Writer: Kevin Ward, Senior Artistic Associate

Back in December 2022, I circulated a short questionnaire to our members asking about their health practices. I present the responses below. These were not only confined to physical exercise, but members were encouraged to address their mental and emotional health. And indeed, it surfaced again and again that these three, along with community, were inextricably linked.

At this time, self-care is on everyone’s mind, and rightly so. In the (dis)United States we see constant reminders of how perilous and fragile this life is. If you happen to be a member of any minority group (or of several) – BIPOC, LGBTQ+, gender non-binary, female – you can be excused for living a life of if not outright fear, then too often living on high alert. Nowadays, all children receive “the talk” before venturing outside as well they should because gun violence is now their leading cause of death. And do permit me to remind you this has been the leading cause of black children’s deaths for years. 

“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” - James Baldwin 

We watch in helpless dismay the systematic dismantling of once secure rights – the Voting Rights act, Roe v. Wade – and wonder to what alternate universe did we mysteriously transport. Ridiculously silly, and dangerous, battles emerge regarding children’s literature, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion curricula, pronouns, and Critical Race Theory. Even a suggestion of empathy is met with derision. Unfortunately, and predictably, the targets of this wrath are always the same. The means of attack are the same as well including those old boogeymen: pedophilia, ‘urban dwellers’, reverse racism, xenophobia, and ‘gas lighting’. These, and literal weapons are all part of the arsenal. I would say that the perpetrators are the same, too, but there has been a swelling of their ranks from unexpected quarters. And it is now time to quote Zora Neal Hurston:

“All my skinfolk ain't kinfolk.”

My blood pressure rises as I type this!

We are in the fight for our lives. We do well to heed the advice of Black Feminists – self-care is a crucial tool that allows one to continually fight for social justice, to hold loving relationships and to live lives of fulfilment.

And all is not hopeless. Indeed, that so many of us seek out ways to shore up ourselves and those we love indicates a sound spirit that will not succumb to despairing.

The purpose of this little survey is to illicit responses that support providing and maintaining good health for oneself, and to look at the communities in which we live and ascertain what is working (or not) to those ends.

I am including the questions, to provide opportunity for those who had not responded to do so now. In this way we may build an encyclopedia of practices and methodologies to battle the onslaught of dangerous ill will poisoning the land. We seek recommendations for maintaining and improving health so that we may live and love in relative safety and bravely practice our art, and occupations. If you would like to contribute video of your practices, this would be most welcome.

3 HEALTH AND WELLNESS QUESTIONS

Question #1. What 3 - 5 things do you do to ensure your personal good health? (Don’t forget mental/emotional health) What are your self-care practices?

1. I maintain all annual preventive physicals (general, vision and dental and women’s health) as well as manage my emotional and spiritual health through prayer, studying the word and finding time for engaging in activities that bring me pops of joy.
2. Eat right, drink lots of water, try to laugh frequently, and get as much rest as possible
3. My family physician’s ability to coordinate and manage my healthcare with other physicians
4. The use of My Chart that allows you to have access to your health, history, test results, and scheduling of appointments, prescription refills
5. Access to telehealth and Little Clinics.
6. Pray
7. Meditate
8. Connect with close friends/family 
9. Consume Naturally vibrant and Colorful foods
10. Respond to my body needs-honor how I feel and respond appropriately (water, sleep, stretch, etc.)
11. Set aside personal time in your calendar. Write into your schedule your downtime. Set your work hours separate from personal time and family time. Set aside time to do things that you really like/love to do. Reward yourself when you should.
12. Yoga, meditation, massages, connect with friends, cook
13. a) get my sleep b) eat well for my body chemistry c) exercise/dance every day - even if it's just 5 minutes of goofing around alone in the kitchen while I'm making dinner- I dance to music every day d) reciprocal love: interact with family, friends &/or animals every day (play with the dogs, groom a horse, feed the birds, etc.) e) sense of purpose: do something creative
14. Maintain a healthy diet (within reason). I am a vegan and I am an intermittent faster. Intermittent fasting was recommended by my holistic doctor for health purposes. Both have been life-changing for me.
    
15. Mindset ---- choosing to focus on the good. Yes, some things suck, but it's a matter of HOW LONG I allow myself to stay in places of despair etc.
16. Dancing and art making ---- this is essential to feel completely alive. When this area is lacking spirit feels depleted. 
17. Energy medicine (Pranic healing) & meditation ---- weekly self-practices 
18. Other movement ----- weekly exercise. Love walking/running in the park during all times of the year. Fresh air and sunlight are the best medicine. 
19. Laughter and community ---- there are studies of people healing just from laughter. 

