Wednesday 9 January 2019

Wellness Post #1: A Fresh Start


Welcome to the first Wellness link up of 2019! I started this monthly link up last year with a fabulous group of blogger friends and now we're in year #2. My blogger friend, Leslie, and I worked together to come up with the new Wellness link-up graphic. A fresh start! Feel free to join in on the fun with your recent or past wellness-related posts every second Wednesday of the month.

THE OPTIONAL PROMPTS for our 2019 monthly Wellness link up are as follows:
  1. January 9: A Fresh Start
  2. February 13: Healthy Heart
  3. March 13: Indoor or Outdoor Fitness
  4. April 10: Healthy Mind
  5. May 8: The B.E.S.T. Care (BEST is for Breasts, Eyes, Skin, and Teeth)
  6. June 12: Mid-Year Review - How Am I Doing?
  7. July 10: Family
  8. August 14: Friends
  9. September 11: Sleep Hygiene
  10. October 9: Gratitude
  11. November 13: Healthy Holidays
  12. December 11: Year-End Review - What Went Well?
My post today has two main parts: (1) My Health goals for 2019 and (2) A Fresh Start where I combined fitness and fun in one outing, as fresh as winter flowers!

MY HEALTH GOALS FOR 2019

Last week, I posted my goals for 2019 here. I've started working on them and have been tracking my progress on a simple sheet. I'll provide a monthly update this year. My Health goals for 2019 include:
  • Meditate 15 minutes daily.
  • Find humour to smile or laugh daily.
  • Walk 45 minutes near nature 6x/ week.
  • Strength workouts 3x/ week.
  • Yoga 2x/ week.
  • Swim 1x/ week.

A FRESH START

Today I want to share my first 'fit and fun' outing of the year because fitness and fun can and should go together. We're more likely to stick to a fitness plan when we have fun doing it.

So I planned an outing to the Winter Flower Show at the Allan Gardens Conservatory. The show was on from December 2 to January 9. We had no snow on the ground which made walking outdoors easy.

HOW I PREPARED:
  1. Choose a point of interest: The Winter Flower Show at the Allan Gardens Conservatory.
  2. Bring what I need: Comfortable clothing, walking shoes, my purse, and camera.
  3. Go at non-peak time when it's usually quieter at the Gardens.
WHAT I DID:
  1. Walk briskly for 20 minutes outdoors to arrive at the Conservatory.
  2. Walk in the gardens to view the flowers and took photos for about 1 hour.
  3. Choose a quiet spot in the gardens to meditate for 15 minutes.
WHAT FILLED UP MY SENSES:

1. Visual: Plants and flowers, mostly poinsettia for the holidays, were beautifully arranged at different heights, with different textures, colours, and shapes. They were a real visual treat as shown in my photos below.

Three reindeer among beautiful poinsettia

Heights, textures, shapes, and colours

2. Auditory: The soft sounds of a toy train circling the track built above a small pond, and the gurgling water at the Lena and the Swan fountain gave soothing effects. Both were nice spots for quiet meditation or contemplation.

A toy train circling above a small pond

Lena and the Swans fountain with koi fish

3. Olfactory: The mild smell of potting soil gave me a sense of closeness to earth and nature. The design of a house added to the feeling of comfort.

There is no place like home

4. Tactile: As I walked along the nice winding paths leading from one garden to another, I could feel the warm temperature in the gardens. I could touch and feel the textures of the plants and flowers.

Winding path in Allan Gardens

WHAT I GAINED:
  • Raised heart rate from the brisk walk outdoors,
  • An enjoyable quiet walk in the beautiful gardens,
  • Positive sensory experiences,
  • A sense of mental clarity and calmness,
  • A time for reflection and contemplation.

OVERALL RATING - I gave this outing 5 out of 5 points, one point for each of the following:
  • Affordability: Admission to the Conservatory is free.
  • Elements that support wellness: Walkability and tranquillity in the gardens.
  • Fun: Beautiful and colourful flower displays.
  • New experience: It was my first visit to the Winter Flower Show.
  • Uniqueness: The Winter Flower Show is once a year and its design is unique.

I was pleased with how well my first winter outing turned out. I left the gardens feeling energized, joyful, and peaceful. A fresh start indeed.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments.
Inlinkz Link Party

42 comments:

  1. A great way to grade your experience. There's nothing quite like a conservatory to fill the senses & I got that from both your words & the pictures.

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    1. Thank you, Jo, for linking up and supporting Wellness Wednesday. I look forward to reading your updates.

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  2. Wow, Natalie, the gardens sound heavenly. What a great wellness activity on several fronts. Thank you for inviting me to participate in Wellness Wednesday. I look forward to reading some of the other posts. Happy Wednesday!

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    1. Thank you, Christie, for joining us. I'm excited about this link up this year. Hope to get more participation. Happy Wednesday!

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  3. Those gardens look so pretty and tranquil, I can't think of a nicer place to do all those exercise intentions.

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    1. Thank you, Deb, for stopping by. Feel free to join us in today's link up or in future months. I was pleased with how well my outing to the Winter Flower Show turned out.

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  4. I need to plan some of these activities to incorporate into my fitness goals for this year. This looks lovely! #teamlovinlife

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    1. They make fitness fun. I look forward to reading more about your fabulous 50.

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  5. What a lovely venture! I like how you broke the experience down into a treat for each of the senses. This morning I was especially mindful of the sunrise because I am participating in a photo challenge for which this week's prompt is 'morning'. A shame it took that prompt to encourage me to notice the sunrise. It was gloriously pink and coral. A real treat.
    So thankful to your for this wellness series. Looking forward to another great year as we work toward healthier versions of ourselves.

