Smell the Flowers Week 4: Shooting Star

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) in Beaman Park in Nashville, Tennessee by Kaldari at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dodecatheon_meadia_Beaman_Park.jpg

Week 4, including the week of 1/28 through 2/3 of the Spring 2018 Smell the Flowers fitness challenge at Woodleaf United Methodist Church highlights shooting star. This flower, also known as Premula meadia or Dodecatheon meadia, is of the primrose or Primulaceae family. This perennial plant prefers partial sun, grows to a height of one to two feet, and typically blooms May through June. Shooting stars can be found scattered in the mountains and Piedmont of North Carolina.

For more information about shooting star, click here. Have you ever seen a shooting star?

"Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Smell the Flowers Week 2 Totals

Week 2 of the Woodleaf United Methodist Church Smell the Flowers spring fitness challenge ran from January 14 through January 20, 2018. Thirty-three participants turned in totals for week 1, reporting a grand total of 6057 minutes of exercise.

Week 2 had the added challenge of about 6 inches of snow. I know of several people who got their exercise by doing a bit of shoveling. Thankfully, we had a dry snow that shoveled easily. Week 3 has had some temps in the 60s and 70s, so I’m guessing that more folks may be doing some outdoor activities – it’s great to mix it up and get exercise in a variety of ways.

Here are Week 2 totals:

Smell the Flowers Week 2 Totals

To learn more about this or other fitness challenges offered through our health ministry program, click on the site map for links to all articles on our Healthy Woodleaf blog.

Smell the Flowers Week 3: Rose

Sabatia angularis f. albiflora by Mason Brock at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sabatia_angularis_albiflora.jpg

Week 3, including the week of 1/21 through 1/27 of the Spring 2018 Smell the Flowers fitness challenge at Woodleaf United Methodist Church highlights rose or bitterbloom. This rose tends to be pink but also has a white variety as shown in the picture above. Pink rose, also known as Sabata angularis, is of the Gentianaceae family. This perennial plant grows well in sunny areas to a height of about 2.5 feet, and typically blooms July through October. It can be found in the mountains, Piedmont, and coast of North Carolina.

For more information about bitterbloom, click here. Have you ever seen a bitterbloom or rose?

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." Song of Solomon 2:1

Smell the Flowers Week 1 Totals

Week 1 of the Woodleaf United Methodist Church Smell the Flowers spring fitness challenge ran from January 7 through January 18, 2018. Twenty-nine participants turned in totals for week 1, reporting a grand total of 6330 minutes of exercise.

Welcome to our returning and new participants and I applaud you guys for making time for your health in these frigid temperatures!

Here are Week 1 totals:

Week 1 Smell the Flowers Spring 2018 Fitness Challenge Totals

To learn more about this or other fitness challenges offered through our health ministry program, click on the site map for links to all articles on our Healthy Woodleaf blog.

Smell the Flowers Week 2: Phlox

Phlox pilosa by Bouba at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phlox_pilosa_jdp.jpg

Week 2, including the week of 1/14 through 1/20 of the Spring 2018 Smell the Flowers fitness challenge at Woodleaf United Methodist Church highlights downy phlox. This flower, also known as Phlox pilosa, is of the Polemoniaceae or Phlox family. This perennial plant grows in shade to sun to a height of 0.7 to 1.7 feet, and typically blooms in April and May. It can be found in the Piedmont and coast of North Carolina.

For more information about downy phlox, click here. Have you ever seen a phlox?

"Jesus sayeth unto her, Woman, why weepeth thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." John 20:15

Smell the Flowers Week 1: Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) in Turkey Run State Park, Indiana by Daniel Schwen at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arisaema_triphyllum_flower_2.jpg

Week 1, including the week of 1/7 through 1/13 of the Spring 2018 Smell the Flowers fitness challenge at Woodleaf United Methodist Church, highlights jack-in-the-pulpit. This flower, also known as Arisaema triphyllum, is of the Arum or Araceae family. This perennial plant thrives in shade, grows to a height of about 2 feet, and typically blooms March and April. It can be found in the mountains, Piedmont, and coast of North Carolina.

For more information about jack-in-the-pulpit, click here. Have you ever seen a jack-in-the-pulpit?

"And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed." Genesis 2:8

2018 Smell the Flowers Fitness Challenge

Smell the Flowers Spring 2018 Fitness Challenge by Woodleaf UMC Health Ministry

Woodleaf United Methodist Church's health ministry presents our Spring 2018 Free Fitness Challenge! This challenge begins Sunday, January 7 and continues for ten weeks through Saturday, March 17. Our fitness challenges seek to nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits. Each week, we will focus on a different flower found in North Carolina along with a Bible verse mentioning a flower or garden for reflection.

The challenge encourages participants to exercise an average of at least 20 minutes/day; you are welcome to set your own individual fitness goals for the challenge if you prefer. The CDC recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and at least two days of weight-bearing exercises weekly. Children exercise recommendations by the CDC include at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with muscle-strengthening activities at least three times weekly. For more information on CDC exercise recommendations, click here.

Types of exercise may be any activity that gets your heart pumping harder, breathing deeper, and/or working your muscles. Examples from previous challenges include walking, group exercise classes, yard work, cleaning, weight lifting, use of machines such as an elliptical, and water exercise. You may wish to mix up your exercise routine to accommodate weather patterns and any special needs. Woodleaf United Methodist Church offers eight free group exercise classes per week - feel free to join us for some classes this spring.

If you are interested in joining the challenge, email NurseforWoodleafUMC@gmail.com. Each week runs Sunday through Saturday; participants submit how many minutes they exercise each week by Tuesday at noon of the following week. Submissions may be via email, in person at the church, or by phone. If you wish to use the form to keep on track, feel free to pick one up at the church or print the form in this article. Weekly results are displayed in graph form on our blog - no names are published with the results. Children should get the permission of an adult to participate. Anyone with any health issues should consult a healthcare provider to determine what types of exercise are safe for him or her before starting a fitness challenge.

Although we are currently in winter months, spring and all its glorious flowers are preparing to dazzle us with their beauty. Come, smell the flowers, and join us on this healthy journey!

Printable Time Recording Sheet for 2018 Smell the Flowers 10-week Free Fitness Challenge