Spring is finally here! Or is it? In late March and early April, the lines can sometimes be blurred, between what is winter and what is spring. Pleasant sunny days that seem to be a harbinger of enjoyable weather to come can be followed by a plunge back into the cold grip of what we thought we were leaving behind.
Alan Malachowski, Chair, BMCSHCC
Rebecca Roberts-Malamis, Vice Chair BMCSHCC
But by the time you read these lines, a welcome warmth and the sights and smells of spring should be upon us. And that means it is time to leave the indoors and go outside to enjoy the awakening world. Take a walk or a bike ride on a local trail. Bring the yoga mat to a park or visit a playground with your kids. You’ve been cooped up all winter and your body, mind, and soul are longing to get reacquainted with the natural world.
The cover story in this issue of Community Health magazine is all about the connection we human beings have to nature. It is in nature we lived and thrived before progressing into a largely urban species – or, at the very least, one that prefers living in a structure as opposed to a cave. But we are still called to nature, maybe not to live but certainly to play.
Also inside you will find health and wellness stories about people who are changing their lives through healthier habits and practices. On Page 6 you will read an article about three Bucks County Technical High School staff members who have taken the leap into the unique and seemingly ever-growing crossfit community. One of them, John Haney, was so changed by his crossfit experiences that he opened his own gym.
On Page 8 is the inspirational story about Jeanine Whitney, a Colonial School District employee who after participating in a district-sponsored wellness challenge decided she needed to get in better shape. By setting small goals and working diligently toward attaining them – and most importantly, maintaining a positive attitude – she has lost 70 pounds.
Many of us feel there are not enough hours in the day to take care of our top priorities, much less get in a productive workout. The answer for Susan Powidzki, teacher in Upper Moreland, was Tabata, an intense program that emphasizes a high number of repetitions over a short duration. And you can do it in your living room with whatever exercises you enjoy most, while watching your favorite TV show or looking after the little ones.
That is just a taste of what you will find beyond this page. Enjoy, get inspired, and be well.