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    1. Your sunrise sounds beautiful. Thank you, Leslie, for hosting this WW link up with me. We're off to a great start.

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  6. I love how you break down your experience to the senses and then look at what you gained from your experience. Love also your wellness goals for the year. I listed a few of those in my post today also! Happy New Year Natalie - hope it's a fabulous one for you! #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Thank you, Min, and Happy New Year to you! I look forward to reading your updates and your new ZTT link-up. Please feel free to join in this Wellness link-up.

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    2. Hi Natalie - thank you so much for linking up with my very first #ZTT link-up! I appreciate it so much. I will link up my ZTT post today with your Wellness link-up tomorrow! Have a wonderful week! :-) xo

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    3. You're very welcome, Min. I hope your ZTT link up grows and grows. My next Wellness link up is on February 13. See you then!

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  7. Hi Natalie! Thank you again for another year of Wellness Wednesday and I'm excited by the prompts. You always inspire me, Natalie and I love your idea of a fit and fun outing. The Flower Show looks beautiful and would certainly have lifted your spirits so your mental health was taken care of as well. Have a great week and thanks for the inspiration. I'm going to think of some fit and fun outings myself. xx

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    1. Thank you, Sue, for joining in the Wellness link up. I'm excited about this year's Wellness Wed. It looks like we're all off to a great start. I know we'll cheer each other on throughout the year. I look forward to reading about you fit and fun outings.

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  8. Reading this from MLSTL, I saw the link about the Wednesday Wellness posts. I added a link from several months ago. It's not a new post, but still fits in with the 'Fresh Start' theme. It was in September when I found a fresh start that showed me how much some regular physical activity (with cardio!) benefits how I feel.
    Thank you for this and I'll look forward to more Wellness Wednesdays.

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    1. Welcome, Trisha, to the Wellness link up! Thank you for sharing your discovery of kickboxing with us. The optional prompts and dates for future Wellness link ups are in my post. I look forward to reading your next WW post.

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  9. Great activities to incorporate into our lives this year, Natalie! I'm in for yoga twice a week. I've overdone the running this summer.

    SSG xxx

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    1. So glad you're also in for yoga 2x/ week, SSG. I like to mix up my fitness activities to keep it fun and to avoid repetitive injuries. Please feel free to join this monthly Wellness Wed. link up.

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  10. Oh lovely - the flowers look gorgeous.

    I like the idea of wellness posts and so might join in. I want to refocus on my health and fitness a bit this year. Well... wellness in general I guess.

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    1. Please feel free to join in the Wellness link up in any or all months. I look forward to reading your posts. Happy 2019, Deb!

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  11. It sounds like a positive experience all round, Natalie. Thanks for wandering over to my walks. I appreciate it. :) :)

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    1. Welcome and thank you, Jo, for your visit, comment, and linking up. I look forward to reading more about your walks, and sharing mine :)

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  12. Hi, Natalie - I continue to be inspired by your posts, your endless energy, your fitness and your travel! You have made an awesome start to 2019. I look forward to reading more!

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    1. Hi Donna - You're right. January is so far awesome. I see more walks in my future, some will be in Guatemala :)

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  13. What a great idea to get out and keep fit. Most of my walking is circular, though I do use it as a chance to catch up on my passion for politics by listening to podcasts!

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    1. Thank you, Emma, for your comment. Walking and listening to podcasts make double use of your time. Two birds one stone!

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  14. Those floral displays are stunning, wouldn't take much convincing to get me out walking amongst that beauty.

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    1. Thank you, Nikki, for your visit and comment. The staff at the Conservatory did a wonderful job and put on a beautiful Winter Flower Show.

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  15. I love how you combined this outing with fitness and presence in mind: finding time to meditate and enjoy the sensory perceptions too. Great! :-)

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    1. Fit and fun, two birds one stone. Thank you for stopping by.

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  16. It is so true that we are more likely to stick with fitness goals if we have fun doing it. I enjoy walking on the trails near my home and always feel happier and healthier after a walk in nature.

    Jude

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    1. I think "fitness rule #1" should be "Choose an activity you enjoy". The rest will fall into place.

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  17. I love your goals for being in nature and finding humor in something daily! It's so easy to only see a glimpse of nature out the window at work or while walking from your car to a building, so I think it's a wonderful idea to make a conscious effort to spend time in nature and reset yourself. I've said this on a couple of other posts, but I'm glad I'm late writing my Wellness Wednesday post so I can "borrow" a lot of these ideas!

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    1. Thanks, Amber, for stopping by. If you live close to nature, take advantage of it to make your walks more interesting and calming. Humour is a great stress manager :) Feel free to join the next Wellness Wednesday link up on Feb 13. Optional prompt Healthy heart.

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  18. That's such a smart way to evaluate your outing. It shows how beneficial it really was for you! We have a garden like this nearby, and it'd be the perfect place to go in the winter. But it's part of the botanic gardens so I don't think about it in the cold weather.
    Thanks for the inspiration, Natalie
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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    1. I hope you get to go to the garden near your home, Jodie. it makes the 'exercise' more fun and good for our mind and body. Two birds one stone :)

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  19. Your gardens look beautiful and I'm sure they are a great place to practice your intentions. #ZTT

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    1. These gardens are wonderful, Jo, especially here in the winter when we lack vibrant colours. Thank you for stopping by.

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  20. Well-done on the incorporation of all the senses as you went along. I do try to do a lot more of that. It is the best way to remain mindful for me. Found you today on Min's first #ZTT link up.
    Denyse x

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    1. Thank you, Denyse, for your comment. Being mindful of my senses seems to heighten the experience. Have a great weekend!

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