After every swim at Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, I stop to fill my water bottle on my way out. This time, however, a flyer above the drinking fountain caught my eye. It was a week before Valentine’s Day and the flyer announced an upcoming free body composition analysis celebrating heart health week. I didn’t hesitate to sign up, curious to know my water/muscle/fat composition. I have never used a phone nor watch to track my steps or any trendy health wearable, but as someone who loves to move, I know that body composition can impact my athletic performance.
A week later, after my regular morning swim, I sat down with Alli Jorgensen, Bend Parks & Rec fitness supervisor, who used an infrared device at my bicep to measure my body composition. The test did not take more than a few minutes, but in that short time, I was able to chat with Alli and sense her extraordinary knowledge and passion for fitness as she thoroughly interpreted the meaning of my results. She excitedly informed me that my water composition was over 64%, equivalent to almost 37 liters. Alli explained the value of this high number given that I had additionally just lost a lot of water after my long swim. I knew then and there that I wanted to interview her for the podcast. Alli initially said she was too shy, but I sensed otherwise and kindly asked her to reconsider. My first impression of Alli was correct and our conversation revealed to me how fortunate we are to have her as an essential team player of Bend Parks & Rec after three decades of continuous dedication with the institution.
Excerpts from the Q&A with Alli Jorgensen (quotes have been abridged for print version):
Adriana Mariño: How have Bend Parks & Rec’s programs evolved with the growing population of Bend?
Alli Jorgensen: We just try and keep our finger on the pulse of what’s going on, whether we’re going to workshops or conferences or looking at whatever everybody else is offering. We’ll do surveys every couple of years to see what the community is looking for from us, and that’ll help drive our decisions.
AM: How does Bend’s outdoor culture also shape and define a little bit of what Bend Parks and Rec is about?
AJ: A lot of people move here for the outdoor recreation. And again, whether you’re going hardcore skiing or you’re a hardcore biker, because we know there’s a lot of that intensity here in Bend. People just want to be outdoors, and I feel like we support them, not just with the structure of parks and stuff, but as far as our fitness programs, whether it’s in an organized group, exercise class or in our gyms. I feel like people are in there doing it to support what they do [outside].
AM: What role does Parks Recreation Fitness have in the community?
AJ: I think it’s important for, a lot of reasons for the community, obviously, for the physical health of the community. We’ve got fitness classes for adults, we’ve got youth programs, whether it’s swimming, or soccer, baseball, basketball teams, swim programs. So, physically, we’re there to help with your physical health. And if you’re not a gym person, we’ve got an enormous park system. Keeping physically fit is so important for everybody. And that’s part of your mental health. If you’ve got any plans for longevity and a quality of life, those are two things that are so important.
Like Alli, Dr. Matthew Ingrassia of Central Oregon Internal Medicine understands the direct relationship between mental and physical health and its impact on a patient’s wellbeing. In our first telephonic conversation, I was happily surprised that he stressed the role of mindset and positivity. And as a health coach, I immediately found his approach to medicine very encouraging as he too sees lifestyle interventions — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress and social connection — at the core of treating chronic illness.
Excerpts from the Q&A with Dr. Matthew Ingrassia (quotes have been abridged for print version):
Dr. Matthew Ingrassia: The part that makes primary care so great is that story. Patients don’t fit in a box. And I think that good primary care needs to be personalized. In order to do that, we need time to really understand the person, what their values are and what their belief systems are to come up with the right treatment plan for them.
AM: Going back to what you were saying about the whole person approach, how does this come into your practice?
MI: As I was saying with the story of the person and having a tailor treatment plan that’s personalized towards them, I don’t think when somebody comes in and they have a condition, it’s easy just to kind of slap a medication on them and send them out the door. I don’t want to do that. I think there are certain circumstances where medications are necessary, and I understand that. But I also want to work with the patient to see them in a whole holistic way. And maybe there’s something we can change in their lifestyle to prevent having to go on the medication.
AM: And when it comes to lifestyle, what’s one of the first things you look into when speaking to a patient?
MI: I look at a few things. Diet, activity level, sleep, stress level, and then the fifth one — I really feel is very important- is social connection. Several longevity studies have shown that we need social connection. Maybe why women do live longer than men is because they’re more socially connected in their older ages.
I also really encourage people to make brain changes, meaning change the way you think because that’s ultimately the thing we have control over. Whereas if we put you on a medication, which some people need medication, that is totally acceptable. But if we make changes to the way we think through therapy, then we can take those changes with us. And they’re more, they’re permanent. Right. Whereas, if I take you off the medication, your symptoms are just going to come back.
AM: Why is mindset so important then?
MI: Because I think what we tell ourselves actually dictates our reality, right? Everyone has a different reality. It’s amazing that we all somehow get along in this really complicated life. And I think that what we tell ourselves is the way, is the pattern that is created, and that’s the avenue that we go down for sure. But I think if we have a more positive mindset and we’re hopeful, that that makes a big difference. I think that things will go your way.
As someone who was forever touched by Peter Sellers’ last film performance and final words in “Being There,” “life is a state of mind,” I couldn’t agree more.
Adriana Mariño is the producer and host of Bend into Balance. adrimarino@hotmail.com
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