Recess For Grown-Ups, Wellness At Work & Anti-Treadmill Diatribes

Dreaming of Snow

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:58:00 +0000

As I sit here in my office melting, I can't help but think of the cooler months ahead and the anticipation of a new season on the mountain. My friend must have been on the same brain wave as me because she sent me this video earlier today. So if you are like me, melting in the heat, and looking forward to seeing some snow - take a minute and watch this video. Makes me want to pull out my winter hat and grab a mug of cocoa.

A search for the Holy Grail (finding happiness at work)

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:48:00 +0000

My pursuit of happiness has taken me all over the world. I have climbed mountains, slept on beaches, danced on cobblestone streets, hiked through a rain forest, been caught in snowstorms, all in search of happiness. All of these experiences have fulfilled my search for a time, but it was never enough. Why couldn’t I have that feeling every day? Why couldn’t I wake up every morning excited to go to work? Is it just me, or do most of us ask ourselves this question most mornings?

This scattered worldwide search has found its way in to my academic and professional career. I studied liberal arts at PSU, which only reinforced my idea that I could have it all. Case in point? One semester I took Fundamentals of Financial Accounting right alongside Early Music, in which my final project involved attempting to play a squeaky recorder with sheet music from Ancient Greece that looked more like it should be in a museum than on my music stand.

Unconvinced that my smattering of fascinating classes couldn’t be used for some higher purpose I set out on the next leg of my career’s journey – my first job. Never would I work for a corporation I told my mom! So with my heart on my sleeve, and a head full of accounting and flute music I took a job with a non-profit organization. Life in the nonprofit world was not all that I imagined. On one hand I was happy to be making a difference in my community. I could see the results from the work that I did and it made other people happy. On the other hand, I had to bring my own pens in to work and cram myself into a cubicle with three other people. Every winter I would covertly monitor my cube-mates, noting every time flotsam from their persistent sneezing made its way over to my keyboard. After three years on sneeze watch, I decided it was time to move on!

Maybe working in a corporation wouldn’t be all so bad. I had a sneaking suspicion that it might be possible to do something good for the world, and still make money from the comfort of a cube inhabited only by me. When a green development firm hired me I thought I’d hit the jackpot. I worked in a beautiful office and got all the pens I wanted. In fact they even paid for my own hybrid car, free lunches and fancy after hour events. But everything in the office moved at breakneck speed. I was in by 7 am (3 hours later than my boss) even after a work sponsored dinner the night before. I powered through 60 hour work weeks and an endless stream of emails propelled by my coworkers’ peanut M&M’s, cookies, and coffee. I’d go to bed with work on my mind and wake up 5 hours later to do it all again. I was working so hard I didn’t even realize that I wasn’t happy. I did realize, though, that I missed my friends, family, being outside with my dog, and that I was spending most of my waking hours in a place that was chipping away at my body mind and spirit.

How could I take all of my experiences both in and out of the office and put it towards not only helping others, but also helping me. The answer came at Recess. Recess’s mission is to promote lifelong wellness through physical fitness, nutrition, rest and play. I could hardly believe that a company like this existed. How happy was I to witness first hand high powered lawyers taking time out of their busy day to attend a nutrition seminar, software engineers moving their desks out the way to hold a yoga class in the middle of their office, and service technicians taking the time to stop in to their office to have their cholesterol checked! I imagined all my previous employers and coworkers doing downward dog in the middle of the office and how having classes like these would have addressed the missing part of my search for happiness at work.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with working hard. Working hard is second nature to me. I still work through lunch most days and find myself checking my email on the weekends. But some days I take off an hour early so I can take my dog hiking, or I take a run in the afternoon if I didn’t have time in the morning, or even take a few hours out of my day to attend a meeting for the organization where I volunteer. For me personally, it is about having the support of my boss and company that makes me feel like the all-over-the-map life that I am living is welcome at work.

Work is work, but now I have seen that there are things we can do with in our work place to make the Monday blues go away. Just like the green revolution that prompted businesses to recycle and reduce carbon emissions, progressive businesses want to support a culture with healthy work life balance. Doing so, and reaping the rewards of loyal and happy employees, means embracing some of the messiness that comes with hodge podge of life experiences and interests that we all bring with us to work each morning.