Question #2. In your community, please identify 5 areas that contribute to poor health outcomes. Within your community (of dancers, employment, family/friends, play) what 5 things you witness that contribute to community self-care

1. Insufficient insurance coverage, lack of financial resources, lack of information, limited appointments available 
   
2. Better social and entertainment outlets other than drinking (Dayton is blue collar)
   
3. Lack of healthcare forums and seminars (finding good physicians is tough)
   
4. Emphasis on identifying health and mental health problems
   
5. lack of resources to properly treat
   
6. Universal services regardless of income level (call for help services; non-emergency basis)
   
7. Not sure on this one but maybe more community physical activity events, dodgeball, softball, kickball, tug of war, outdoor performing spaces (no more of the indoor spaces, too many closed areas now)
   
8. Lack of support financially 
   
9. Lack of support emotionally
10. Lack of access to resources needed
11. Cost of obtaining health prohibitive/unsure how to obtain.
12. Abusive or negative training practices or methods.
13. Not getting enough rest. Not eating a balanced nutritional meal. Stay arm's length away from salts, sugars, and processed and fried foods. Take excellent care of your health - physical and mental. Get an annual physical examination. (I have 3 friends who are younger than I am who have had strokes; only one will eventually be independent again.)
14. work stress, traffic congestions, financial hardship, pollution, high cost of living
15. high cost of housing b) there seems to be a lot of bigoted/judgmental assholes supported by churches around here c) increasing income divide - this is (Betsy) DeVos country d) inconsiderate/thoughtless mismanagement /abuse of the environment e) political extremism- this is a very red area- one of the guys charged with attempting to kidnap our governor lives just up the road about 5 miles - scary red around here
16. Mindset, identifying with victimhood
17. Stress, anxiety, depression, and not seeking support. This could be due to time or financial resources or not wanting to face the issue.
18. Poor health care system, insurance issues/lack of coverage for alternative services 

Question #3. What new initiatives or practices have you witnessed improve health outcomes for you personally, and for the community where you live and/or work?

1. My family physician’s ability to coordinate and manage my healthcare with other physicians
2. The use of My Chart that allows you to have access to your health, history, test results, and scheduling of appointments, prescription refills
3. Access to telehealth and Little Clinics. 
4. Me personally I have made it a point to stay physically active and mentally active. I continue to study, I continue to dance (more socially), I work with youths. I maintain the skills I have acquired which forces me to use my brain as well as my body to stay active. This has all stabilized my health because the activities I was previously engaging I don't have time for.
5. My community respects me for what I bring to the table and acknowledges my contributions. Even when disagreeing we disagree civilly and try to find points of convergence. 
6. My community has a relaxed atmosphere, but still high standards. The focus is on all being part of a family. 
7. My community values all by paying fair compensation, bonuses, raises when possible and having clear and open communication.
8. I am able to bicycle leisurely to and from home to work each day (2.5 miles) - even if it rains. This is my aerobic exercise as well as "me-time". I take dance, yoga, and somatic classes regularly. I take regular walks through the cemetery near my home; twice a month I walk to work. 
9. free community yoga classes, soup kitchens,
10. Despite the grip of the political right in this area, purple pockets are emerging  through 3 gateways: 1) believe it or not, there's high level of charitable giving around here - which helps 2) Certain churches work hard for social justice - they've bonded to successfully work with the city to pursue affordable housing initiatives - some are up - they are making a good difference 3) community initiatives regarding greenways and green spaces have successfully led to the development of bike paths & parks. 
11. Various forms of meditation 
12. Energy medicine (pranic healing)
13. Sound healing
14. NLP (Nureo Linguistic Programming)
15. Hypnosis 
16. Yoga (I have maintained my lower back injury by practicing yoga throughout the years--- over ten years)
17. Getting outdoors 
18. Following my heart and creating as much art as I can 
19. Leaving toxic environments and people 
20. I love these questions, and I love talking about this content. I am currently in school working on my PhD in mind-body medicine, so exploring these topics and extending them into the arts community while integrating them into my art is my jam!

If you are seeing these questions for the first time, what answers would you supply? Comment in the form below or email kevin@dcdc.org. This article will also appear on the Dance Affinity Group Facebook page (please visit and like) and the DCDCDAG Instagram, both places you are invited to submit your comments.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the many avenues to better health that are available. Some of these are online platforms, others are in person, and some are merely informational. But they can be the difference between living the full life you envision or a life of desperation. While I have no personal experience with them (and if you do have experience, please comment, anonymously about their efficacy and appropriateness) I want everyone to know they are out there – some free, others at a cost.

To end with, most of the above suggestions range from the modest do at home to the more complex rouse-your-community to institute change. But they all work within a paradigm of relative good health of the individual. However, there are times when our needs are much more serious, and we must seek professional help. Below is a short list of organizations that can assist, when we are too overwhelmed with despair to help ourselves.

To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) reaches 7 million people a month online and in person with the mission of presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. https://twloha.com/learn/ ;twloha.com/find-help

Crisis TEXT line: TEXT TWLOHA to 741741

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) 800-656-4673

Trevor Lifeline 866-488-7386

The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, they offer a toll-free telephone number where confidential assistance is provided by trained counselors.

Veterans Crisis Line 800-273-8255 (press 1)

BetterHelp is a mental health platform that provides online mental health services directly to consumers. The online counseling and therapy services are provided through web-based interaction as well as phone and text communication.

Indigent and charity care programs. Charity care programs give free or low-cost medical treatment at hospitals for people who can’t pay. This includes all emergency room care. For patients who are admitted, it also includes any inpatient care they need. By law, all nonprofit hospitals must provide charity care based on a patient’s income. Some for-profit hospitals offer it, as well. Many people who qualify for this care don’t know it is available to them. You can apply for charity care at any point in the billing process — even if the hospital has sent your bill to collections.

Don’t forget to check out local services that may be available to you including Housing and Energy Assistance, food assistance, and childcare.