Peace. Love. Climbing.

 I found this really cool poster in the library that can help you visualize aspects of health:

Today's focus is on exercise. What's amazing about this world is there are so many different ways to be active! Here's another cool chart I found online that shows a variety of activities:

So, I decided to spotlight my roommate Rachael, because she's a great example to me of exercise! 

 
You know those super cool, rock climbing girls? Yeah, that's Rachael. As I was going through her Facebook pictures, I really feel she has a talent for it.

She even likes climbing into her bed!

So when did Rachael start getting involved in more outdoorsy activities? She said it didn't really start until her senior year of high school; that's when the seed was planted. She could drive and her friends would go out and do it.  It wasn't until her sophomore year that she really started getting into it.

Why did it stick? "For me, I love being in the mountains because they're temples," Rachael said. Before her brother went on his mission, they went on a beautiful hike. Basically, really high altitude, and beautiful aspen groves.

Then, they went to a temple open house shortly after. When they went through the telestial and terrestial rooms, they had aspen groves in the mural wall paintings. That's when it clicked for Rachael. She said, "Mountains are just so sacred. And they're also so fun and diverse." I agree with Rachael in that the diversity of hiking, canyoneering, jeeping, climbing, & boating combined with sacred beauty is an awesome combo.


 So, what are Rachael's health goals? She wants to run a 22-min 5k before school starts in the fall. Long-term health is important to her. She wants to be able to physically fit into water slides! But, seriously, she wants to have the stamina to play with her children. She will make running a permanent, life-long activity of hers. With that, she'll run a race every year. Finally, she is very adamant on NEVER, EVER going on a sugar fast!

How does health relate to the gospel? Rachael related to me the concept of our spirit and our body equal our soul. Neither is more important than the other, she said. We so often talk about the primary answers of taking care of our spirits, but we rarely talk about the primary answers of taking care of our bodies. Something that is overlooked, but shouldn't be. 

So, to end, Rachael gave some awesome advice for you guys in nutrition and exercising! About nutrition, she said, "Don't think that to eat healthy, you can't have sugary, fatty things ever. You can still have cookies, hamburgers, etc. All things in moderation. Don't go to the extremes! That's a gospel principle too." 

Furthermore, if you want to start becoming the mountaineering adventurer like her, she has some words of wisdom: NETWORK! Find people who do stuff that you want to start doing, and tag along. That's how she started climbing! 

Have fun, and be active!