Mind, Body and Spirit program aims to help women

Columbus Regional Healthcare System, the Cunningham Center for Leadership Development at Columbus State University and CB&T are hosting the Seventh annual Mind, Body and Spirit Retreat for Women, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cunningham Center, 3100 Gentian Blvd.

The registration fee is $35, and includes lunch, dinner, floral demonstration, a panel discussion, a fashion show presented by Chicos and educational workshops.

Throughout the day women will be able to choose from several different workshops to attend, ranging from fashion and interior design to health and fitness to relationships and finances.

One of the program presenters is Rubye Stafford, a lactation consultant and staff nurse in the maternal child unit at Doctors Hospital. Her program is called “Avoiding Health Penalties: How to Use a Health Slide Rule.”

“The Mind, Body and Spirit retreat is a signature event for Columbus Regional,” said Stafford. “Typically the goal is to provide a day for women to actually get away from whatever it is they usually find themselves engulfed in. Just to get away for a short period of time and get involved in doing something special for women.”

Her part of the “well-rounded program” focuses on the spirit.

Though Stafford’s been presenting at the retreat for about five year, she recently began using a tool handed out at health fairs, the health slide rule, to help participants visualize her message.

“(The health slide rule) shows the test, what the test is for and when it should be done, how often it should be done, at what age you should begin,” said Stafford. “I thought this was a great introduction to the program that I usually do.”

Beyond preventative check ups, Stafford highlights the importance of staying hydrated, getting enough rest, diet, relaxation and laughter.

“And we get a little bit deep for a minute in forgiveness exercises,” Stafford added. “How important it is to forgive, how important that is to the individual who’s doing the forgiving even more so than the one that you’re forgiving.”

People who have trouble with forgiveness often become bitter and resentful. They also elevate their risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, stress and other physical and emotional conditions, said Stafford.

She also notes that being in an all-female environment is important, even therapeutic.

“It’s wonderful, the atmosphere is electric,” she said. “If I wasn’t a presenter, I’d be attending.”