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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Jeff Haebig, Wellness Promoter

Thursday December 27, 2001

What danger can ever come from ingenious reasoning and inquiry? The worst speculative skeptic ever I knew was a much better man than the best superstitious devotee and bigot. David Hume in a letter to Gilbert Elliot, March 10, 1751.

One of the most interesting characters in the wellness field is Jeff Haebig, Ph.D. of Rochester, MN. On the simplest level, Jeff is one of the leading lights of the humorist wing of the wellness movement, but on a deeper level he is much more. In this brief overview, I'd like to explore both levels and gives you some direction for learning more about Dr. Haebig's work in promoting what Hume would certainly view as ingenious reasoning and inquiry.

He has appeared for decades at National Wellness Conferences where, when not presenting workshops on varied topics in his inimitable style, he holds forth at a booth selling his products. These include but are not limited to Toon Ups, Health Care-toons Calendar and a Health Care-toons Journal, all of which he has authored.

Dr. Haebig helps teachers explore what he terms the "body/brain branches" of an effective learning strategies and enhancement program, conducted in concert with his videotape called "Body/brain Boogie -- Exploring the Neuro-science of Teaching through Movement. This work, based upon body and brain research, seems to turn on the neurons, the cells that communicate with each other both chemically and electrically producing thoughts, feelings and actions. He notes that there are around 100 billion neurons located throughout the brain, heart and nervous system. One challenge, he explains, is to "wake up the cortex and spark reticular ras matazz!" Like a computer screen saver, our thinking cortex slides into a passive waiting mode to save energy when not engaged. Sensory-motor activities stimulate the RAS (Reticular Activating System) within the brain, turning on the thinking cortex. Effective communications avoid routines in favor of unexpected happenings that pleasantly catch peoples attention, pique interest and never lull the cortex to sleep. This is the basis of Dr. Haebig's "RAS matazz" teaching.

Some of Jeff's favorite quotations include the following:

The greatest unexplored territory in the world is the space between our ears. William O'Brien
Nothing happens until something moves. Albert Einstein
The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk. Jacqueline Schiff
A man is never in worse company than when he flies into a rage and is beside himself. Unknown
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust
I wasn't sleeping; I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm. Unknown
How gentle are the steps of new beginnings. L. W. Gilbert
It is not the IQ but the I WILL that is most important in education.
Life is either a daring adventure, or it's nothing. Helen
The road to success is always under construction. Unknown
School should be the best party in town. Peter Kline
The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. Oliver Wendell Holmes
A teacher's constant task is to take a roomful of live wires and see to it that they're grounded. E. C.

Among the major objectives of Dr. Haebig's program are the following:

Create Optimal Learning States. Body/brain-compatible learning requires a safe and secure atmosphere. Consistent with wellness theory, Dr. Haebig emphasizes favorable physical, mental, emotional and social states as being most conducive for higher thinking levels. To accomplish this objective, a focus in placed upon music, relaxation states, plants/flowers and varied routines, all of which promote creativity and elevate thinking rather than limiting cognition.
Create Novelty and Variety. This involves continuous reprogramming of body/brain cells and systems and the creation of new circuits with each new experience. Such enhanced learning expands and elaborates our neural networks. To accomplish this objective, be a healthy risk taker; explore new ways of learning and in other ways involve the higher centers of the thinking brain by treating each fresh, unpracticed activity as an adventure, not as a threat. This is facilitated by using a variety of senses (for example, tasting, touching, smelling, hearing and seeing), engaging the verbal, logical, visual, musical, physical, interpersonal, natural and reflective intelligences and by praising students.
Create High Challenge and High Cheer. This involves two themes: Captivate! Celebrate! Dr. Haebig asks: "Who says learning has to be hum- drum?" Playfulness provides the groundwork for creativity and is the basis for new body/brain growth. This is facilitated by creating learning challenging via higher-level thinking skills while infusing lessons with toe-tapping, finger-snapping cheers and anything else that energizes the lesson.

Personally, I would love to see these techniques of my good friend Dr. Haebig introduced into all the religious schools in Afghanistan! On second thought, make that all religious schools. On third thought, make that all schools.

All this only hints at the depth and range of Dr. Haebig's innovative wellness work. For more, go to his website and/or contact the good man in person at wellnessquest@charter.net or 1-888-388-WELL. I know Dr. Haebig will approve of my suggestion to always look on the bright side of life.

Domain: mental
Subdomain: mental health

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