Out & About

Heather Spencer Andrew Cling

Andrew Cling Karen Shaw Susan Small

Fernando Mendigutia Rod Hendrick Rick Reesman

Bryan Presnner Karen Shaw

Temple B’rith Shalom Announces New Rabbi

Rabbi Susan Schanerman has joined Temple B’rith Shalom in Prescott as spiritual leader. She has relocated from Phoenix where she founded Congregation NefeshSoul in 2013. Prior to that, she served as cantorial soloist and director of education at a large congregation in Tempe.

Rabbi Susan holds two masters degrees (education and Jewish studies) and a doctorate in Jewish Studies from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. She was a public school educator for 22 years, was a nondenominational chaplain for Hospice of the Valley, and has worked for Jewish congregations for over 20 years.

Temple B’rith Shalom is a vibrant and engaging Jewish center of worship, learning and pastoral care in the Prescott tri-city region. Rabbi Susan and other adult educators offer classes throughout the week on topics of Jewish interest. She directs the religious school, which provides educational opportunities for children ages 4-16.

Rabbi Susan believes in the power of music to create spiritual moments. She plays guitar and sings at services and religious school, and with the Temple’s cantorial soloist Jessica Dreifuss. Worship services are lively, musical and welcoming.

Rabbi Susan hopes to make Prescott her home for many years. She is married to Brian, a middle school math teacher in Phoenix, and they have a son, Ben, a CPA in Tempe. Contact her at rabbi@ brithshalom-az.org or visit the Temple B’rith Shalom website at www.brithshalom-az.org.

Power

OF GOING FOR A WALK

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE TOP BENEFITS YOU CAN REAP JUST BY WALKING MORE

• Increases cardiovascular capacity • Aids weight loss • Regulates blood pressure • Fights cancer • Improves circulation • Reduces risk of diabetes • Strengthens bones • Boosts immune function • Builds muscle strength • Aids digestion • Prevents cognitive disorders • Slows the aging process • Reduces stress levels • Enhances, improves mood • Promotes better sleep

WALKING IS ONE EXERCISE THAT WON’T COST YOU ANYTHING BEYOND TIME. IT REQUIRES NO EQUIPMENT AND CAN BE PERFORMED REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU MIGHT BE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.

MIND A walk is the best way to get some daily sunshine — a surefire way to boost your mood. Serotonin production is signaled in the brain from daily sunshine, which raises your mood. It also helps your body absorb vitamin D, which is responsible for important functions in your body and boosts your immune system.

BODY Walking is easy on the body and still offers multiple health benefits. It can offer similar health benefits as other more rigorous forms of exercise, while being easier on the joints. Walking improves endurance and circulation, prevents weight gain, and lowers the risk of stroke, chronic disease and cancer. Regular exercise such as walking improves digestion, metabolism, pain and fatigue throughout the day.

SOUL Walking outside can do wonders for the soul. There are many health benefits to spending time out in nature because we human beings simply belong there — breathing fresh air and convening with nature. Even if you only have a few minutes to walk outside every morning, you can experience amazing benefits. You can also engage the kids and pets on your walk and include them!

Protect your Health As You Get Older

by Blake Herzog

As you move through life, your body will inevitably change with time. Bones get more brittle, muscle mass decreases, digestion slows down. But the extent to which these happen depend in large part on the state of your overall health.

Making your health a priority throughout your life will have positive consequences on your aging process, and it’s never too late to start having an impact by taking these steps.

Eat a low fat/low cholesterol diet based on whole foods, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry and fish, whole grains and plenty of vitamins A, C, E and B12, folate and other nutrients.

Be as active as possible through activities like walking, yoga, swimming, biking (either stationary or outdoor) and golfing without a cart. Musclestrengthening activities such as lifting weights, body weight-bearing movements and some forms of tai chi are also recommended.

Keep on schedule with your exams and appointments with doctors, dentists and other medical professionals, who can catch problems early. Follow your doctors’ instructions on all medications and other preventive measures they suggest.

Stay connected to family and friends by whatever means are available. Seek out new friends and experiences through church or special-interest groups, volunteering, fitness or educational classes. Doing this can benefit your mood and lower stress, as well as create more opportunities for physical activity.

Engage your mind. Games from crosswords and sudoku to specialized brain training activities, including video games and apps, are designed to build brain activity and connections for all ages. Take classes, keep up with world events and learn to accept change as part of life.

Make sure you get seven to eight hours of sleep. Sleep patterns often shift as we get older, as in getting up and going to bed earlier, which is usually not a problem as long as you get the recommended amount. However, many older adults have trouble falling and staying asleep, which is something worth asking your medical provider about, as our sleep needs do not change with age.