Wellness Connections with The Solutions Group

Kay Woodward is an Albuquerque-based cookbook author and former pastor whose life is centered around family and faith. In this episode, she speaks to how mealtimes can offer a special time of social connection and continuity for families, friends and communities - whether you've honed your hosting skills or have room to grow.You can listen to Kay's own podcast, Table Talks, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VpZ06MYIzYrK3Fv0TbYVF?si=0304d364803a45f1

Do you struggle to find the inspiration to routinely exercise and eat well? Do you feel that you may be "too old" to claim a life of optimal fitness and thriving? If so, this podcast could shift your perspective around what it takes to make meaningful changes at any age or stage in life.To learn more about Coach Eli Gibson, find him on Instagram @coachgibbs67.

Meet Ashley, a full-time employee and Mom with an athletic past who is successfully integrating fitness into her current reality. Ashley shares tips for how to shift your mindset away from "all-or-nothing" to "something is everything," along with realistic movement and nutrition hacks that even the busiest of us can apply. Let's get moving!

In this episode we meet TSG team member Jane Herbert, a Wellness Program Coordinator who's danced her way into the hearts of her team and her community. Jane discusses how Jazzercise and group fitness can foster stronger social connections and support self-confidence. Jane shares her best practices for time management and personal well-being while instructing dance classes, parenting two daughters and working full-time in the world of wellness. Interested in trying Jazzercise? Find classes and resources here: https://www.jazzercise.com/

After a long hiatus, we are finally back with a new episode! This time, Paige speaks with Mikaila Zapata, a Wellness Program Manager who joined the team about a year ago. Paige and Mikaila define what it means to be in the "sandwich generation," discuss the mental and emotional load of caregiving, and the integral role self-care and time management play in the integration of work and life. Resource mentioned in the episode: https://www.caringbridge.org

In this episode, we sit down with Amor Brannin. Amor is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Presbyterian Health Plan in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In today's conversation with Amor, we learn how her relationship to work and self-care has transformed over her career for the better. She shares how she found the consistency for her own self-care through a morning routine that allows her to feel more connected to her self, her health, her purpose, her family and gives her opportunity for small moments of joy. Her morning routine is the anchor to her day and gives her the inspiration and energy to be in better service of others and herself. Cheers to the clean slate of a new morning! The resources and books mentioned in today's episode are: Dare to Lead written by Brene Brown Miracle Morning written by Hal Elrod Documentary on Amazon Prime called The Miracle Morning Search Inside Yourself written by Change-Meng Tan If you would like to learn more about The Solutions Group, please visit our website at solutionsbiz.com.

As opposed to being a model on a runway, being a model for well-being is a full time gig- you're always expected to be on! But being a model for well-being can have a great impact in inspiring others in your life, from your family and friends, to your co-workers. Listen in for some tips on how you can be a model for well-being.

Today's conversation with Denise Cavner explores the themes of integrative, alternative and complementary medicine practices as often less-explored routes to help improve our well-being. She shares her expertise in clinical herbalism, Ayurveda and Effective Freedom Technique (also known as tapping) as methods that may provide holistic healing approaches that can bring health and happiness to the whole person. Denise explains that there's no one-size-fits all approach when it comes to optimal wellness for each individual, although a hearty dose of nature and love of animals is likely a universal joy booster. Show notes: Books: Eating for Beauty by David "Avocado" Wolfe Feeling Groovy: A Busy Woman's Guide to Feeling Happy and Healthy by our guest, Denise Cavner To be released: Helping Your Children Feel Groovy by Denise Cavner

In this episode, we sit down with Solomon Kandie about his two passions, running and building a vibrant community. Solomon has a rich background, being raised in Kenya and coming to the United States to run for Tulane University. He has had a decorated running career including being a 3 time NCAA All-American and a 5 time winner of the Duke City Marathon. Since moving to Albuquerque, NM he has devoted his time and energy to inspiring others to nurture their health through various roles including having been a Better Health Ambassador for the City of Albuquerque. He currently works in the Department of Technology and Innovation at the City of Albuquerque and is a middle school cross country and track coach at Albuquerque Academy. Solomon shares how running can nurture our social connections, mental and physical health. His life and story is an example of how movement in any form, done in community with others, will enrich our life in powerful ways.

We are calling our mini/solo episodes "Wellness Snacks". In today's wellness snack we ask the question, "Do you ever wish you had more time to do the things it takes to maintain or boost your well-being?" Welcome to the concept of time confetti, a practical way to sprinkle self-care into your busy life and make every day feel a little more festive. In this mini solo episode with Paige, you'll be inspired to take on your time in a way that weaves in micro practices that really add up. Want to learn more about The Solutions Group and what we do? Visit www.solutionsbiz.com As a listener, we'd love your help! We are planning a Q&A episode. Please send your well-being questions to wellness@phs.org.

