EXERCISE AND HEALING DIET

Most of us derive great pleasure from eating.  We may find ourselves craving certain foods.  These cravings may be due to several reasons:  the great taste of food, a pleasant emotion associated with the food, or habit.  We are often faced with the uncomfortable awareness, however, that what we are actually eating and what we should be eating are two entirely different things.  The challenge of good nutrition, therefore, lies in reconciling this difference.  As you begin to put more time into the planning, selection and preparation of a healthy diet, you will discover that healthy foods can be delicious.  You will also come to realize that in a good diet nothing is totally forbidden, and you can indeed fit into your diet those foods that may not be so healthful, but are important to you.  Eating can be both a great pleasure and a way to promote optimal health.

Through regular exercise and an active lifestyle, it is possible to enhance both the physical and psychological qualities of life.  The purpose of this Foundation is to 1) develop an awareness and interest in the interrelationship of the mind and body, particularly our body's effect, as expressed through physical activity, on thoughts and emotions, 2) inform participants of the benefits of exercise and an active lifestyle, 3) provide the knowledge necessary to exercise safely, 4) motivate participants to incorporate more physical activity into daily life; and 5) present exercise as an alternative method for eliciting the relaxation response, meditation or yoga.

Participants will:

• Understand the benefits of and differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

• Understand the parameters of an exercise prescription.

• Understand the interaction of heart rate and perceived exertion in determining appropriate intensity of exercise.

• Understand how regular exercise positively influences physical and psychological health.

• Understand the benefits of physical activity throughout the aging process.

• Begin to understand how exercise can be combined with mindfulness to facilitate body awareness and self-inquiry. 

• Experience a sense of "core desire" for adapting an active lifestyle.

Behavioral Objectives

Participants will:

• Recognize the relationship between the typical American diet and diseases that are common in our society.

• Identify personal food choices that detract from a healthful and well-balanced diet.

• Identify alternative food choices that can lead to a more healthful diet.

• Recognize at least one common personal situation or emotional state that triggers poor food choices, and describe an alternative way of coping with this situation.