Did you know that Palm Springs has a Wellness Park? It certainly does and it is a beautiful oasis located in the middle of our town! I often use the park myself for exercise, meditation, a healthy walk or just pure relaxation. I encourage my clients to visit the park often…especially now given life’s many challenges. Do yourself a favor and check out this locals’ favorite. You’ll be glad you did!
From the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation:
The Wellness Park, along with its interactive gardens, is an integral part of the Desert Healthcare District’s commitment to health promotion and community collaboration and partnerships designed to improve the health and quality of life for all District residents.
Overview
The five-acre Wellness Park, located at the corner of Via Miraleste and Tachevah Road in Palm Springs, was inspired by the Desert Healthcare District’s support of the federal government’s Healthy People 2010 program, which encourages fitness and disease prevention. The Wellness Park, adjacent to Desert Regional Medical Center, provides a rich opportunity for patients, their visiting families and friends, staff, and local residents to exercise, unwind, relax, meditate, and even learn.
In collaboration with the city of Palm Springs, the Desert Water Agency, and Palm Springs Unified School District, the park offers a quarter-mile walking/jogging loop with drinking fountains and benches at regular intervals, five exercise/fitness stations, and various gardens – meditation, memorial, and a healing and fragrance garden with a bubbling fountain.j
Recently, the Healing and Fragrance Garden was redesigned with a variety of aromatic, medicinal, and colorful (butterfly and hummingbird-attracting) plants that includes descriptive/education signs for each plant in the garden. Robin Kobaly, Executive Director of The Summertree Institute was the designer, landscape installer, and creator of the educational signs. The educational text for each plant relates to the healing and/or aromatic uses of an individual plant or shrub. A highlight of the redesigned garden includes the addition of two Blue Chaste Trees (revered by women for centuries for helping female problems, and also dazzling us with beautiful blue flowers in the spring).
More than 25 varieties of plants were added to the Healing and Fragrance Garden.Some examples include French Lavender — long been valued not only for its fresh, sweet fragrance but also for its wide and varied therapeutic benefits. Its history goes back at least as far as the Roman Empire where dried lavender was used to freshen the wash water and the lavender oil was used to treat battle wounds. Peppermint — used for the common cold, cough, inflammation of the mouth and throat, sinus infections, and respiratory infections. Scented Thyme — a Mediterranean herb, thyme holds its flavor in cooking and blends well with other flavors of the region, like garlic, olive oil and tomatoes. Thyme is also considered to have antiseptic and preservative properties and has long been used medicinally as well as when preserving meats.
The Wellness Park recognizes that health improvement involves more than the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Rather, health results from the proper care of body, mind and spirit; defines health according to wellness instead of illness; focuses on prevention and health promotion instead of acute, episodic treatment; and encourages participation from all aspects of the community.
Come join me at this Palm Springs outdoor fitness gem!
Until then…live happy, live healthy, live your most robust life! I am so glad you are here with me at TedGuice.com… I’ll see YOU at the gym! Ted