I see it a lot with new clients. Sometimes to truly embrace the interests and needs of their employees, the groups I work with have to step outside of their comfort zone. At Ruby Receptionists, they knew that the job was demanding and wanted to make a change but weren’t really sure how to approach things.

“This is not the most exciting job and it can be hard on the body to sit all day, so we wanted to provide some kind of fitness stipend to our employees to help them feel good,” says Jill Nelson, the company’s president. As a result, the company agreed to pay for half of any membership to the gym around the corner. Nearly every employee took advantage of the offer, but they found they never went. The reasons ranged from inconvenient class times to not liking the meat market feel of the place.

It was exciting to see a company ready to make a change and their desire to take care of their employees. I went right to the employees and asked them what they wanted. Turns out they wanted a fun, safe, and inspiring workout.

So twice a week, after these virtual receptionists hang up their headsets for the night, they slide their furniture to the side and roll out their sticky mats for an hour of yoga—and they love it!

When I was working at my corporate job I remember thinking, there is no way I could ever workout during the day. I too had a membership for the gym a few blocks away, but the thought of changing my clothes, getting sweaty, showering, getting dressed and then going back to work all within an hour made me want to eat another cookie. It has taken me working with the clients for us both to see that the benefits outweighed similar doubts.

Besides increasing their flexibility and core strength, and decreasing aches and pains, the Ruby employees admit that the Recess classes have made them feel calmer, more centered, and just plain healthier. Plus, they have taken a lot fewer sick days.

I know firsthand that looking to balance work and life can feel like a quest for the Holy Grail. It was scary for me to draw a line in the sand and commit to finding a place where both my personal and professional interests were welcome. I think that is why every relationship I have with my clients is so rewarding for me. I can directly relate to feeling like work and life just don’t match but wanting badly to try; however, I also know that once you take the plunge the water’s pretty nice over here and I wake up feeling motivated to give the businesses I work with some gentle encouragement (and sometimes a shove) to take the leap.

What’s in it for me? It feels great to think I can help create places where more people like me feel at home. Every once in a while I get a letter like this from an employee at a business where Recess works and it reminds me of my own challenges and how important the work I am doing is.

Today was my 8th class and I can hardly believe what a difference they have made in my flexibility and stamina. I have virtually learned to breath again……not realizing that I have been breathing shallowly for so long. I believe it has lowered my stress levels a tremendous amount. Let me give you a great example that has shown me what great progress I have made. Last Sunday, I spent that very sunny day working in my garden, potting plants, pulling weeds, etc. Normally, I am not very comfortable bending/stretching and working in the garden is really hard work for me. This time, I felt so strong and flexible, I was able to bend, stretch and lift heavy pots with no pain. It felt really good and I ended up working for much longer time than I normally would have. Not only did I feel good on Sunday, but my muscles are not sore as they usually are after working in the garden. Normally, I hurt for a couple of days after but that didn't happen this time.

I feel happy and proud that I have accomplished so much in such a short time. And this success has motivated me to take the next step, which is to pull out my weight machine and start working out regularly. I've wanted to do this for so long but haven't followed through with any action. The progress have I made has provided the impetus for me to move forward.

So here I sit in my sunny corner office looking out at this beautiful Portland afternoon. And I don’t feel a longing to be anywhere else. Through my entire scatter brained trials and tribulations, I have finally found that elusive spot where my happiness, my health, and my work can all thrive together. A place where I can build relationships, make a difference, take care of myself, and help others find their elusive inner happiness at work too.

Remember your friends

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:49:00 +0000

StickK to It!

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:31:00 +0000

Ready to finally stickK to your commitments? Then stand up, and put your reputation, or even your money, where your mouth is, and change your life. Reap the rewards of your hard work.

My friend just told me about this website and I think it is a great way to help keep your motivation up - whether it is loosing weight or making sure to put money in your savings account.

check it out and put a contract out on yourself or your best friend :) www.stickk.com

Dear god, it's nice outside.

