22 The Jewish Journal - May 2019 / Nisan - Iyar 5779
JEWISH FAMILY AND
&
changing lives...
Invites you to join us to
Laugh & Learn You'll be so glad you did! Wednesdays 1:00-2:30pm
www.ocjj.net
Thursdays 10:00-11:30am
Transportation is Available. Call 732-363-8010 to learn more.
Move Up in Life and Get Moving Yehudah Neuman, MSW Intern Jewish Family & Children’s Service
P
eople are always on the lookout for all sorts of remedies to improve their quality of life. A lot of money, time and effort are spent with the goal of finding the key to a healthy life. There is one remedy that is well known and proven in study after study to improve many components of health. These benefits include heart health, fat reduction, muscle strength, anxiety relief, better mood, and a longer life. Best of all – it’s free. What I’m talking about is physical activity which is more commonly known as exercise. Many people think that exercise is important because it promotes weight loss and builds muscle tone. This attitude has a risk of deterring physical activity because it takes a while until one sees those benefits. It’s a shame to use such a limited measure of the value of exercise because it provides so many other benefits. Let’s first talk about the physical benefits.
&
Speakers Bureau Jewish Grandparenting Long Distance Grandparenting Two Faiths/One Family The Changing Face of the Jewish Family Marriage after Retirement “Love Conquers All” and Other Myths about Marriage Arguing and Making Up Domestic Violence/Emotional Abuse Stress and the Caregiver Are the Golden Years Golden? When Adult Children Return Your Special Needs Child Second Time Around Being Jewish in a Non-Jewish World What’s the Matter with Kids Today Handling Bias, Past and Present The Bills of Rights-Alive and Well The Jewish Family & Children’s Service speakers include: clinical social workers, retired educators, attorneys and business advisors. Speakers are available to come to your meeting. For more information contact Rita at 732-363-8010 or jfcs@ocjf.org
According to the CDC, regular exercise improves bone health, muscular fitness, lowers risk of high blood pressure and stroke, reduces arthritis symptoms and prevents weight gain. In older people it can improve sleep, improve balance and joint mobility and extend years of active life. It also reduces chances of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes and heart disease. It can even help mitigate the disease in a sick person. While these reasons sound compelling there is normally a gap between doing what we should do and what we feel like doing. If only we could start that workout, studies have shown that one will see that they feel happier and more energized. According to Michael Otto, PhD (Boston University) a bout of moderate exercise will usually enhance your mood in about 5 minutes. In fact, when Jennifer Carter, PhD counsels anxious or depressed clients she suggests that they walk while they talk. She finds that it helps them open up. Don’t take their word for it though. Next time you feel stressed out try a quick jog or even some jumping jacks. See if you feel any better. Exercise has also been proven to help alleviate long-term depression. James Blumenthal, PhD tested this through a series of randomized controlled trials. He found that exercise was generally comparable to antidepressants for pa-
tients with major depressive disorder. Upon follow-up a year later, he found that exercise was also important to prevent a relapse. In other studies, Jasper Smits, PhD and Otto found that exercise helped people prone to anxiety less likely to panic (American Psychological Association). Exercise provides other mental health benefits including improved attention and cognitive function. It can also delay the onset of cognitive decline for the aging (CDC). Exercise can make us healthier and happier. Start off small like walking 10 minutes a day and slowly build up. It’s always smart to ask your doctor about which exercises to avoid. Otherwise, “the type of exercise doesn’t matter”, says Dr. Alicia Arbaje of Johns Hopkins University. “The best exercise is the one that you actually do.”
Here is How You Can Support Our Holocaust Survivors and Seniors It is easy to donate a little each month, to make a big impact! • Go online to www. jewishoceancounty.org. • Send a check, use your credit card, transfer stock. • Call the office and talk with our staff. • Bring in your Tzedakah box. We will count it for you. • Consider making a monthly gift to support these important programs.
Jewish Federation of Ocean County 1235A Route 70, Lakewood, NJ 08701 732-363-0530