Dear Aspen reader,

Over the last few months Aspen Wellness has received quite the list of new subscribers, so I just wanted to take a few minutes to say hello, introduce myself and welcome each of you to the Aspen Network. I’m sure you’ve read the About page but I’d like to give you a little behind the scenes peek into Aspen Wellness.

My name is Alecia Ritzema, founder of Aspen Wellness and the researcher behind each Aspen Article. I’m the creator behind the resources that you see, the author of Aspen Weekly and the (2nd) voice that you hear each week on Aspen Insider. The first voice being my bff Anna, thanks girl!

I want to extend a big thank you for choosing to partner with Aspen Wellness as you journey to Find a Healthier You. Please tell your friends about all that Aspen Wellness offers if you love it as much as I hope you do!

But, without further ado, let’s dive in!

5 facts about Alecia:

Educator: I am and will always be an educator. Whether I am in a classroom full of kids or chatting with a friend, I can’t HELP but teach on topics that I’m passionate about. I’m a certified educator and hold a Masters of Education degree. My bachelors degree in psychology keeps me searching for unique ways of promoting wellness and constantly seeking to help others form healthy habits. Online wellness education is new territory for me and I’m taking it one step at a time.
Wife: My husband and I have been married for 5 years (this May) and it has been nothing short of a journey. He is an Army officer, so that makes me a proud military wife! Being a military spouse has opened my eyes to a completely new world; one that is filled with patience, anticipation, and resilience. We love to travel and have explored 3 continents, 7 countries and moved 4 times over the course of our marriage. I’ve met amazing friends and explored lovely cultures worldwide that each hold a special place in my heart.
Eat well: Dishes I love consist of pizza, coffee, pasta and Mexican. You’re probably thinking “so healthy….” right? I would argue that they can be! Bean & vegetable enchiladas, gluten free pizzas, organic coffee beans, and grain-free pasta are staple meals in our home (I’ve recently discovered that gluten is not a great friend to me so I take it in small doses). I’ve done a lot of research on nutrition and love being creative with what I cook. I always try to keep in mind the nutrient-density of a food (how much nutrition it holds) and the fact that “food is fuel” for our bodies. We choose to eat vegetables as the main portion of our meals - with lots of greens- thinking of animal products as a condiment. When we eat meats they are typically grass-fed and lean. In my opinion it’s not about the "do's and the dont's" of a specific diet plan but more about eating nutritiously (most of the time) and choosing moderation.
Move well: Outdoor adventures are my top form of movement. From swimming and hiking to kayaking, biking and stand up paddleboarding (a newfound activity at our last duty station)……..I love it all! Any opportunity that I have to spend moments in the great outdoors, brings me great joy. (Although I must admit that running has been an acquired taste.) When I’m working out with friends, group fitness classes are the best. Zumba, yoga and even line dancing!
Be well: Finding moments for self-care is not always at the top of my list. I’m a go-getter and type A personality - a ONE on the Enneagram if anyone else can identify-so if it isn’t on my “to do list” to relax it sometimes gets bypassed. So ironic right? But when I do allow myself to slow down my “go-to” is curling up in the sunshine while reading a good book. When I’m feeling that social time is more of what I’m craving then I recharge my battery while encouraging a friend over a good cup of coffee as we chat about present and future plans.

5 facts about Aspen Wellness:

