When it comes to health and wellness, there’s one important question to ask ourselves.
It isn’t ‘how do I look?’ or ‘am I losing weight?’
Rather, the question is ‘how do I feel?’
Living a life of health and wellness is about longevity and building up sustainable habits. Rather than punishing ourselves with diets and exercise, we choose to empower ourselves with nutrition and activity. Staying active is one of the keys to feeling good, which is to say strong, energized, and empowered. Here are some of our favorite ways to stay active in downtown NPR.
Paddle Sports on the Cotee River
The Cotee River is one of our favorite natural amenities in New Port Richey. The 23-mile river stretches from the Gulf to James Grey Preserve to Crews Lake. It is almost entirely traversable by kayak or paddleboard, and is filled with scenes of natural Florida beauty.
We choose to join up with the Cotee River Kayakers Club and participate in their group paddles, which have all been tons of fun.
Now, Ebb and Flow Stand Up Paddle rentals will be operating regular hours out of Sims Park!
Wellness in Sims Park
The beautiful, open greenspace offers an abundance of opportunities for movement, and draws folks of all ages to come experience this natural amenity.
Yoga, Tai Chi, stretching, and Pilates are just some of the group activities you can find in Sims Park. Led by experienced instructors, these groups meet regularly and are open to all skill levels.
Families with young children are year round fans of Sims Park. The summer months are perfect for enjoying the splash pad, and the cooler months are great for enjoying the renovated playground equipment. Orange Lake, just steps from the playground, is a great place to spot native Florida birds and watch the growing family of ducks.
Those looking for more intense workouts are drawn to the Sims Park fitness area, which provides free outdoor equipment to park guests. Additionally, the sidewalks around Sims Park and Orange Lake are great for walking, biking, and jogging.
Local Health Experts
At the end of the day, each of us have different health needs, which is why it’s important to seek out individual advice from health experts. Downtown New Port Richey is full of local businesses that focus on just that!
Jeff and Kathy Wright, a former body builder and a certified nutritionist respectively, lead the team at Wright’s Natural Market. Kathy offers several services, including nutritional consulting in a one-on-one or group setting, and blood analysis.
Maharajh Acupuncture and Herb Shoppe is one of the best acupuncture clinics in Tampa Bay, and Dr. Lisa is widely respected in her field. Her unique approach combines Eastern and Western philosophies to target the ailment, rather than the symptom. Maharajh offers unique services like red light therapy, cupping, and herbal evaluations.
Jay and Devon, the owners of United Hands Wellness Center, are adopting a holistic approach to health. They are growing their team by adding experts in mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. They offer a diverse range of services in addition to massage therapy, including skincare, meditation, and cognitive therapy.