Idaho Falls

OUT THERE Body, Body, Mind, Mind, Spirit Spirit By Gregg Losinski The middle of a cold dark Idaho February is certainly a good time to think about wellness and all of the facets it entails. Fortunately, those of us who have chosen to live in the city of the falls of Idaho are a hardy lot. It takes more than a few months of cold and darkness to get us down. When it comes to beating the winter blahs, we are old hands at it! The modern concept of wellness has been growing and expanding in the United States since the 1950's. Before that time, it was mostly the rich and elite who could afford to live a well-rounded life. Everyone else was too busy just trying to survive! Modern labor laws and technological advances like sliced bread and Roombas gave us the leisure time to be able to fret about how unhappy and unhealthy we were. Before, people ate whatever they could just to stay alive. Worrying about eating healthy is a luxury that the starving didn't have and those who worked 12-hour days really didn't have the energy, time, or desire to hit the fitness club. Wellness came as people were able to move up Maslow's Pyramid. Modern advertising also helped to convince us how unfulfilled our lives were, at least according to Madison Ave- nue and all their sponsors. The general concept of wellness has been around since ancient times. In 1844, the YMCA was created in England, long before the Village People song. Sensing the pressures on society from the crush of the Industrial Revolution, it tried to focus on the three components needed to live a better life, Body, Mind, and Spirit. Today, most people just see the Y (They officially shortened the name in 2010) as the predecessor to all the modern fitness clubs and gyms that are almost as numerous as automatic car washes in our town. But it was so much more! It tried to build up the whole man with classes and reading rooms to sup- port personal growth and development (Sorry, it was a more sexist world back then. The YWCA was created in 1850 with similar goals and still exists today.) The three basic concepts are things that we can still work on today and that the Y tries to focus on for the overall wellness of the community. When it comes to taking care of our bodies, we've got the whole spectrum. From places like Planet Fitness to Club Apple, and a wide variety in between, there is something for everyone. And of course, don't forget the Y! For those that prefer to get fit outdoors we have endless trails to walk, hike and ride. Some are as close as the Riverwalk or canals and others as distant as you care to drive. When it comes to options for enrich- ing one's mind, Idaho Falls has a great amount to offer for a town of our size. For those who still like to read real books as well as download them elec- tronically, the Idaho Falls Public Library is top notch. For those wanting new books, we have the intimate Winnie & Mo's Bookshop downtown or the volumi- nous Barnes & Noble at the mall. For the thriftier, we have the Book Shelf which is the friendliest used bookstore, perfectly ensconced in the ever-repurposed old Department of Energy Building. We have a first-rate museum and zoo, not to mention performances at the Colo- nial Theater. The new Mountain America Event Center is bringing a whole new level of entertainment ranging from hockey to large concerts and everything possible in between. Remember to thank all the tourists heading to Yellowstone for helping fund it! Idaho Falls has no lack of places of worship to help a person find what they are seeking spiritually. Some small towns still have signposts on their city limits listing their churches and civic organizations. Idaho Falls would need a billboard to list all the ecclesiastical options available! While not as popular as in the past, we still have the core civic organizations doing lots of good things. When it comes to finding that right balance to make and keep us well, Idaho Falls is the perfect place for those of us who have chosen to call it home! If out- siders can't see it for themselves, then I wouldn't go out of my way to point it out to them, they probably wouldn't be able to appreciate it anyway! Let them think we are just about the spuds. IF 46 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2023

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