About Windward for Wellness

THE REVOLUTION

Windward for Wellness is a movement that will introduce to Hawaii, something that has never been done before.  Something that goes against everything you have thought of as normal, and have learned to accept as such.  It is about providers offering services designed for you and at prices better then have been available before.  And it is about the providers putting you back in control.  What would you say if you could get:

• One flat rate for any wellness service you choose in any combination that is lower than anything you have paid before.
• Joint treatments with any combination of providers you want.
• Your practitioner recommending what you need, then giving you the money to buy it
• One place to go for all of your appointments.
• Quality care by qualified practitioners who care about your first!

SOUND LIKE IT IS TOO COULD TO BE TRUE? Well it isn’t.  This is just one of the things that the Windward for Wellness movement is currently putting together…and it will be available sooner than you think!

Windward for Wellness is an idea, a movement that involves like minded individuals with common goals of serving the communities wellness needs. It is an opportunity for the community to benefit from the wisdom, knowledge and experience of all wellness service providers  who have agreed to leave competition at the door and join together in the best interests of the health and well being of the community.  It is also a way for the gap between providers and receivers.

“There should be no hierarchy with the patient…no US  vs THEM. The provider needs you as much as you need them.  Unfortunately, That is not the relationship dynamic as it stands today.  It is not equal.   And that forms a disconnect between the provider and receiver where there shouldn’t be one.  Our goal is to bridge that gap.”

HOW IT GOT STARTED-Clinic Manager Blog

My name is Daniela, and I am the wife of Brian Tow, LMT as well as the clinic manager and marketing manager for his clinic,  and Windward for Wellness.  I hate to say I started Windward for Wellness because I merely had the name and one or two concepts.  It has since been added to and nurtured by s many people it has grown into so much more.  It now doesn’t belong to any one person, it is a part of us all!

So, I decided to blog about how Windward for Wellness came about and let you know what the plans are.  When Brian and I first returned home last year and started his practice we chose to lease a room at Iseri Wellness.  We loved the energy of the people there.  I hate to say that when I came inI cam in like a hurricane and decided to redesign the whole place!  Shereen was so busy and I wanted to help and had the tools to do it.  Thankfully, it was looked at postively and they didn’t throw me out lol.  Thanks to some donations from some special friends in the community, some odd twists of fate and the love and support of everyone there, the space quickly transformed into a functional, living space!  We started taking clients and it was going really well.  But very soon, we started to notice big changes.  The effects of the economy were starting to take hold and were alarmed at the toll it was taking on our friends, family and clients.  We noticed everyone was  cutting back on what they felt were unnecessary expenses.  Unfortunately, that included  wellness care and maintenance.  Not only was that causing a significant slow down in our business but we were seeing an alarming decline in peoples overall health.   I had a meeting with some of the other practitioners in the area and discussed with them the situation.   While we were meeting I was listening to all of the great advice each of them had regarding health and wellness.  It made me wish there was a way that our clients could benefit from their knowledge.  It also made me see the potential in joining forces to offer our clients free services and advice.

So I came up with the blog Windward for Wellness and started asking practitioners on the windward side to send me articles so I could post them.   I didn’t want it to be about marketing services, I wanted to provide patients with things they could do from home to keep healthy.      I wanted it to be useful-information, not just common sense stuff but REAL information.  A platform where people who provide different resources & services could come together for a common goal and promote the broader concept of well living above their individual agendas, focuses, perspectives and educational backgrounds.  Most importantly I wanted a place for other wellness participants, clients and perspective clients to go to read about the efforts of involved practitioners so they can see we are part of something much greater than ourselves.

Then after I put the blog together it opened up some real dialog between not only the service providers but the members of the wellness community.  We started to really talk about the problems as we see them and it turns out that we all are faced with the same things and now that we have bridged this “gap” we could really start seeing it and how we can make it better together.  That is when Shereen Saiki told us about her idea to do what the HMOs were never able to.  MORE COMING SOON!

“Being healthy and happy is our right and it is the responsibility of the providers to put that above all else.  When you start running your clinic like a business, you are going to fail your patients.  It is inevitable.  It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make a living.  It just means that if you put your patient FIRST, the business end of it will follow.”

What is “wellness” per se? There are many definitions, and 20 years ago, wellness didn’t exist. But today, the industry is growing fast, and the term “wellness” is being overused, abused and it is not being used in its appropriate context. Wellness is achieving one’s full potential; it is self-directed and an ever-evolving process.

Wellness has seven dimensions: occupational, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, environmental and physical. When all of these dimensions are met, then we are considered whole or complete. Wellness is more than just products to make us feel good or be physically fit. Wellness is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential. This is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing your physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being. These 7 dimensions highlight important components of wellness. Take time to explore your own level of wellness and see if you have gotten “your dose of wellness” today.

Intellectual
Find outlets that are intellectually stimulating
Set and meet realistic goals academically, personally, and professionally
Decide on things that help you relax and do them
Take advantage of opportunities that may offer you different experiences
Practices deep breathing to help the mind-body connection
Spoil yourself after completing a goal

Spiritual
Nourish yourself through personal beliefs, morals, and/or religion
Feel connected with yourself and others
Find purpose in life and meaning in the little things you do everyday
Develop a philosophy of life that you want to live by

Environmental
Appreciate and respect the environment
Do your part to preserve and improve environmental conditions
Whether it’s at home or work, have a welcoming space for you and others to feel comfortable
Reduce noise and pollution
Keep yourself and others safe – like buckling up
Have a place that you can go to relax, chill out

Physical
Get a physical exam
Be consistent with self-exams like BSE/TSE
For women, get yearly gynecological exams
Stay current on immunizations
Exercise regularly and eat balanced meals
Get dental and eye exams
Limit or avoid alcohol and tobacco
Get a massage to ease tired and worked muscles

Emotional
Recognize when your emotions affect your body
Express your needs, feelings, and opinions appropriately
Use humor to defuse negative thoughts or situations
Use journal writing to relieve stress and express your thoughts
Talk to a trusted friend or family member and vent
Give and receive lots of hugs
Be optimistic – believe in yourself and your abilities
If you are feeling overwhelmed, make an appointment with a professional healthcare provider

Social
Develop relationships where both parties feel good
Interacts well with others in public and private situations
Maintain values and beliefs without being persuaded by peer pressure
Feel comfortable adapting to various social settings
Join clubs to expand your social network, it’s a great way to get involved and meet others with similar interests
Read the newspaper

Vocational

Participate or volunteer throughout the community – everywhere from the Colonial Schools to the Activities Department. Time spent giving a helping hand, knowledge or experience is uniquely rewarding