Engaging in Healthy Aging: Five Ways to Reinforce Lifelong Wellness

Thrive • September 22, 2022
By Thrive Sacramento Registered Dietitian Moriah Martin, RDN

Caring for mental and physical health during one’s early years can promote mind-body wellness that endures as a person ages. When consistently implemented throughout one’s life, habits and behaviors such as practicing mindfulness, having good sleep hygiene, eating according to one’s nourishment needs, engaging in joyful movement, and seeking clinical or therapeutic support as needed can have lasting impacts on well-being.

FIVE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY AGING

Because physical and mental health are closely connected, caring for the body promotes the health of the mind and vice versa. Ways to enhance mind-body wellness throughout one’s lifespan include:

  1. Integrating mindfulness practices : Mindfulness practices such as meditation and methodical breathing can be helpful ways to arrive in the present moment, gain clarity over one’s situation, and face obstacles with full awareness. Often, we as humans attempt to distract ourselves from distressing circumstances. Mindfulness, however, can encourage us to experience and process our thoughts and emotions as well as tune into our bodies, which can guide us to respond rather than react to different situations. By maintaining a consistent mindfulness practice throughout one’s life, a person can mitigate the anxiety and depression that can arise from not residing in the present moment. 
  2. Practicing good sleep hygiene : While sleeping, the body removes toxic waste, repairs damaged cells, and releases health-promoting hormones. Regularly obtaining adequate, quality sleep can help protect against cognitive decline and other health ailments. 
  3. Prioritizing personalized nourishment: How one nourishes their body can immensely influence one’s emotional state. For instance, gut bacteria , which are found in the large intestine, create 95% of the body’s serotonin. By eating adequately, consistently, and including a wide variety of foods in one’s diet, a person can promote optimal lifelong functioning of their body and brain. Additionally, when eating mindfully and intuitively , a person can enjoy eating experiences while personalizing their nutrition without the stress of restrictive food rules.
  4. Engaging in joyful movement . Physical activity can help keep the mind and body healthy as one ages. Sometimes, however, finding one’s favorite ways to move may require some trial and error. By listening to one’s body, adjusting the movement as necessary, and ignoring any harmful internal or external expectations, a person can find exhilaration, empowerment, and enjoyment as they explore the many ways to move. 
  5. Attending therapy: A therapist can provide professional, unbiased guidance to help one develop healthy perspectives for circumstances ranging from trying to joyful. Therapy also can also help individuals build resilience which can promote mental well-being throughout life.

NURTURING MIND-BODY HEALTH AT THRIVE WELLNESS

With interdisciplinary clinicians dedicated to identifying and tending to any upsets to the mind-body balance and providing tools to encourage holistic health, Thrive Wellness is committed to comprehensive care that promotes life-long wellness for the entire person. Reach out to learn more about our mental, behavioral, and physical health care services.

While all Thrive Wellness locations offer interdisciplinary clinical teams who collaborate to treat eating disorders, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and additional mental and behavioral health conditions, programs and services may vary by location.

About the Author
By Thrive Sacramento Registered Dietitian Moriah Martin, RD

Moriah Martin boasts bachelor’s degrees in nutrition education from San Jose State University and dietetics from the University of Alabama and recently became a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) in California. With several years of experience in corporate wellness and nutrition counseling combined, her passion for promoting well-being is undeniable. As an RDN at Thrive Sacramento, Moriah guides and encourages clients through eating disorder treatment. She takes great pride in walking alongside clients on their path to recovering their relationships with food and their bodies.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Moriah has donated her time and talents to a local LGBTQ center where she provides nutrition counseling and performs cooking demonstrations to community members.

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December 2, 2025
Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
November 14, 2025
The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
November 11, 2025
Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Thrive Wellness is excited to continue our 6th Annual Giving Tree Program in collaboration with Perenn Bakery this winter. This year, Thrive Wellness Reno and Perenn Bakery are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northern Nevada. The organization supports families with children receiving treatment at area hospitals, providing comfort, hope, and a home-away-from-home during challenging times. Ronald McDonald House Charities offers essential services, removes barriers, strengthens families, and promotes healing when children need healthcare the most. How It Works Simply take one (or a few) tags from the Giving Tree, each listing an item you can purchase and donate for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Then, drop off your item(s) at one of our designated donation locations by Friday, December 19. Items Needed: Restaurant gift cards Walmart or Target gift cards Games, puzzles, and coloring books Toys (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lego sets, craft sets, magnet blocks, baby dolls, action figures, journals, infant toys, etc.) Children's books (picture, chapter, and graphic novels) Toiletry sets (for adults) Lotion/self-care gift sets (for adults) Sweatshirts/hoodies (adults, XS-XXL) Scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, pajamas (all sizes) Infant diapers, onesies, and baby bottles Bulk individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.) Please ensure all donations are new, in original packaging, and unwrapped. Donation Drop-Off Locations Please deliver donations by Friday, December 19, to one of the following sites: Thrive Wellness 201 W Liberty St., Suite 201, Reno, NV 89501 Perenn Grocery 7600 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 130, Reno, NV 89511 The first 50 people to return their donations will receive a complimentary ornament gift!  Why We Give Back Through our Giving Tree program, we’re honoring one of our core values at Thrive Wellness: staying rooted in community. This annual tradition allows us to give back to those who need support most during the holiday season. We invite you to join us by taking a tag at any Thrive or Perenn location and helping spread kindness throughout our community. There’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by supporting local families with thoughtful, heartfelt donations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
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