February is Therapeutic Recreation Awareness Month
Leisure, recreation and play are important components in maintaining our personal health and wellness.
Therapeutic recreation is about providing opportunities to engage in meaningful recreation and leisure, and removing barriers to do so. It focuses on improving well-being in all domains of health: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.
“Recreation’s purpose is not to pass time, but to make time live; not to keep a person occupied, but to keep him or her refreshed; not to offer an escape from life, but to provide a discovery of life.” – Author unknown
“What we do during our working hours determines what we have; what we do in our leisure hours determines what we are.” – George Eastman
“You can learn more about a man in an hour of play than you can in a lifetime of conversation.” – PLATO
Benefits of this participation are:
- Improve physical and cognitive abilities
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Foster greater involvement in the community
- Strengthen interpersonal skills and relationships
- Improve coping and adaptation skills
- Enhance well-being
- Encourage a greater sense of accomplishment
- Realize the benefits of a healthy leisure lifestyle
Incorporating therapeutic recreational and leisure activities into our daily lives enables all individuals, no matter their abilities, to achieve quality of life and optimal health. This can be as simple as reading a book, taking a leisurely stroll, meeting with friends, crafts, and making time for activities you used to enjoy or trying something new that you have always wanted to learn.
The possibilities are endless!
*All pictures were taken as part of ESS’ social recreation program