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:57:00 +0000

Do you have a yard? No?

Do you have a porch? No? Hmmm.....

Do you have a park nearby? Far away?

Whatever options you have, put on some walking shoes, grab a blanket, pack some fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and a little balsamic, oil and bread and have a picnic. Seriously. Just get outside. Even if it's over lunch and you are eating some awful egg salad sandwich from the 7-11.

I am so in love with Portland summer this year and so happy that I decided to actually participate in the Health Immersion. It is forcing me to leave work early, get out of the house and enjoy the long, mild summer evenings.

At the Health Immersion (formerly bootcamp) we've been doing Pilates in a cute, shady park with big leafy trees. Some days it feels like I literally have to scrape my butt off of the office chair and force myself to go. Afterwards I can hardly believe I seriously considered not going.

For starters, Health Immersion is like summer camp for grownups. I love all of the people in the program. They are mature, fun, and really supportive of one another. Just spending time around a bunch of people focused on living healthier lives is really uplifting for me.

I love the way my towel smells. I just can't get the smell of sunscreen out of it no matter how many times I wash it. And I just don't care. My yoga mat is currently out on loan, but doing Pilates in the grass means a towel works just fine and there is nothing that smells quite as good as the fading aroma of some coconutty sunscreen as you relax after your fourth seal pose (or whatever they call it in Pilates).

The river is just a shot little jog over from the park where the program meets. Last night I sat by the river with two friends, checking out the lights winking on the water, eating warm bread with cheese and oysters and feeling really grateful for all of this time I've been spending outside.

Happy Dance

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:25:00 +0000

This waiting for me in my inbox this morning - and I wanted to share it with you! Matt quit his corporate job and has been in 42 countries in 14 months dancing his happy dance. Hope you enjoy it!

How you tell your story matters & Event tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:42:00 +0000

I read the coolest New York Times Article a while back about how narrative shapes our lives. The author discusses narrative research and how people of various personality types and dispositions tell similar stories. He writes:

Generous, civic-minded adults from diverse backgrounds tell life stories with very similar and telling features, studies find; so likewise do people who have overcome mental distress through psychotherapy.

David Vanadia is a Recess practitioner who, among his many talents, explores our lives through story. His DIY Story events invite the audience to relive hilarious exploits, serious events and everything in between.

If you are in Portland, Oregon I would seriously recommend that you attend one of these events. If you are not in Portland, OR I would seriously encourage you to start one of these events in your community - maybe even just with your circle of friends. Here's the low-down:

DIY (Do It Yourself) Stories
http://www.DIYstories.com

Theme: Stories From The Hood

Your high school parking lot was filled with $60,000 cars.
There were more cops than kids in your neighborhood.
There was that one kid who everyone picked on and one day…

Come and share stories about where you grew up.

Wednesday, July 9th: 8 - 10 pm

Urban Grind Coffeehouse - FREE!
2214 NE Oregon (See DIYstories.com for a map) Portland, OR 97232
503.546.0649

Budokon in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:29:00 +0000

Budokon is a favorite of Recess Health Immersion program participants.

Budokon Yoga Flow and Conditioning Class

When? Every Tuesday & Thursday Eve. from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Where? Laurelhurst Park (SE 39th & Stark) We meet at the north side of the pond (to the west,) then walk to a good shady spot. You can look for me & my green yoga mat.
Drop in fee: $10
Bring: Yoga mat, water, towel, yoga-appropriate clothing.
RSVP: If you are planning to go please email her by noon on Tues/Thurs so that she knows to expect you.

Please call or email with Questions .... Sensei Linda Munsey 503.481.7940 senseilinda@hotmail.com or budokonportland@gmail.com

What is Budokon (bu-do-kon)?