In this episode, we sit down with Michelle DuVal. Michelle is the director of The Mindful Center, as well as the leading provider of Mindfulness Training in the Southwest United States. Hearing Michelle's story about how meditation improved the lives of both her parents and how that inspired her own path toward becoming a practitioner and teacher of meditation shows us that being open to tools that we may have overlooked in the past, can transform us and that consistent practice of mindfulness meditation is a path to greater well-being. Thank you to Michelle for inspiring us with your purpose and passion. All of Michelle's programs and guided meditations are evidence based, steeped in research, and skillfully interweave the profundity of the practice with the humor of insight every step of the way. Her skill in teaching comes not only from training with some of the top meditation masters in the world, but also from years of learning, practicing, and teaching with her father, Jim DuVal, the founder of The Mindful Center. To learn more about Michelle Duvall and the online Mindfulness meditation virtual programs, please visit her website at https://themindfulcenter.com/.

On this episode of Wellness Connections with The Solutions Group, we are joined by Registered Dietitian and Health Coach with Good Measures, April Jackson. We chat with April about the what chronic conditions that she sees with her health coaching clients and how they can work together to better manage those conditions. April offers insight and information on nutrition and exercise, to less popular items such as sleeps, stress and social connection. We encourage you to seek out a health coach to help you manage any chronic conditions, or just to help you set and meet any of your health and wellness related goals!

In this episode, we interview Dr. Shannon Stromberg, MD. Dr. Stromberg is a Psychiatrist and the Program Medical Director for Adult Behavioral Health at Presbyterian Healthcare Services. In our discussion, Dr. Stromberg invites us to view mental health through a holistic perspective, and that there is a powerful reciprocal relationship between physical and mental health. He also emphasizes that mental health is not just "black and white," but can be viewed on a spectrum that can shift from day to day, from season to season or depending on our season of life. Dr. Stromberg offers timely advice on the role social media plays in our lives, and how we can set boundaries around technology that can help us support our mental health. Our hope is that this conversation helps you better understand that we all have mental health and provides guidance on how to get the support you need and empowers you to take simple and intentional actions to protect your own mental health.

Today we are joined by The Solutions Group Health Coach Megan Merchant to talk about sleep- from our various sleep needs at different ages of our lives, to establishing a night time routine to set yourself up for the best quality of sleep.

In this episode, Paige interviews Rose Ronquillo Apodaca, a certified financial and retirement planner with Fidelity. They explore the topic of financial fitness and how financial security is a very important yet often overlooked part of well-being. With Rose's background in personal training and honest anecdotes about growing from her own financial decisions, many intriguing parallels are drawn between how caring for your financial well-being is akin to nurturing yourself through physical well-being practices. Rose weaves in many tips along the way about how to get started saving and growing your resources today--it's never too late or too early. Here's to self-investment!

On this episode, we are joined by Albuquerque local, Jose Maresma. Jose is a performance coach and mindfulness expert with over 30 years experience helping people create positive changes that improve their health. In this discussion, we dive deep into the topic of Nature Bathing, it's benefits and how we can incorporate this practice into our day to day lives. Jose also provides simple and creative ways for us to reap the benefits of nature even if we live in an urban environment.

Our special guest today is Renee Euler, a registered dietitian and gastrointestinal disorders specialist. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in nutrition from the University of NM and received her clinical training at UNM Hospital and UNM Sandoval. In addition to working with clients in her own business, Nutrition Redefined, Renee is a faculty member at Central New Mexico Community College as well as a frequent contributor to The Solutions Group. In today's episode, Renee shares her personal health journey that led her to the field of nutrition and simplifies what gut health really means. She discusses how enhancing our gut health is an essential piece of protecting both our physical and mental well-being and inspires us to focus on a "food first" approach to heal the gut. We also learn which foods to add to our diet along with other lifestyle behaviors that will optimize our gut health!

On today's episode, we are joined by Heidi Vigil. Heidi is an experienced health coach specializing in fitness, Pilates, running, stress management and family health. She's committed to creating an energetic, encouraging and results-oriented environment for her participants. Heidi completed her Masters in Community Health Education at UNM. She is a certified fitness instructor (ACE) and certified Club Pilates teacher. In this episode, Heidi's insights as a seasoned health coach provides us with simple and practical steps to get unstuck from patterns or behaviors that may have formed during the challenging year of 2020 including how our emotions are at the root of our behaviors. Taking pause to understand the emotions and thoughts that drive your behaviors is an important piece of the behavior change process. Heidi also invites us to view behavior change as a gift of self-compassion rather than another "should or have to." To learn more about what the Solutions Group does, join us on Solutionsbiz.com.

In this Wellness Byte (mini) episode, Ana Hernandez shares how using the power of FUN and JOY in your daily life can be a powerful tool for your well-being. Tune in to learn how to create and use your own personal JOY LIST!

