Friday, March 15, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A5
A lot of initials, but they all spell h-e-a-l-t-h
SKYBOX
SKYLER
ARCHIBALD
A
s part of my responsi-
bilities and passions in
this vocation, I often get
exposed to neat opportunities to
involve myself in terrifi c projects.
Such is the case with my small
involvement with several projects
associated with the Oregon Parks
and Recreation Department.
My involvement with OPRD
has been mainly related to two
separate projects. The fi rst is the
Oregon Regional Trails Advisory
Committee (ORTAC) and I hope
to talk more about that in a future
column. The second, is a small
amount of participation in the
Statewide Comprehensive Out-
door Recreation Plan, or SCORP.
There’s a lot of acronyms in gov-
ernment it seems.
The SCORP enables the state
to remain eligible for Land and
Water Conservation funds but it
also provides guidance for OPRD
programs, including the valu-
able grants that many agencies
across the state access for assis-
tance with completing or kick-
starting amazing projects in the
many communities across the
state. The SCORP also guides the
State Park System in their deci-
sions and processes in providing
great programs and facilities for
Oregonians.
While the current SCORP
(2019-2023) edition is now under
review and will be available soon,
‘THE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT THE STATE OF OREGON
SAVES $1.4 BILLION ANNUALLY IN HEALTHCARE COSTS DUE
TO OREGONIANS’ PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.’
the previous version provided
the data that helps quantify the
value of exercise and spending
time outdoors, as it pertains to our
mental and physical health. The
study was conducted by econo-
mists with Oregon State Univer-
sity who developed a method to
quantify the savings that people
engaged in outdoor activities —
walking, hiking, paddling, skiing,
soccer, tennis and other activi-
ties were considered — through-
out the state. The results were
staggering!
The report concluded that the
State of Oregon saves $1.4 billion
annually in healthcare costs due
to Oregonians’ participation in
the previously mentioned activi-
ties. The study also estimated that
the energy expended by Orego-
nians in outdoor activities in 2017
alone was equivalent to 144 mil-
lion pounds of body fat. That’s
a great deal of weight loss, sim-
ply for getting outside and taking
A focus on our quality of breathing
T
he spring gray whale
migration is almost
upon us. And, each
year we delight in catching
glimpses of these majes-
tic creatures as they pass
by, thrilling us with spout-
ing displays as they blow
out streams of warm air and
water from their lungs after
a deep dive.
In contemplating this
annual event, it is easy to
see how important it is for
whales to be able to man-
age their respiration so that
they can survive their jour-
ney from Alaska to Mex-
ico, the longest migra-
tion of any mammal on
earth. Deep breaths with
90 percent oxygen absorp-
tion, held for up to 30 min-
utes allow these creatures
GUEST COLUMN
JENN VISSER
to meet their full potential
year after year.
While gray whales can
do without air for 30 min-
utes, we humans can only do
without air for a mere two
minutes on average!
This puts “air” in the No.
1 spot, well ahead of sleep,
water and food as a priority
for healthy bodily function.
Yet, it is something that
we never seem to think
about, unlike sleep (resting
well), food (eating well) and
water (staying hydrated).
If we focus on the qual-
ity of our breathing, we can
defi nitely take lessons from
our beloved gray whales.
Stressed breathing tends
to be rapid and shallow.
If a whale wasn’t breath-
ing properly it would never
make it down from Alaska
with this kind of breathing
pattern.
To breathe well, focus on
“intentional respiration” to
calm and nourish yourself.
Here is a simple breath
exercise:
Place hands on the dia-
phragm (about a hand’s
width from the navel
towards the chest).
Breath in and feel the
hands expand for four
seconds.
Hold breath for four sec-
onds and exhale for another
four and hold at the end for
another four seconds. Repeat
two to three times and notice
the difference in your mind
and body. This is called
breath work.
You can also practice
belly breaths all day. Inhale
and focus on the breath fi ll-
ing your midsection.
Taking the time to learn
to “breathe well” will reap
great rewards by improving
overall well-being. In addi-
tion to replenishing our oxy-
gen, breathing helps to sta-
bilize our emotions and to
detoxify our bodies. Since
we all take in and let out
about 24,000 life-giving
breaths per day, why not
focus on learning to do what
the whales do so well!
