PVCC Puma Press: March 2004

"Wellness" is a word Paradise Valley Community College students and staff will soon hear a lot about. Wellness Fest comes up in April, but most people are confused about what its actual meaning may be: is it health, fitness, psychological, something only hippie health nuts understand or a combination thereof?

Ali Waelchli, the Paradise Valley Community College Coordinator of Wellness and Union Programming, says that first of all, wellness is something you already have.

"Whether you pay attention to it or not, it's always present. You can enhance it or further develop it. People look at it and say, "Oh, I don't have that." But you do. Part of that is just acknowledging it and taking the time to think about it," Waelchli says.

Wellness, she says, is bigger than most people think. It's so broad. It's not just health. It's about keeping things in balance, finding your purpose and finding your values. Most importantly, Waelchli wants people to understand that wellness is a journey that ebbs and flows all the time.

"Wellness covers all the aspects of your life. The message of wellness is keeping things in balance. Are you paying attention to your health at all levels? Intellectually, are you challenging yourself? Are you open to new ideas? Spiritually, are you connected? Do you understand yourself? What's your purpose? What are your values? There are seven dimensions of wellness, and it really encompasses and covers everything in our lives," says Waelchli.

The seven dimensions in the PVCC wellness model are social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, occupational, intellectual and physical. Each overlaps with the rest.

Social wellness involves a person's relationships, communication skills, conflict resolution and respect for others, she says. To show that the different points of wellness do overlap, she says that something that enhances social wellness—like a person's relationships with friends and family—gives emotional support as well.

Waelchli says that emotional wellness means understanding the self and dealing with emotions.

Spiritual wellness is who you are, according to Waelchli. It's what's important to you, or in other words, your values. Spiritual wellness is the realization that we're all connected to others.

"It's not about religion but it can be. The other thing about that is it's realization of self and that we're all connected. It's realizing that there's a basic human need for other people. It's realizing where you fit in with that connection."

Environmental wellness involves recognizing your impact on your home and work environments. It involves creating a pleasant environment for yourself, Waelchli says.

She adds, "People hear environmental wellness and they automatically think ‘save the planet.' Of course, that's part of it. But also on a personal level, what can you do for your work or study space to make a more comfortable space for you?"

Occupational wellness is matching your career to your values. It's finding the right fit or taking on some form of career exploration.

Waelchli says, "It's about your career path. You're here at school because you probably want to get XYZ as your career. Career exploration and a lot of things that the counseling department does can help enhance occupational wellness."

As for intellectual wellness, Waelchli describes that as continuing lifelong learning. Intellectual wellness is not only your education but opening your mind to new ideas, accepting change, having an appreciation of the arts and broadening your mind.

When it comes to physical wellness, Waelchli says that this dimension is about taking care of your self. This means getting routine checkups and taking care of your health in every way from putting on the seatbelt in the car to following proper nutrition.

It can't happen overnight and she wants people to understand that achieving wellness is done in baby steps. She advises celebrating small successes in your wellness journey.

To get involved, stop into the Student Life Center to talk to Waelchli or e-mail her. There are monthly wellness committee meetings open to all students and staff wishing to attend. There is also a two-unit wellness class and a one unit meditation and wellness class that one can take in order to learn more about wellness.

The Wellness Fest kicks off April 5 and continues to the end of the month. It will include health screenings, presentations, a blood drive, games, food and entertainment. There will be many activities to help one enhance personal wellness in all seven dimensions.