A Note from Ilana – February 2018

A Note from Ilana

February is the shortest month of the year, but it’s PACKED with holidays, events, and anniversaries!
February is Heart Health Month, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day ….. and, this year we get to see the world’s top winter athletes compete in the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

February won its popularity for its focus on Valentine’s Day, with endless “Love is in the Air” sayings, quotes and so on! Most noted to epitomize love and affection to those special people in your life. February is Presidents’ Day, in honor of George Washington, our first President, born on February 22, 1732 and one of our Founding Fathers of the United States. February is dedicated to Black History month and to those who fought to live in freedom like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and to those who fought for equal rights like Martin Luther King, Jr. and James Baldwin.

And February is Heart Health Month. As leaders in the wellness movement, we can have a voice to help promote and place emphasis on the importance of Heart Health with acute awareness to avoid heart issues. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It is also one of the most preventable. Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this often silent killer.

As ambassadors for the Global Wellness Day movement, the FSA is committed to the meaning of “our health, is our wealth”. It’s important to understand that Wellness is a movement rooted in values. Originating within the Spa Industry at Resorts, Hotels and Destination Spas and opening the doors to Massage, Spiritual Healing, Wellness Living, etc., the wellness movement has evolved and grown. Entrepreneurs are seeking to enter the wellness market, and physicians are leading the way in opening wellness centers and medi spas. Initiatives are on the rise, beyond the spa space, and surfacing in school programs, hospitals, and corporate wellness providers are launching wellness focused service offerings. The reason behind the wellness movement is that consumers are demanding preventative care. They no longer want to wait until they are already sick to take action. As leaders in the industry we have the ability to spread knowledge and guidance on well-being and can lead the way for those around us.

In line with our responsibility as ambassadors for Global Wellness Day, the FSA embraces and promotes well-being by linking wellness and lifestyle at our events. In 2017 all our events were linked to wellness, aligning Fitness, Nutrition and Rest and Relaxation with well-being and health. This year we launched our first event at a winery, called “Love, Spa & Wine” by connecting the health benefits of red wine and heart health. We featured a guest keynote speaker from the American Heart Association who enlightened our members and guests on the importance of listening to your heart (literally) and recognizing key factors and indicators that can be life threatening.

Wellness and self-care is about making choices and taking action to take better care of ourselves and to those around us. It’s a commitment to be proactive about the food we eat, the exercise we do, the amount of sleep we get, limiting stress and finding that balance which makes us happier. So spread a little love this month and share your knowledge about living a well life.

As proclaimed by Global Wellness Day “All of us would like be healthier, to look better, and to live well both physically and spiritually”.

Happy February!
In wellness,
Ilana