Jenn Visser is a certifi ed
health coach
Community Calendar
Friday, March 15
Arthritis Exercise
10:15 a.m., free, Bob Chisholm
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Sea-
side, 503-738-7393.
Senior Lunch Program
Canary and the Rooster
7 p.m., American Legion, 1315
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-
5111.
St. Patrick’s Day at
McMenamins
11:45 a.m., Bob Chisholm Com-
munity Center, 1225 Avenue A,
Seaside, 503-738-7393, www.
sunsetempire.com. $3 suggest-
ed donation, for those 60 and
over; $6.75 for those under 60.
1- p.m., McMenamins Gearhart
Hotel, 1157 N. Marion Ave.,
Gearhart. For more informa-
tion, visit www.mcmenamins.
com/gearhart-hotel, or call
503-717-8159.
Dance Fitness
Sunday, March 17
6:30-7:30 p.m., Bob Chisholm
Community Center, 1225 Ave-
nue A, Seaside, 503-738-7393.
Music at McMenamins
7 p.m., St. Patrick’s Day “Music
Across the Land,” McMenamins
Gearhart Hotel, 1157 N Mar-
ion Ave, Gearhart; www.mc-
menamins.com/gearhart-ho-
tel; 503-717-8159.
Saturday, March 16
Dance Fitness
8:30 a.m., Bob Chisholm Com-
munity Center, 1225 Avenue
A, Seaside; www.sunsetempire.
com, or call 503-738-3311.
Play the ukulele
9:45 a.m., learn to play the uku-
lele, for beginners, conference
room, Bob Chisholm Commu-
nity Center, 1225 Avenue A,
Seaside, 503-738-7393
Celtic Calligraphy
1-3 p.m., with local artist Re-
becca Read, Seaside Public
Library, 1131 Broadway; 738-
6742.
Pouring at the Coast
3 p.m., The Seaside Chamber
of commerce is partnering
with Seaside Brewing compa-
ny to present the 10th Annual
Pouring At The Coast Festival.
Seaside Civic and Convention
Center, 415 First Ave., Seaside.
gelina’s Pizzeria, 1815 S Roos-
evelt Drive, Seaside. Lunch is
still $15 for non-members.
Taco Tuesday
Get Fit!
6:30 p.m., American Legion,
1315 Broadway, Seaside, 503-
738-5111.
6-7 p.m., balanced strength
and conditioning program,
Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Sea-
side, 503-738-7393.
Good Morning Seaside
8 a.m., Weekly coff ee and net-
working; Seaside Chamber of
Commerce; contact for details,
www.seasidechamber.com.
Music at McMenamins
1-7 p.m., McMenamins Gear-
hart Hotel, 1157 N Marion Ave,
Gearhart. For more informa-
tion, visit www.mcmenamins.
com/gearhart-hotel; 503-717-
8159.
Monday, March 18
Coff ee, Crafts and
Conversation
10 a.m., Bob Chisholm Com-
munity Center, 1225 Avenue A,
Seaside; visit www.sunsetem-
pire.com, or call 503-738-3311.
Preschool storytime
10 a.m., Seaside Library, 1131
Broadway; 503-738-6742.
Seaside Prom Walk
1 p.m., Seaside Prom walk.
Walk will be along the Prom
on the Pacifi c Ocean past the
seaside Aquarium. Call hike
leader is Phuong Van Horn, 503
325-2115 or 503 791-5748 to
participate.
Listening to the Land
10:15 a.m., Bob Chisholm Com-
munity Center, 1225 Avenue A,
Seaside. For more information,
visit www.sunsetempire.com,
or call 503-738-3311.
6-8 p.m., Resolving confl icts
with beaver using natural sci-
ence and design, presented by
Necanicum Watershed Coun-
cil, featuring naturalist Jakob
Sharkey; Seaside Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside; 503-717-
1458.
Tuesday, March 19
Hands & Hearts Benefi t
Arthritis Exercise
TOPS Meeting
9:15 a.m., Take Pounds Off Sen-
siblyNorth Coast Family Fel-
lowship, 2245 N Wahanna Rd,
Seaside; 503-738-7453.
Excel, Level 2
8:30-10:30 a.m., at South Coun-
ty Center Lab, 1455 N. Roosevelt
Dr.; register at bizcenter.org/
centers/clatsop-sbdc/our-class-
es or call 503-338-2402.
