HighThrive Foundation October Wellness Event

9366 Gaither Road,Gaithersburg MD 20877

22 October, 2022

Description

Is stress affecting your quality of life?  Studies have found that unaddressed stress can lead to many health problems and diminish well-being.  Obesity, depression, asthma, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s can be stress induced.  Come join us at the HighThrive Foundation’s free October Wellness Event to learn ways to address the stress that can lead to a healthier brain and body and improve your overall well-being.  Each attendee will identify their preferences in selecting 4 of 7 well-being resource stations that interest them. Experts lead the stations in the following wellness areas:  Transcendental Meditation; Finances; Personal Relationships; Social Dancing; Yoga; Tai Chi; and Well-Being Checkups. Dawne S. Vogt, PhD., a research scientist who developed a tool to measure well-being, will make brief opening remarks as our Keynote Speaker and lead the Well-Being station. There will be light refreshments available during the event. The goal of this event is for attendees to experience how these types of wellness resources can relieve dangerous stress and promote healthier habits that can improve their emotional health and ability to navigate their daily highs and lows.  FREE GIFT: All attendees will receive a free swag bag plus well-being resources to take home! All registered attendees should arrive and sign in between 1:00 and 1:25 pm. The program will start promptly at 1:25 pm. HighThrive Foundation’s October Wellness Event All attendees must be 18 years or older. Each registering attendee will prioritize their preferences and be assigned to rotate through 4 of the available 7 HighThrive wellness stations to participate and experience during the 2-hour program. The station leads have designed each activity to introduce attendees to these resources and the many possible benefits to their physical and mental well-being by including one or more in their daily routines. Please carefully read the descriptions of each wellness station and its leader below before you 'Register.' After prioritizing your stations and completing your registration, you will immediately receive an Eventbrite registration confirmation email with your attached HighThrive Foundation October Wellness Event General Admission free ticket, complete with your name, order #, and all relevant information for event. 1. Well-Being Checkup Station; Keynote Speaker and Station Lead: Dawne S. Vogt, Ph.D. “Well-Being Check-Up”: You go to the doctor regularly, but how often do you check up on your well-being? This station is led by Dr. Dawne Vogt, an expert in the measurement of well-being from Boston University (Professor of Psychiatry at BU School of Medicine) and the Veterans Affairs Health System (Research Scientist at VA Boston). She will describe the well-being framework that she uses in her work with military veterans and discuss the importance of doing regular “well-being check-ups” to prevent declines in health, work, financial, and social well-being over time. You will have the opportunity to take a confidential well-being survey, reflect on your unique strengths and vulnerabilities, and consider strategies that may help improve areas of reduced well-being. Dr. Vogt is volunteering to serve as our Keynote Speaker and lead this wellness station at the request of the HighThrive Foundation. 2. Introduction to Transcendental Meditation (TM) Station; Station Lead: Dr. Jaime Grant Do you have stress issues—anxiety, depression, migraines, high blood pressure, insomnia? Do you want to be more grounded, creative, and self-actualized? Transcendental Meditation® (TM) has been shown through extensive research to be both highly effective at helping with stress-related conditions and promoting growth to higher functioning. Find out how it works and why it is easier to practice and provides more results than other meditation techniques. Dr. Grant had been a certified teacher of Transcendental Meditation since 1974. Jaime received his doctorate in education from Harvard, is the National Director of Stress-Free Schools, and directs all TM teaching activities in northern Virginia. Dr. Grant is volunteering to serve and lead this wellness station at the request of the HighThrive Foundation. 3. Personal Relationships & Well-Being Station; Station Lead: Johanna Arenaza, PsyD. Personal relationships determine the quality of our lives. In our small groups, we will discuss the importance of maintaining healthy relationships. We will also learn how to identify the potential challenges inherent in every relationship. The goal is to overcome relational difficulties so that we can enjoy each other and thrive individually. Groups will be limited to 10 individuals to facilitate discussion and take place in a private room to ensure privacy. Dr. Johanna Arenaza will lead the station. She is a clinical psychologist specializing in preventing isolation by creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Dr. Arenaza is volunteering to lead this wellness station at the request of the HighThrive Foundation. 4. Introduction to Yoga Station: Yoga Instructor Amy Morrison Yoga is an all-levels form of exercise for all ages that can help you to manage stress while building strength and balance. Certified Yoga Instructor Amy Morrison of the City of Gaithersburg’s Parks and Recreation will lead attendees through a 20-minute introduction to yoga to give introductory exposure to what yoga has to offer and the many well-being benefits, physically and mentally, one experiences from head to toe. Mats will be provided and sanitized between sessions. Amy Morrison is volunteering to lead this wellness station at the request of the HighThrive Foundation. 5. Introduction to Social Dancing Station: Dr. Steve Wright People who learn social dancing end up healthier in various ways because it's fun, and they actually do it more than boring or strenuous exercise. It combines movement, social interaction, cooperation with a partner, music, learning something new, and its many benefits have been demonstrated in scientific studies. For example, dancing was found in one study to be better than any other forms of physical or mental exercise studied at reducing dementia risk. This station is led by Dr. Steve Wright, a member of HighThrive’s Board of Directors, who's been teaching his whole adult life, and has been teaching 25 different partner dances for the last 13 years in an easygoing style he hopes you'll enjoy. No social or previous dance experience is necessary. Come learn something new and have some fun! 6. Finances & Well-Being: Station Lead: Jason J. Howell, CFP®, CPWA®, CSRIC® Financial wellness affects so many parts of your life. It brings peace to a conflicted mind, calm to anxious relationships, and order to a disorderly world. You don't have to be wealthy to be happy, but happy people are wealthy. Join our session to bring the questions about money you have long been uncomfortable asking. This is your chance to finally find out what it takes to feel good about money. This station is led by Jason J. Howell, CFP®, CPWA®, CSRIC®, a Family Wealth Adviser recognized as a top wealth adviser by WASHINGTONIAN magazine, Northern Virginia magazine, Investopedia, and Investment News. Jason teaches financial planning at his alma mater, George Mason University, and is the author of the book, JOY of Financial Planning. Jason is volunteering to lead this wellness station at the request of the HighThrive Foundation. 7. Introduction to Tai Chi Station; Station Lead: Tai Chi Instructor Susan Tomasello Tai Chi is “a gentle way to fight stress.” It uses gentle, slow, deliberate body movements to achieve mental and bodily relaxation. Join Susan Tomasello, a certified Tai Chi Instructor working with Parks and Recreation of the City of Gaithersburg, for an introduction to Tai Chi and experience the benefits that this wellness resource can provide. You will gain improved balance, strength, and flexibility. Originally developed for self-defense, Tai Chi has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's now used for stress reduction and a variety of other health conditions. Often described as meditation in motion, Tai Chi promotes serenity through gentle, flowing movements. Susan Tomasello is volunteering to lead this wellness station at the request of the HighThrive Foundation.