Alternative Wellness May Complement Traditional Medicine by Jen Knox The last two years brought immense stress and collective hardship. Staffing shortages at medical facilities and rising rates mental health concerns related to the trauma of Covid-19 caused many people to seek alternative therapies and wellness practices. While the options can seem expensive or intimidating, finding a personal wellness routine in 2022 can be simple. While some people are working from home and trying to find structure, others are navigating shortstaffed and high-pressure environments at work. The fact is, we are all navigating new challenges and rebuilding in different ways. Acknowledging our unique challenges is the first step to wellness. According to research, personal wellness means paying attention to three things: fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit. Each person has different areas of their lives where they feel stronger. One person might be healthy physically but lack emotional stability, while another person feels balance but suffers from chronic pain. To self-assess, simply ask yourself which categories you feel are deficient. To nurture physical health, alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, or chiropractor adjustments have been proven complementary to allopathic medicine. But physical wellness doesn’t have to mean spending money. It can also mean simple changes, such as setting a timer to remember to stretch a few times each day if we find ourselves on the computer or in a delivery vehicle for long periods of time. Scheduling in just twenty minutes a day to walk can lead to profound changes in the way we feel if done regularly. When it comes to emotional wellness, there are a lot of new developments that came with technology and because of medical staff shortages. These include online support counseling services, such as Betterhelp.com, which can get pricey fast but may offer support we need. Other costeffective ways to work on mental or emotional wellness is to join social groups and seek out support from our network of friends and family. Finally, to seek out alternative therapies and wellness when we are not feeling our best may mean exploring our belief system through prayer, meditation or writing. Listing our core values is a great exercise for reconnecting with who we are and where we are in alignment in our life. As we all heal from a lengthy challenge and begin to rebuild in many ways, these simple practices can make all the difference. Remember to trust your own journey and pay attention to what works for you. Jen Knox is a local author and writing coach. She is a contributing writer for Reynoldsburg Magazine. Saying Goodbye to Bob Photo Courtesy of Karen McPherson McPherson Reynoldsburg Magazine • Spring, 2022 Bob McPherson, Reynoldsburg’s mayor for 20 years, from 1988 to 2008, died last winter after a long illness. He was a Navy veteran and was memorialized with military honors. In addition to his many accolades in the city, Bob was highly instrumental in creating the Reynoldsburg Visitors Bureau, and later Reynoldsburg Magazine. In the photo at right, his wife Karen is receiving the American flag from a Navy detail. Reynoldsburg Magazine Photos 11
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