantric practices.

5. What is your go-to healthy snack?
Sprouted raw walnuts and dark chocolate (85%).

6. How do you practice self-care?
I have my own strengthening and flexibility routine I do at home focused on functionality. I have a jade egg practice.  I make my own meals at home - a modified paleo and ketonic way of eating. I practice tai chi, do zydeco dancing and try to do weekly hikes on nature trails. And of course in all of this, try to have fun!

If you are looking to add more self-care and healthy routines to your life, book an appointment for Acupuncture or sign up for our Tai Chi Beginner's Special, 2 weeks for $25

Learn more about National Women's Health Week here.