Tabata
6-7 p.m., high intensity interval
BUSINESS
Directory
FLOORING
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you walk on
our reputation
Flooring
CONSTRUCTION
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s itE P rEParation • r ock
34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR
P.O. Box 2845, Gearhart, OR
S erving the p aCifiC n orthweSt S inCe 1956 • CC48302
LANDSCAPING
Laurelwood Compost • Mulch • Planting MacMix
Soil Amendments
YARD DEBRIS DROP-OFF
7 p.m., Bruce Thomas, Mc-
Menamins Gearhart Hotel,
1157 N Marion Ave, Gearhart.
For more information, vis-
it
www.mcmenamins.com/
gearhart-hotel;
503-717-
8159.
Friday, March 22
(no Scotch Broom)
503-717-1454
34154 HIGHWAY 26
SEASIDE, OR
Laurelwood Farm
8 p.m., American Legion, 1315
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-
5111.
Bruce Thomas Smith
7 p.m., annual birthday bash,
McMenamins Gearhart Hotel,
1157 N. Marion Ave., Gearhart;
503-717-8159.
Saturday, March 23
Play the ukulele
9:45 a.m., learn to play the
ukulele, for beginners, con-
ference room, Bob Chisholm
Community Center, 1225 Ave-
nue A, Seaside, 503-738-7393.
M ike and C eline M C e wan
503-738-3569
Music at McMenamins
Karaoke
Installation
3470 Hwy 101 Suite 102 • Gearhart, Oregon
503.739.7577 • carpetcornergearhart.com
owned and operated by
training; Bob Chisholm Com-
munity Center, 1225 Avenue A,
Seaside, 503-738-7393.
Wednesday, March 20
advantage of the beautiful scen-
ery available in our state!
These fi gures add further levity
to the premonition that parks and
recreation programs and facilities
play a crucial role in the health
and wellness of our lives, both
at an individual and community
level. The bottom line is clear:
when recreation is easily accessed
and available, people are health-
ier and when people are healthier,
healthcare costs go down.
We can encourage each of our
community residents and guests
to come swim, try a fi tness class
or even eat healthier. We’ve
found that they may or may not
listen to us, and that’s OK! But
perhaps people will listen to this
evidence of health as it relates to
fi scal conservation: exercise and
activity will save you money in
the long run because you’ll be
healthier!
The report also found that the
activities that provided the most
savings across the state in health-
care costs were walking or run-
ning on local streets and side-
walks and walking on local trails
and paths. What better evidence
do policy makers and elected offi -
cials need in terms of where to
invest their resources in future
projects?
Every day I feel more and
more grateful for the opportu-
nity to live here, in a commu-
nity where recreation and activity
options are abundant and I have
the opportunity to serve the res-
idents of our community in pro-
viding more opportunities. I hope
that each of us invest in recreation
and activity, for now but also to
see the benefi ts down the road!
FLOORING
Randall Lee’s 0% FINANCING
AVAILABLE
Window Treatments, Fabric, Designer Wallpaper, Visit Our
Counter Tops, All Flooring and Miele Vacuums
Outlet!
2311 N. Roosevelt Dr., Seaside, OR 97138 • 503-738-5729
rlflooring @ yahoo.com • www.RandallLeesFlooring.com
Randall Lee’s Flooring Outlet • 3579 Hwy 101 Gearhart • 503-738-6756
Warehouse pricing • Open to the Public • Hundreds of instock rolls & remnants • In House Binding
6 p.m., benefi t for Clatsop
County court-appointed special
advocates ; Bridgewater Bistro;
for tickets, 503-338-6063.
TIRES/WHEELS
D EL ’S O .K .
D EL ’S O .K .
is changing its name to
Thursday, March 21
SDDA Breakfast
8:30 a.m., Pig ‘N’ Pancake, 323
Broadway, Seaside, 503-717-
1914, www.seasidedowntown.
com. Weekly speakers, discus-
sions and a no-host breakfast.
Seaside Rotary Club
Noon, meets Thursdays, An-
Same great service
YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR TIRES
CUSTOM WHEELS • AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8-6
Sat- 8-4
503-325-2861
35359 Business Hwy 101
For emergencies
503-325-0233
Astoria, OR
(miles crossing)