Exercise/Physical Activity
Women and girls with eating disorders generally have misconceptions related to physical activity. The key treatment strategy is to educate our clients about incorporating balance into their lives by changing their mindset towards physical movement; this typically results in behavior change. This is an area where we highlight our program’s experiential nature. We engage in many types of physical activity several times per week from a typical instructor-lead gym workout to spending time enjoying nature while being physically active. We hike frequently in the spring, summer, and fall as well as spend time at a local lake. We also provide some physical and psychological challenges with whitewater rafting and other activities such as downhill skiing. We find that a long-lasting recovery-oriented change becomes easier when our clients can find their niche related to true enjoyment of physical activity rather than feeling as if it is a chore. We live in a breathtakingly beautiful environment, which makes it easy to enjoy time outdoors with clients. Professional staff often takes the opportunity to engage in physical movement, incorporating mindfulness group work with the clients during physical activity.
