Submitted photo of Jodie Coburn, Functional Medicine Health Coach.
Jo Coburn was the recent speaker at the Batavia Lions Meeting. The talk was ‘Functional Wellness - Holistic Medicine’, a Natural Health and Wellness Option.
She noted that Holistic medicine takes a broader approach than traditional medical care by considering the individual as a whole and doesn’t treat, diagnose, or cure, but works on the foundations of a healthy lifestyle and works to restore proper functions in the body.
Her work focuses on eliminating the need for multiple medications to maintain health. While traditional medicine focuses on identifying specific symptoms to label conditions and treating them with medication, Holistic medicine uses natural remedies and therapies to support the body’s natural healing ability.
Mrs. Coburn, a Functional Wellness Practitioner, likened her work to helping clients build a home. It is difficult to build a house when you have missing parts. In her work to build a strong and resilient person, you must have all the necessary nutrients and functioning parts.
It is hard to build a home without nails, or a body without magnesium. And it is difficult to keep a home functioning without a working sewer system or a body without good elimination. To further the analogy, she considers certain behaviors as the foundation on which good health is built: nutrition, hydration, breathing, digestion, elimination, and so on.
Her clients are concerned about Stress & Mental Health, Hormone Imbalances, Digestive Issues, Fatigue and Energy Levels, Sleep Disturbances, and Chronic Pain; and she works with individuals and families.
The initial workup begins with standard lab tests you may already have had from your medical provider along with functional testing to determine where the client is deficient in minerals and nutrients, then helps build a healthy lifestyle for the client.
The goal is a personalized insight into health with practical tools to enhance wellness in a supportive community for maximized benefits.
Further information is available by booking a free consultation at https://jocoburn.com/. The Batavia Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and everyone is welcome to visit the American Legion, 8960 Alexander Road, Batavia.
Jeff Townsend, executive director of the YMCA of Genesee & Orleans Counties, is calling for public support in asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to let nonprofit organizations, like the YMCA, resume using their facilities to support the health and well-being of the communities they serve.
He wants you to sign this petition to let Governor Cuomo know that communities need their YMCAs to open fully to support the health and well-being of New Yorkers.
"For hundreds of communities across New York, the Y is so much more than gym," Townsend's missive says. "The Y works with vulnerable populations to improve health outcomes, build immunity and reduce the impact of underlying conditions that make individuals more susceptible to COVID-19.
The programs Ys are not able to offer while our facilities are closed include:
Arthritis Management Programs
Blood Pressure Self-Management Programs
Brain Health Programs to Prevent Cognitive Decline
Cancer Wellness and Treatment Recovery
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
Diabetes Prevention and Management
Family Wellness
Obesity or Weight-loss Intervention
Inclusive Programming for People with Different Abilities
Programs for People an Caretakers of Those with Parkinson's Disease
Townsend continues by saying Governor Cuomo's decision to prohibit YMCAs from reopening their membership facilities in Phase 4 jeopardizes the economic viability of one of New York State's largest nonprofit organizations and employers: "While our communities generously support the Y through donations and grants, the Y's membership operations are the primary source of funding for its community work."
To date, New York's YMCAs have lost more than $117 million in membership and program revenue due to the government's mandated closures and capacity restrictions.
Unfortunately, these growing losses hinder the Y's ability to positively impact the health and well-being of more than 1.5 million children, families, and seniors who rely on the Y for everything from childcare and meals, to housing and human interaction, according to Townsend.
Ready to Reopen
YMCAs across the state have worked together to ensure that they are reopening in a safe and responsible manner.
Since closing membership operations in March, YMCAs have renovated their facilities, enhanced cleaning protocols, and physically redesigned spaces in order to create an environment that exceeds the health and safety guidelines from the CDC and State Department of Health. During all these changes, the Y continued to serve the needs of communities across New York State.
Open for Good
While our membership operations have been closed, the Y has continued to safely serve communities throughout the State of New York:
2,500 children of essential personnel served each day at childcare centers during the pandemic;
3,000 children served at YMCA Summer Programs;
30,400 calls and visits to vulnerable populations to check on their health and deliver food or goods;
128,302 meals provided through a variety of food programs and distribution centers.
Safe Today, Safe Tomorrow
The Y has served thousands, safely, during the pandemic. It is clear that YMCAs can run safely and responsibly. Communities needs the Y, and it needs your help to make sure the Y can continue to serve our community today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
