Wellness Tips for The New Year

by Lorrie Klosterman and illustrations by Annie Internicola, December 30, 2008

Ah, the New Year. A chance for new beginnings at the drop of a calendar page. New Year’s resolutions may fizzle after a few months; unrequited intentions seem to be a part of human nature. But many resolutions are indeed fulfilled, at least enough so to launch a new direction. Changes toward a healthier lifestyle are often in the mix. How does your current reality differ from your greatest vision for yourself? What steps could get the reality closer to the vision?

Some of our area’s health practitioners told us what comes to mind as their top tips to escort you to wellness, not just at the turn of a year, but anytime.

Exercising Will and Power

Dr. David Ness, a leading sports chiropractor based in New Paltz, treats a lot of the area’s top elite runners and triathletes. He recommends that you “have a vision and a plan for how you want to feel physically, mentally, and spiritually. Write it down. Read it daily, visualize it, and take action.” As an expert in physical fitness, he says that scheduling exercise into your weekly routine is key. “Some how, some way, exercise three to five times per week, for 30 to 60 minutes, minimum.”

To help keep up a commitment to the schedule, especially if it’s new to your routine, Ness advises, “Set specific days and times to do your favorite routine. Be it yoga, Pilates, tai chi, running, biking, or going to the gym to work out. Do it on set days for set times. Vary the types of exercise you do to help build a balanced body. Alternate between strength training days and aerobic training days. If you are the type of person who cannot self motivate, pay someone to motivate you!” This could mean investing in a personal trainer or coach, Ness says, or ordering a few yoga, Pilates, or other exercise DVDs to do at home. “The same rules apply, though. You must set specific days and times to do your routine, and stick with it.”

Ness also emphasizes the importance of taking time to rest and recover. “If you have to be in one posture or position for a long time, try to find the time to use the opposite muscles and body position to balance the body out. Doing this will help you avoid overuse and repetitive strain injuries related to sports, work, musical instruments, and hobbies.”