Recently, a growing group of people gathered at The Barista to hear local self-help health guru Geoff Goheen speak and answer questions about how a person can become healthier and more fit.
By Bette McFarren@LaJuntaTD Recently, a growing group of people gathered at The Barista to hear local self-help health guru Geoff Goheen speak and answer questions about how a person can become healthier and more fit. He was also autographing his book "Self Health Guide: How to heal yourself through diet, exercise and hands-on therapies."
Goheen started his professional career in Pueblo as a personal trainer. He had been interested in developing his physique since he was 14 and small for his age. He attended school in Cheraw, where there are a lot of big, healthy farm kids.
He got his start pulling weeds, an avocation a lot of us have these days, with the recent rains and hot weather. Rick Blackford gave him a job at the Fitness Center he ran at the time. He continued his self-education at the gym and entered the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy, specializing in neuromuscular massage, at 19. Since then he has taught health and massage classes at the local college, and has also run his own business working with terminally ill people in cancer centers as well as home settings.
For seven years, he worked in the area of mental health at the Colorado Boys Ranch. Since the ranch closed, for the past four years he has been working at RESADA, a regional rehabilitation center. He is convinced that the mind and body can work together to heal a person, employing massage techniques, a healthy diet and appropriate exercise.
He said mental suggestion controls the body. Talk to people you want to be like. He likes to mix eastern methods with western methods and has great confidence in disciplines such as yoga. Learn from people. Associate with people who practice good physical and mental health. He said sometimes people get interested in health when they get older, and it is never too late.
The oldest form of healing is aroma therapy, which was used 5,000 years ago, all over the world, associated with herbs, acupuncture and oils. Everything needs to be in balance in your diet: acidity level, proteins and an adequate level of calories. To reduce stress, relax and apply techniques of relaxation which are pleasant for you.
Cheryl Lindner agreed that sometimes everyday life produces lots of stress and is sometimes overwhelming. Goheen said that is true, and a good thing is to change slowly, make adjustments slowly. Stay fluid; identify the situations that cause stress in your life. Focussing on your breathing will help increase the oxygen to your brain and help you deal with stress.
Goheen has observed in his present position that detoxifying the body often helps mental health issues go away. Raising the serotonin level in the body with exercise will help, too, but increase exercise levels slowly.
He answered questions and also autographed his book, which is written cleanly and simply, full of good examples which make his points clear.