The Physical Practice
The Budokon physical practice draws upon ancient and modern yogic and martial arts styles. The foundation of the Budokon physical practice is precision, alignment and Zen mind. All Budokon techniques are designed to explore the body's full range of motion. The practice dances between agility, control, speed, power, balance and flow. The physical practice is divided into two themes: The Yogic Series, and the Budo Series. Both themes constantly draw from and depend on eachother. The Budokon Yogic Series was heavily influenced by Iyengar and Ashtanga yogic techniques and alignment. The focus is on control, calm, power and precision. These techniques are uniquely different from traditional Hatha Yoga in the sense that they not only work to
improve range of motion and strength, but they also explore the body's ability to sustain another person's body weight. The Budokon Budo Series is a combination of standing and ground techniques drawn primarily from Okinawan Karate-Do, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and Olympic Style
Tae Kwon Do. The objective of this series is to teach agility, power, focus and flow in the body and mind.

The Zen Practice

The Budokon Zen practice is seated meditation. Zen is about single minded living. Zen is about freedom from our own ideas. This practice is the foundation of Budokon and weaves its way through everything we do. Hoping to see you in class for a work-out that will challenge your
Body, Mind, and Spirit!

If I Were President

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:14:00 +0000

What would you do if you were President? What changes would you make to create a healthy, happier, world? Support One Economy and submit your video to www.247townhall.org for a chance to win a free flip cam and get your platform heard.

Food For Thought Meal with Ian Rubin

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:01:00 +0000

Come join Recess's newest addition to our Practitioner team, Ian Rubin, for a delicious and nutritious summertime meal, Saturday July 18th. RSVP with Ian @ 503.260.0473.

Top Ten Today

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:02:00 +0000

In completely random order:
1. Pets
2. Plants
3. Summer
4. Earrings, the danglier the better
5. Travel (in theory :P )
6. Yoga
7. Bicycles
8. Q-tips
9. Water
10.My friends

Oh and can I add an 11th?

11. Glad I wasn't in Ottowa recently.

Celebrate Summer with Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:49:00 +0000

Last week I got to experience yoga outside for the first time - and it was amazing! I felt so lucky to be able to share a perfect sunny evening with all the lovely ladies - and one gentleman - in our bootcamp! The sun was just perfect and the calming voice of our instructor - Taya Gunsul - drowned out the passing cars.

This Wednesday evening I may try and join The Bhaktishop as they take a special bike ride around Portland and check out some of the best places to do yoga outside and celebrate Portland's month long bike celebration - Pedalpalooza. Meet the group at the top of Mt Tabor and finish at their new studio to close the evening with a yoga practice. I don't know about you but I am ready to celebrate summer now that it is finally here!

Yet Another Excuse To Move Somewhere Sunny

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:27:00 +0000

A friend once teased me, "Why is it you always choose to make your adventures happen in these dark, rainy places?"

It's true. My life story reads like the pages of some dark and stormy Dashiell Hammett novel. Sweden, Denmark, Minnesota (actually it was pretty sunny there), Iceland (I mean ice is one thing but 2 hours of daylight in winter is entirely another), and finally Portland, OR. Portland it-is-June-and-50-degrees-and-I-am-running-my heater-in-my-house Oregon.

At one point in my life I might have thought this woman was worried about her burn. Now I know she is simply gloating over her advantage in the longevity race.

I accept that it is my own masochistic tendencies that have landed me here. True, others can boast about their sunny days and bronzed shoulders, but part of me always felt a smug satisfaction in knowing that I might live a longer life as a result. I might be masochistic and smell like mildew, but all of the sunny do-gooders would die long before me of skin cancer.

Well, turns out that my one feel good antidote for the creeping depression inspired by too many cold, rainy June days is - at best - rather flimsy.

Get this: some research says the health benefits of sun far outweigh the risks.

Great. So we are freezing for no good reason?!?!?

A Change in the Weather or A Change In Attitude

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Ok for starters – the weather. Who hasn't been driven to tears by the sheer frustration of the gray skies that don't seem to have plans to leave anytime soon. I could probably go on and on for hours about how the thought of another rainy day makes me want to go home and crawl back in to bed with the covers pulled up tight over my head. But I am not going to – you all feel the same and listening to me complain about it is not going to change it. Instead I have been thinking a lot about perception. Maybe the weather isn't the problem – maybe I am just looking at it all wrong.

