May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to honor the many important contributions that Asian American and Pacific Islander people have made to American culture. What are some of the ways we all can celebrate? At LCB Senior Living, we rounded up some of the ways our communities are getting in on the cultural fun.
Indulge in Inspired Cuisine: Who can resist a celebration with delicious food? Asian cuisine is of course very popular, but instead of calling in your favorite Chinese takeout, perhaps take a trip to the restaurant for a more immersive experience. When you’re there, try something new! You never know… you might really like Congee (a traditional rice pudding) or Baozi (steamed, stuffed dumplings). Not sure where to start? Check out this list for some mouth-watering motivation.
At LCB Senior Living communities, “the Sterling Chefs,” our esteemed chefs hailing from some of the nation’s best restaurants, are crafting delectable AAPI-inspired dishes for our lucky residents to enjoy. But truly, these talented tastemakers craft from-scratch, culturally-diverse meals all throughout the year. Follow along on the fun here.
Practice Tai Chi: You may have seen people practicing this ancient Chinese exercise, but have you tried it? Tai Chi’s slow, gentle movements that flow from one posture into another have many health benefits for people of all ages and life stages.
Even dubbed “medication in motion” by Harvard Health Publishing, this popular Martial-Arts-based practice can help reduce stress, increase balance, improve flexibility, boost your immune system, and even help you sleep better. What’s not to like?!
All LCB Senior Living communities have on-site Tai Chi classes that are well attended by residents at all levels of physical fitness, making it a highly customizable experience. If you’d like to try an intro to Tai Chi or learn more, there are many simple instructional videos to try on YouTube.
Explore and Experience Art: Another way to honor AAPI heritage is by exploring museums and special exhibitions. Thankfully, many museums make experiencing exhibitions incredibly easy with virtual tours. Besides being very convenient for those of us who aren’t able to venture across the country (or the world), virtual tours are often guided with reading materials and video voice overs, giving you great context for all of the exciting pieces in the collections.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea, the Singapore Art Museum, and the Honolulu Museum are all interesting places to “visit.”
No matter how you celebrate, the most important thing is to be open and accepting of the people, heritages, ideas, and traditions of new (and old) cultures. At LCB Senior Living, we are so proud of our diverse communities that are made up of residents, associates, and executives. Together, we’re a beautiful tapestry that we consider family.