Perla Douglas is a Wellness Coordinator with the Solutions Group, devoted single mom, and lover of life. Her story is an example of how being intentional and giving ourselves permission to consistently practice wellness not only benefits us, but allows us to show up for our work and families as our best self. Perla shares how she uses powerful self-affirmations and other micro practices that keep her grounded and energized. We learn how she has included her children in her self-care practices so they learn how to take ownership over their physical and emotional well-being. Perla serves as an inspiration to all of us to find the "micro" practices of self-care that work for us.

Bryan King joins the podcast today to talk about his creative passions and hobbies and how they have helped to drive and inspire all aspects of his life. He shares with us some tips on finding our own hobbies and creative outlets through our passions.

Today we are joined by personal trainer and yoga instructor Miranda McKinney. Miranda has a very diverse background in physical activity, from group fitness, yoga and strength training. She shares her journey through various modalities of fitness that she has tried, and eventually landed on strength training for its countless benefits for her mind, body, emotional health. We hope her story provides inspiration for you to take up strength training!

Today we are joined by Cynthia Grajeda-James, a Wellness Program Coordinator with The Solutions Group. Cynthia draws on her professional experience as a former P.E. teacher as well as her personal fitness journey to provide us with information on the benefits of movement and exercise. She stresses the importance of exercise and team sports in children, but also encourages us as adults to make exercise fun again! Cynthia graciously offered her email address to any parent that is struggling with motivating their children to move more! Feel free to send her an email at cgrajedaj@phs.org

Today we sit down with Adriana Lopez, Manager Health and Wellness, Client Services with the Solutions Group to hear her personal journey as a military spouse and how this strengthened her ability to become adaptable when faced with major life changes. In this episode, she shares the role of mindset and being intentional about social connection as the other ingredients that nurture her well-being . We also learn how she used those three skills during 2020 to help her get through the changes and challenges . Adriana sharing her experience is an example of the power of story telling in helping others.

Welcome to 2021! Every morning we have an opportunity to set up our day for success! Let's talk about morning routines. What does your morning look like? Do you have a set rhythm that you flow to in the morning or do you take the beats as they come? In this episode, we're talking about setting up a morning routine that works for you. We are discussing our morning routines with our co-host Shane Schumann, a personal trainer, wellness coordinator, and father to a newborn.

Jessika Brown, MS, RD, CSSD, CEDRD-S, is the Nutrition Director with Dietitians ABQ. She joins us to chat about defining diet culture, intuitive eating, and how she and her colleague came up with the empowered eating model. She shares with us her own client and family experiences about getting curious about how our bodies build a relationship with our food. For more information, you can find Jess at https://dietitiansabq.com/or Instagram @jessbrownrd.

In today's episode, we talk with Paige Kinucan, a Health and Wellness Program Manager with the Solutions Group. She holds a master's degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine and wrote her Master's Thesis on "Intermittent Fasting in Women." Our conversation today serves to get a deeper understanding on the health implications of Intermittent Fasting from peer-reviewed research. We discuss the concept of IF as more of a lifestyle with flexibility rather than a fad diet. Paige will also provide guidance on who is and is not a good candidate for experimenting with this eating approach. We are all on our personal health journey with unique health goals, and intermittent fasting may be tool to get curious about.

Today we sit down with Sharon Griffin, Manager of The Solutions Group. Sharon is a subject matter expert in the area of worksite well-being programs. She combines her passion and knowledge to convey the importance of managers and leaders in inspiring wellness. We also talk about current wellness trends and how to market and communicate a successful wellness program.

Shane and Stephanie speak with co-host Ana Hernandez about the Blue Zones, hot spot regions around the world with high concentrations of centenarians (people at or above 100 years of age). Not only do these populations live beyond the average life expectancy, but they are thriving in their community and overall health. These groups were identified by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic researcher and Ana shares Dan's lessons from these populations.

We sat down with Wellness Program Manager Liz Chavez to talk about the role of rest in wellness and how it gives us an opportunity to cultivate creativity, rejuvenate, and give us a clearer perspective on our intentions. 

We invite Health Coach and Wellness Program Manager, Jennifer Marberry, to talk about triggers, habits, and patterns that shape the behaviors we engage in every day. While some triggers are helpful and motivate us to engage in positive health behaviors, some may contribute to the opposite. Jenn talks about the power of effective behavior change and gives us some ideas on how to add some positive cues to improve our overall lifestyle. Enjoy!

Our guest today is Rick Vinnay, Executive Director of The Solutions Group. Rick discusses positive psychology and how you can use it to live a life of less stress, more joy and an improved sense of well-being!

Director of The Solutions Group, Sarita Loehr, joins us on the podcast to discuss the "Start With Why" philosophy. Sarita dives in to share her own personal why and how it has impacted both her personal and professional life. Listeners are then given some techniques on developing their own "why statement."

This episode is an extension from Sarita Loehr's discussion of building your why statement. Ana, Shane and Stephanie share the process they took on exploring their why and share during this podcast.