On Monday we had a brief moment of sun. The clouds parted and I even saw some blue sky! I was so excited to get off work – grab Sasha – and head out to the Gorge for a hike. But by the time I made it home – the clouds had rolled back in and the rain began.

Normally I probably would have just given up. Apologized to Sasha for being a boring mom and spend the evening drinking wine. But instead I decided to head out anyways. The closest and easiest spot I like to go is Angel's Rest, just off of 84, on the Columbia River Scenic Hwy. I was pleasantly surprised to see only one car in the normally overflowing parking lot. So with my rain coat and hat on – we set off. Just as we were beginning our hike – I ran in to one other brave sole. A boy with a dog named Sasha too, and he was the last person I saw. I felt so lucky to have this whole mountain to myself! I felt empowered and finally was able to take in my surroundings for all that they were. The rain can make the greens in the leaves brighter and the smell of the wildflowers and fresh air stronger. I usually bring my Ipod along, but I recognized the need to be alone with the sound of the rain and my thoughts. And boy did I think. And I thought a lot about a change in attitude. An attitude adjustment your mom might have said at one time. And I have been feeling the need for one.

I am influenced by outside forces. As much as I hate to admit it, I am. And I think we all are. The sun is out – I am happy. My roommate does the dishes – I am happy. It is raining again – I am bummed. My friend doesn't call me back – I am bummed. Most of these factors have nothing to do with me personally. And yet they affect me all the same. So how do you not let the factors around you influence you? Tanya brought up a very profound thought earlier that day that she learned from her teacher - The Karmapa . The thought that fear and judgment comes from things that happen in the past. When we fear something or 'perceive' something, it is usually based on an event that happened in the past. My view of the present is looked at with pieces of my past. The trick, Buddhism says, is to be in the present, without holding on and without pushing away, accepting things just as they are.
So as I reached the top of the mountain I accepted the rain and felt gratitude for being able to be at that exact spot and that exact moment. I think I even saw a patch of blue sky. And I as made my way back down and for the rest of the week I have counted my blessings for the moment that I was in, not for what it could be or what I wanted it to be, but rather for what it was.
And that has been just the attitude adjustment I needed. Embracing the gratitude of being here, present, alive, and dancing in the rain.

Mindfulness, Self Expression, and Wellness...One wall flip at a time

noreply@blogger.com (Sports Psychology Institute Northwest) — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:19:00 +0000

Question: What features wellness, mindfulness, self expression, exercise, being outdoors, and adventure, all rolled into one?

Answer: Actually, two activities combine all of these activities and philosophies. Both are a fusion of art and practicality.

The first type is Parkour. Parkour is a form of physical movement rooted in efficiency. American Parkour describes the art as "moving through your environment using only your body and the surroundings to propel yourself. It can include running, jumping, climbing, even crawling, if that is the most suitable movement for the situation." Parkour is commonly practiced in forests, urban areas, playgrounds, obstacle courses, and gymnasiums. The core philosophy of parkour is the unity of body and mind in quick, efficient movements to overcome obstacles and reach destinations. While parkour does have a set of defined movements and forms, the primary focus is on the intention of the movement and it's ability to effectively and efficiently carry the traceur (one who practices parkour) over or past the obstacle.

The second type is Free Running. Where Parkour emphasizes economy and efficiency of movement, Free Running encourages creativity and expression, including additional flips, rolls, twists, and other moves. Movements in Free Running are only limited by the imagination of the runner. Free running is sometimes thought of as a cousin art to Parkour and evolved from attempts to present Parkour philosophies to English speaking audiences (from the original French).

How can we tell the difference between Parkour and it's younger cousin Free Running? American Parkour differentiates between the two:

Parkour is defined by the purpose to "get somewhere quickly and efficiently using the human body", and Free Running is defined by the activity or art of moving through your environment however you want, moving your way, following your own path.

Why not give it a shot? If you're bored with a workout on an elliptical or treadmill (and who isn't), try simply starting outside (or in a gymnasium) and getting from one side of your area to the other as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you want a little more expression, throw in some somersaults. Of course, always know your limits and be safe! It's funny - as I think about Parkour and Free Running, I'm realizing that my scampers across rocks, driftwood, and boulders at the Oregon Coast as a boy were probably amateur Parkour. Of course, I couldn't help but race my friends and father, although Parkour would frown on racing. Later, I found myself as an adult (at least in age) embarrassed of such running in public. Anyone who thinks they might be embarrassed to run like this in public should check out these guys.