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Mission & Vision: What exactly is it? The mission of Aspen Wellness is to inform, educate and empower women toward lives of total wellness. But you can read that on the website, so what’s it all about? Aspen is virtual wellness education that offers women the chance to connect with wellness research, online wellness resources and opportunities to put that desire for living healthfully into practice. At Aspen, we inform with recommended books, apps, podcasts/websites and bring light to the concept of integrated living - a combination between eating well, moving well and being well in your mind. Through Aspen Articles I hope to educate readers on food and nutrition, fitness and movement, and the psychology behind bringing it all together to encourage total wellness. By providing resources I aim to help women develop a lifestyle that is filled with positive habits. Think of Aspen as a resource for helping you stay balanced and organized in your wellness routines as I plant seeds of knowledge to help you grow into a woman who lives well.
Why the need? As a military spouse I understand the value of security and the impact that healthy connections can have on wellness and self-care, especially through stress-filled times, busyness and constant shifting. Often nutrition, fitness and self-care get neglected. The reality is, so many women today are living lives that are less than satisfactory – whether it’s mentally, physically, spiritually or emotionally. We are a society that is living stressed out, disconnected and spread too thin. We don’t readily make the connection between the health of our bodies, what we eat, how we move and how we think. My heart is to help women prevent lifestyles that lead to burnout but instead offer opportunities to develop an understanding of the integration between your mind, your body and your health. I aim to help women come to an understanding of their uniqueness and how that affects their choices for wellness in food, fitness and self-care. And, bonus, virtual and online services are something that you can take with you no matter the location!
Why resources and challenges? In my experiences with Behavioral Psychology, a tangible guide always serves as a reminder to keep individuals on track when it comes to reaching a goal. Visuals can act as motivation and provide focus. Yes, it takes work to browse through the Aspen Resource Portal. Yes, it takes time to download or print a PDF. Yes, there is a certain level of personal motivation, accountability and self-directed learning that needs to take place - but if you aren’t on board with your wellness routine then who is? In my opinion, the end results are always worth the cost.
Each year I invite women to join in a FREE wellness challenge to help navigate the waters of wellness – 2018 was all about self-care. 2019 = 12 Months to a Healthier You. 2020 = Catch the Vision! Challenges are made available via email and on our website, once you’ve registered. The idea behind this year’s challenge is to find your focus and create a vision of wellness that fits into your lifestyle. Each month you’re provided with a Wellness Guide that walks you through developing a clear vision for nutrition and movement.
The Aspen Team Currently, my support team is small and spans across the United States. My amazing husband, Aaron, serves as the Chief Information Officer in addition to providing the financial backing needed to keep a virtual project and website running smoothly. The finesse and clarity that you find in each Aspen Article and Aspen Weekly newsletter is 100% due to Vicki, my go-to person for proofing, editing and providing feedback (also, she’s my mom!) While the creation of graphics, resources and web development has been a big learning process for Aaron and I, I’m thankful to have had some help along the way thanks to Erinn (my best friend/sister/professional graphic designer). I’d also like to send a huge thanks for encouragement to my best gals that always keep me going behind the scenes with regular encouragement and support: Anna, Claire, Val, Amanda, Jillian and Darcie. Whether they realize or not, this team contributes so much to the bulk of the work and I’m thankful for their encouragement to press on and fight the good fight.
What it’s NOT. As I said previously I am an educator. I am certified in group fitness instruction, functional foods, understanding hormones and (most recently) a certified Behavior Change Specialist through ACE Fitness. But I am NOT a therapist nor am I a dietician. I don’t promote a specific diet type, will not endorse a certain brand or suggest a personal fitness regimen but I am about encouraging women to appreciate their uniqueness and how that affects choices for wellness while supporting them on a personal journey that leads to healthy, integrated living, Connections are at the forefront of all we do. As an Aspen tree colony is connected beneath the dirt, our minds and bodies function in an integrated way. By encouraging these healthy connections to grow through articles, programs, challenges and other opportunities for learning, I hope to encourage you to live your best life now.

If you are ready to step into your wellness journey on a deeper level, here are 5 ways that you can get moving today:

Subscribe to Aspen Weekly for inspiration and motivation sent straight to your inbox weekly.
Educate yourself through Aspen Articles or stay informed by doing your own research through recommended books & apps.
Download motivational graphics for phone, computer and social media or FREE resources from our Resource Portal.
Give us a follow on social media! Each social media account offers different insights into wellness so you don’t want to miss out. You’ll find Aspen Wellness on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Share Aspen Wellness with a friend!