Interview on Physical Activity and Wellness

Ashley Midlo

Pacific Lutheran University

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Introduction

In the world of today where wellness takes on many forms, it is becoming increasingly

difficult for individuals to to take all of the dimensions into account. The interview conducted for

this paper is a reflection of one person’s ideals when it comes to health. Through this interview,

there is an attempt to break down the complexities of health and offer practical insights that can

guide us in our own wellness journey. The discussion explores the connotations of wellness,

what is taught about health in different communities, and activities that maintain those needs.

Defining Your Own Wellness

In this interview, the interviewee was asked to define wellness. She responds by defining

wellness as making choices that are beneficial for one's mind, body, and spirit, emphasizing a

holistic approach to well-being. They then asked to describe their priorities within their own

definition. Their prioritization of faith, family, and personal health guide their well-being

journey, emphasizing the significance of self-care when taking care of others.

A first priority is their faith, followed by their family and personal health. They

emphasize the importance of maintaining a state of well-being in order to effectively care for

others. The interviewee's response describes their ideals, where faith and family play central

roles in their life, supported by their physical health and overall well-being. This being motivated

by what they have experience themselves.

Experiences and education are the foundation for what guides us in our effort for

wellness. Often what we learn in school and in life is what we take with us into our own lives,

making what we look after to most also what we know the most about.
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Learning About Health

The interviewer then moves on to ask what the interviewee learned about health while

growing up. What we learn in school can greatly affect how we maintain our health. Having

more insight into one dimension can create priorities or just an incentive to work on what you

know how to. The interviewee mentions the importance of fitness and nutrition, family history,

and the need to modify one's lifestyle according to their health history. Her upbringing had a

strong faith-based and spiritual focus, influenced by their experience attending a Catholic school

during their childhood.

The interviewee emphasizes the importance of physical activity for both physical and

mental health, and mentions its significance in various life phases, including recovery and injury

prevention. They also express a preference for swimming as their way to stay active, exercising

for the purpose of raising their heart rate and not to socialize.

Mental health does not seem to be a central theme in the interviewee's upbringing, instead

she has a stronger emphasis on the physical and spiritual dimensions of health. That being the

case, it stands to reason that they would also engage in religious practices and standard exercise

to better themself. Their maintenance is personalized by the knowledge they have, making them

inclined to pick activities that cater to spiritual and physical wellness.

Maintaining Your Wellbeing

There was a particular enjoyment in the social aspect of their involvement with friends

who challenge and support each other. Not necessarily during the practice, but the bond created

before and after practice that pushed them to show up for each other. They also mention the
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potential benefits for their physical well-being, such as reducing the risk of heart attacks and

strokes, and combatting their hereditary high blood pressure.

The interviewee acknowledges that injuries and surgeries, as well as occasional

reluctance, can sometimes hinder their physical activity. However, they express that they never

regret participating in physical activity and only regret it when they don't engage in it.

Conclusion

Although I agree with all of the responses given, I do not prioritize the same aspects as

the interviewee. Their concept of faith for instance differs from my own, in that I take more of an

abstract approach to my spiritual wellness. My situation also puts me in less of a caregiver

situation, so I do not feel motivated to take care of myself for others but rather only motivated by

my own volition.

Listening to another person’s perspective has nuanced my own. It wasn’t a dramatic shift

in perspective, however it was enough for me to take other aspects of wellness into account. It

was another experience in my own life that contributed to my knowledge of wellness on a

personal level.

This interview provides one out of countless experiences and outlooks on health. It is the

outlook of a religious individual who believes in the social support in sustaining well-being. It

was of many different paths that can guide us on our personal journeys toward a healthier and

more fulfilling life.

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References

Narula, T. (2016, August 18). Exercise not enough to undo harms of sedentary lifestyle, study

shows. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q0UDIFQrVI

Raab, D. (2019). What Is Emotional Wellness? Psychology Today.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201910/what-is-emotional-w

ellness

Walker, M. (2019, June 3). Sleep is your superpower: Matt Walker. YouTube.

https://youtu.be/5MuIMqhT8DM?si=M8CL71xiHF1n2kYr
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Appendix A

Conducted Interview Transcript

TE: Alright, first interview question, How would you define wellness?

Respondent: I would define wellness as being aware and doing what’s best for your mind,

body, and spirit.

TE: Alright… next question, there are eight of these by the way, what did you learn about health

growing up?

Respondent: Um I learned that… fitness and nutrition are important as well as your family

history, and you might have to modify your lifestyle according to your history. Um, lots of

nutrition.

TE: M’kay, not a lot of mental stuff?

Respondent: Ummmm no, not for me. Not a lot of mental stuff, more faith based… spiritual-

remember I went to a Catholic school when I was a little girl.

TE: Interesting…. alright, um what would you say you prioritize now as for spiritual, mental,

physical well-being?

Respondent: My first priority is my faith, my second priority is my family and my health because

if I’m not in a wellness- a healthy wellness wheel I can’t take care of other people very well.”

TE: M’kay, awesome stuff. How do you view physical activity?

Respondent: How do I feel about physical activity?

TE: How do you view, v-i-e-w…

Respondent: Oh! How do I view physical- I view that physical activity is vital to not only physical

health but mental health as far as an outlet and just learning how to properly do fitness for

different phases in your life or… recovering from injury or preventing injury… Everybody’s

different.

TE: Okay! Um and how do you like to stay active?

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Respondent: I like to swim!

TE: *sarcastic gasp* “No way!

Respondent: I like to swim with a group of people and by swimming I mean we swim. We’re

not doing water aerobics, we’re not chitchatting, we are swimmin’.

TE: Swimmin’! Cardio, and-“

Respondent: Heart rate up!

TE: Mhm, and how does this said physical activity affect you?

Respondent: It affects me in a very positive way because of the people I’m involved with,

because we’re friends. Um, we challenge, we support each other, we push each other, and I

miss it very much when I’m not a part of it.

TE: That was like very mental well-being. Um, how does it affect your physical well-being?”

Respondent: Hopefully, because of my family history, it’s reducing my risk of heart attacks and

strokes. Um, I do have high blood pressure regardless of all the things I do, I still have high

blood pressure and that’s where heredity comes in.

TE: Mhm…

Respondent: I forgot the question, did I answer it okay?

TE: Yeah you did, and um what would you say keep you from being active, if ever?

Respondent: Ummm I’ve had some injuries, I’ve had some surgeries, and sometimes I just get

in my own way- I just don’t want to do it. But I never regret going, I only regret when I don’t go…

if that makes sense.

TE: Yes, thank you. Those are all my questions.