Every year, the World Happiness Report (WHR) offers a global snapshot of how people feel about their lives, and why. The report is released annually on March 20, which the United Nations designated the International Day of Happiness to recognize happiness as a fundamental human goal and right. Before the release of this year’s report,… Read more »
Each spring, we review the annual wellness trends forecasted by the Global Wellness Summit (GWS). Over the years, we’ve been introduced to fascinating concepts and technology, while also witnessing a return to the simpler things in life. This year is no exception but leans toward the latter as an emerging theme in The Future of… Read more »
Life is a journey, and if you remain open to all the universe has planned for you, that journey can be a wild and wonderful ride. As many of you know, I am a lifetime equestrian. My passion for horses began at a very young age, and I started riding at eight. Throughout my life,… Read more »
La Quinta High School’s Medical Health Academy (MHA) has long been a cornerstone of student leadership and community impact in the Coachella Valley. For years, the academy has been recognized for its life-saving partnership with LifeStream Blood Bank, coordinating dozens of successful blood drives that have collected nearly a thousand pints of blood and touched… Read more »
It seems like every week there’s another revolutionary treatment that surfs the waves of the World Wide Web to reach your Facebook feed. Some promise game-changing instant results, while others propose a permanent placement in your daily routine. By the same time next week, many of these fads fade into the endless sea of suggestions… Read more »
When I talk about well-being in Palm Springs, I’m not talking about a program. I’m talking about people. Always people. Yes, at Blue Zones Project Palm Springs we discuss policy, environment, data, metrics—all the things that make spreadsheets happy. Those matter. But after my first six months in this role (and years before that working… Read more »
January 24 marked an exciting milestone as the City of Coachella celebrated their Blue Zones Project official launch. After months of anticipation, the day arrived with momentum, excitement and a deep sense of pride from locals of all ages. Under clear blue skies at the city’s Veterans Park, more than 700 community members came together… Read more »
Last month, over 300 people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers gathered in Palm Desert for the second annual Parkinson’s Today Symposium, a collaboration between Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO) and The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF). Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO) has served Coachella Valley and Southern California for 35 years, providing free emotional and practical support… Read more »
As we’ve discussed in this Desert Health series, approximately 1 out of 3 men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction (ED) in their lifetime. In this edition, I’d like to discuss existing therapies that can provide effective short-term symptom relief and the importance of addressing underlying medical, psychological and lifestyle issues for long-term benefits… Read more »
April is World Autism Acceptance Month, a time to raise awareness, celebrate neurodiversity, and promote understanding and acceptance. One area gaining increasing attention is the role of nutrition in autism. While diet is not a cure, a healthy, well-balanced approach to food can be a valuable tool in promoting overall health, supporting development and improving… Read more »
As conversations around mental health and personal well-being expand, many people are exploring different forms of support beyond traditional models. Two approaches often mentioned together, yet fundamentally distinct, are therapy and health or life coaching. Understanding the differences between them can help individuals choose the right type of guidance and recognize how these paths can… Read more »
The Year of the Fire Horse officially began February 17, according to the Chinese zodiac cycle, and was ironically ushered in by a “ring of fire” lunar eclipse on that very same day. Although visible from only a few places worldwide, this cosmic irony is considered extremely rare, as the Fire Horse year only occurs… Read more »
We live in an era defined by a polarizing news environment, leaving many in our society feeling deeply exhausted. In response to this inundation, many turn to a “news detox,” setting strict consumption limits or attempting to disassociate entirely. Technology apps such as Freedom and News Detox offer a much-needed hiatus from the deluge, promising… Read more »
There are many reasons people are drawn to Palm Springs. Ted Gibson and Jason Backe seem to encompass them all. The creative and colorful souls were called to trade the spotlight for inner light and the fast track for a path to wellness that led them here. As life and business partners for over… Read more »
Have you ever wondered why you react the way you do, and still find yourself reacting anyway? You know the pattern. You’ve reflected on it. You can explain it clearly. And yet, in the moment, your body tightens, your thoughts race, or everything goes quiet before you can intervene. This isn’t a lack of insight;… Read more »
Throughout history, many physicians have emphasized the importance of energy and frequencies in healing. In his book, The Body Electric, Nobel-nominated researcher Robert O. Becker, MD, states that “healing is fundamentally an electrical and energetic process at the cellular level.” Harvard-trained integrative pioneer Andrew Weil, MD, co-authored the book Self-Healing with Energy Medicine. These theories… Read more »
In an era where health care often focuses on treating illness after it appears, a growing movement seeks a more proactive path. People are looking for ways to understand their body’s unique language, to spot imbalances before they become problems, and to guide their journey toward sustained vitality. This is where an ancient practice, revolutionized… Read more »
Hormone health is a major pillar of functional medicine. Without healthy hormones, your overall health will be compromised. Let’s take a look at hormones that should be monitored and how each contributes to overall well-being. The thyroid runs our overall “motor” and autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) is the most common of all autoimmune diseases. I have… Read more »
Daily discussions about artificial intelligence seem to paint an image of both friend and foe. Given its tremendous power to reshape our world, it is important to understand this tool and its place within an overarching strategy for health and wellness. Artificial intelligence (AI), and the large language models (LLMs) such as Claude, Chat GPT… Read more »
Have you ever admired a bighorn sheep, perched on the edge of a boulder, coat glowing in the sun, not a care in the world? No eczema. No rashes. No itching. No worries about what last week’s wildfire smoke might have done to its complexion. Our desert wildlife is perfectly adapted, built for heat, wind,… Read more »