From left: Dr. Hanriet Minasian, Ara Keshisian, and Dr. Zarmine Naccashian (photo by Karine Armen)

Hye Geen Addresses Needs of Menopausal Women at ‘Thrive in Wellness’ Program

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PASADENA — The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Hye Geen women’s organization hosted a program titled “Thrive in Wellness” on Saturday, August 22, at the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Cultural Center.

The event’s lectures were focused on wellness after menopause, addressing hormones, metabolism, weight and muscle health.

Lora Kuyumjian, the chairperson of AGBU Hye Geen, welcomed everyone and opened the program. She said, “The proceeds will fund the nine AGBU Hye Geen’s Pregnant Women’s Centers in Armenia.” Kuyumjian noted that attitudes towards pregnancy in Armenia have evolved, with husbands increasingly involved in the process. “The pregnancy centers have educated the families to have a healthy pregnancy process.”

Liza Boubari, clinical hypnotherapist and a founding member of AGBU Hye Geen, served as mistress of ceremonies. “Hye Geen’s mission has been rooted in empowering women and advancing women’s wellness,” she said. “Today, we are honored to bring together three distinguished speakers, each addressing an important aspect of women’s health and wellness.”

The committee members of AGBU Hye Geen (photo by Karine Armen)

The program featured presentations on nutrition, exercise, metabolism, weight management, and muscle and bone health — issues that become increasingly important as women age.

Nurse practitioner Dr. Zarmine Naccashian gave an interactive presentation on nutrition and a balanced diet. She explained how to determine the calories of each food, such as one apple or one cup of yogurt. Naccashian is a nurse practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in diabetes care, patient care, and community health. She holds a PhD in nursing and is an associate professor at California State University, Northridge.

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An unexpected power outage due to the extreme heat in Pasadena occurred during the program, but organizers used a battery-operated microphone and the program continued, but the speakers could not show their slides.

Ara Keshishian, MS, PhD Candidate, an adjunct professor of kinesiology, exercise scientist and health and fitness professional, said, “Menopause can involve a wide range of symptoms, including significant changes in body composition and metabolic health.” He stressed, “I encourage my clients to begin with objective baseline measurements, ideally including a DEXA scan when appropriate. This allows us to assess key markers such as body fat, lean mass, visceral fat, and bone mineral density.” He stressed that with correct assessment, they can move beyond guesswork and develop an individualized strategy to improve strength, body composition, bone health and overall well-being.

“Movement is more important than eating less for weight loss and health,” said Dr. Hanriet Minasian, a board-certified internal medicine specialist and founder of Healthy Silhouette, where she combines physician-guided weight management, generative medicine and non-invasive aesthetic treatments. Minasian added, “As a physician, I am a specialist in longevity, but it is not enough to have a long life, but a quality life.”

The second part of the program included a healthy lunch with a variety of Mediterranean dishes catered by the Lebanese-Armenian couple Garen and Alice, known as Mr. & Mrs. Chef.

From left: Panelists during Q&A, nurse practitioner Dr. Zarmine Naccashian, Dr. Hanriet Minasian, and Ara Keshishian (photo by Karine Armen)

AGBU Hye Geen was founded in 1994 by Sona Yacoubian to preserve and honor the achievements of Armenian women and promote their role in family and society through research, education, and advocacy. One empowering program is the Pregnant Women’s Center in Armenia, where many women outside the capital, Yerevan, lack adequate care. Currently, there are nine centers in different regions of Armenia.

The organization has a magazine to preserve and archive all its events and programs for future generations. Also, it provides a forum for writers to share their work. Additionally, they have a YouTube channel to educate the community about different issues.

 

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