Staying young, feeling young
It never fails to impress me every time I come to San Francisco and see how my mom and Dick (her husband) are so well! Not just surviving into their 80s but feeling so healthy!
?On my way to the retreat I approached my seat and was welcomed by the ready smile of this lady, who I was surprised to find out was already 77 years old! ?After talking to her, and knowing Mom and Dick’s lifestyle — and looking at all the others I know who are aging gracefully — I see some consistencies.
?Mom, for example, does yoga. She used to play tennis until she was 82! She has been athletic her whole life which is why her bones are still so strong. The only problem are her knees due to the impact of cement tennis courts. But even without the tennis she does yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and she has exercise machines at home.
?Dick swims, plays golf, and exercises regularly at home.
?Both are careful about their diet. ?My mother takes low sodium, aloe and is always taking some herb or another.
??The lady I talked to on the plane said she swims and exercises and has an exercise partner from Italy. ?Almost everyone I know that is aging well exercises and is careful about their diet.
?Two days ago my mom and Dick had a family over to their house — Louis and his wife Lisa and their three children. Louis is 74! He looks really young! His wife is 37 years younger. Imagine, he was 62 when they married and she was 19! His secret? He never thinks he is old. He keeps himself young “in his head.” Get this: he motorcycles! He says this keeps him young.
I can understand this when I see elderly women ballroom dancing. It’s not just exercise, it’s emotional. The movements evoke a consciousness that is youthful.
?I have another friend I’ve written about in the past: Grace Eleazar. She is hitting 70 and works out regularly; she even lifts weights.
?My meditation teacher who unabashedly admits he doesn’t like exercise says by the age of 50 he realized that yoga alone just wouldn’t do if he was to stay healthy. So physical exercise is important.
?Staying young means feeling young, thinking young, and being supremely positive. I don’t know anyone who stays young who is negative. People that love others, help others, maintain a wonder of life usually stay young.
?My observation also is people who stay young have a rhythm to life. There is discipline. There is a routine of sorts — but not rigid about those routines. Exercise, meditation, social service — all have their regular schedule.
In this subject of health and wellness I am pleased to inform you about an upcoming event called the Health and Wellness Fair at the Rockwell Tent — the last big hurrah of the Rockwell Tent, by the way, before it gives way to an expanded mall. The proceeds will go to help ecotourism and other social enterprises in Guimaras, Sibuyan and the reforestation campaign called Puno ng Buhay which is being done together with DENR, DA and the LGU in Marikina, Mindoro, Lobo, Samar, Leyte, and North Cotabato.
?It’s an offshoot of my experience in the Wellness Activity in Anaheim, Los Angeles — a huge event with 5,000 booths and 70,000 attendees. It’s about products, services, lectures, food, anything and everything to do with wellness. It was mind-blowing for me. So I had this idea: why not do it in the Philippines?
??The local effort from Oct. 2 to 4 is not going to be anywhere near the scale of Anaheim. (That event is prepared a year in advance.) But through the years they have accrued a database that continues to expand. Studies show that while the price of minerals and other products go up and down, the economic viability of health and wellness expands exponentially and shows no sign of letting up. It’s because health and wellness is directly linked to our need for well-being to live well. So I thought, what a great way to raise funds! By offering health and wellness to the public at large.
?We have invited speakers in different fields to give lectures, such as:
?• Dr. Cris Enriquez on hormones and health. I have tried this, it works! And you should see the man. He is over 70 and he looks really good. He uses plant-based hormones. Cory Quirino (she is older than me and she looks really good!) is one of his prime endorsers. ??
• Bettina Osmena shares how she overcame breast cancer and is still managing to be healthy despite her five children and a very busy senator husband. She will be joined by other women who have survived breast cancer. ??
• Dr. Albert Jo on nutritional medicine. He himself was sick but he healed himself just by eating the right foods. Dr. Jo is a very entertaining speaker. I am sure that, like me and many others who have heard him, you will find the talk entertaining and educational. ??
• Jetro Rafael, owner of Van Gogh is Bipolar, a restaurant in Quezon City which has been featured on CNN and the BBC. He has been bipolar since he was a child and has shifted from taking medication to eating particular foods and a process of self-awareness. Whatever he is doing, he’s well now so it must be working. He has also?done a lecture for the TED Talks. So for people with loved ones who are bipolar or who are themselves bipolar, this talk is a must.??
• Shiela Gomez will talk on space clearing and clearing the clutter. She is the only Filipino accredited space clearer in the world. She is offering her services for space clearing to help you get rid of unwanted clutter in your home.
I would like to talk on my newest health finds. I have just attended the national Doterra Convention which is so well run, in the first two weeks of opening reservations the convention limit of 10,000 is usually fully booked. I would love to share what I have learned and experienced. ?If you know of someone with new technology or new products that work to improve health — and that have had proven success or track records — contact us: you might be interested in getting a booth.
?We still have space but by mid-September we will close reservations because we have to design the layout. So contact us now. ??During the three-day event we will also have sessions: Zumba and different kinds of yoga. We will also have an area to offer services: acupuncture, hilot and aroma-touch technique which is the use of various oils to restore overall wellbeing. If you are interested in any of these services, call us and we will book you. ??We will have a host of products that have proven effective for healing: acu-pressure balls and rebounders called cellexerciser. Dr. Jo will have a booth. You can go to him for questions on health, what herbs to take and how to take them. He is an encyclopedia of knowledge.
We are partnering with three of the best chefs in the country to provide curated healthy meals for each day. Chef Jessie Sincioco is featured on Friday, Chef Robby Goco on Saturday and Chef Kalel Chan of Raintree on Sunday. ??Something magical happens when people come together for a good cause — and with the intention to improve their well-being. ?
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a few steps. We want the Rockwell event to be one giant stride towards the well-being of all those who attend.
For booth and ticket inquiries and reservations, contact us at 0917-8850770; 0906-3826388; bdmgstuff@gmail.com and healthandwellnessatrockwell@gmail.com.
The Bantay Kalikasan Ecotourism sites will also be featured in the upcoming Philippine Travel Mart from Sept. 4-6 at the SMX at the Mall of Asia Complex. Visit the G Eco tours booth to see how you can experience the spectacular gift that is our country. Contact them at 904-5066, 0927-7406555 and at tours@g-ecotoursph.com.
We give discounts for groups. Please call for reservations.
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I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com.