If you're interested in trying either of these techniques, you might want to start here. Of course, anyone starting out shouldn't try the advanced moves in some of the videos (including the one posted here). Remember to start easy, know your own limits, and be safe!

1000s Doing Tai Chi - Why not try it?

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:56:00 +0000

This was forwarded to me by David Vanadia, who teaches Tai Chi for Recess:

Join me and 998 other people at Tai Chi for 1,000!

Saturday, May 31st: 10 am - 11:30 am

Located in the South Waterfront Park (near the OHSU tram)

Free and open to the public.

** You do not need to know Tai Chi to attend.

This event is part of Horatio Law's artist-in-residence at Air Studio:
http://www.southwaterfront.com/art_and_design/artist

Horatio is a Chinese American artist exploring what Portland would be like today had the thousands of Chinese immigrants who once lived here been legally allowed to purchase land. His goal is 1,000 people (give or take) practicing together, so bring friend or two.

Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:15:00 +0000

On most days I find myself struggling with motivation, and I like to think that I am normal. Today it was a rainy gray morning. My alarm clock went off at 5:30 and I immediately hit the snooze button. As I laid in my warm bed listening to the rain fall and my doggy snoring happily beside me, I could find myself struggling to find the motivation to get up. I needed to find a way to get my butt moving. So I began to think about how lucky I was that I got to work from home this morning giving me the opportunity to sleep in and get in a trip to the gym. I thought of how happy my day would be without the stress of worrying about working out when I got home
late in the evening, or feeling guilty for not working out at all. My motivations for working out change daily, maybe even hourly. Sometimes it is the weather, the sun shine makes me jump at the chance to get up and move. Some days it is my doggy’s big brown eyes looking at me begging for a walk to the park. And sometimes it is the fact that I have a date in 8 hours and want to have the confidence to wear my new dress and not feel guilty for drinking more beers than my diet allows! The other night I was fortunate to attend a fabulous event put on by a local group, DinnerGrrls. It was my first introduction to the group and I was welcomed with a warm reception. Our speaker for the evening was Adrienne Fritze. I am not super connected in to the artist world here in Portland – so I did know how lucky I was to be sitting in this intimate setting with her. For those of you who don’t know her story or what she is doing for the artist community here in Portland, I highly suggest you check her out, http://adriennefritze.com/. Over sake and sushi she told us of her amazing journey and all of the trials and tribulations she has had. And she also spoke a lot on motivation. How did she keep going when the world around her seemed to keep constantly knocking her down? Adrienne said something that resounded in me. She said she walks with the most amazing, caring, and loving companions. Her family, friends, and the love that is shared between them is her biggest motivating factor. She is motivated by love; pure, open, and honest love. And I awoke to that fact this morning that love is my biggest motivating factor too. The love of my family, the beautiful world around me, my snuggly puppy dog, and of course my friends and my community. The women in my life are all super active, crazy, beautiful, and keep me moving. They run triathlons, practice yoga, surf, bike, skate, snowboard, dance, ski, swim, walk, run, laugh, rock climb and most importantly LIVE (out loud). If I didn’t have them, most days it would be easy to just go back to bed. Which is why I think it is so important to build your own community of motivation. A new community I am looking forward to meeting is through the boot camp! Not only do you learn the tools you need to make the first steps towards fitness but you also meet an amazing new group of people who 3 times a week will be there to motivate you and to push you farther than you have gone. I know I will be there ready to cheer you on and I hope you will be there to cheer me on! Until then I'll look towards the sun, a group of amazing friends, the way my body feels after it has ran 5 miles, and cute boys and puppy dogs for my motivation. Look for your own and think about it before you hit your snooze button.

Happiness by Proxy

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:48:00 +0000

No matter how many times I watch this it always cracks me up. A good thing to look at when your day needs a little shaking up.

Recess At Work Day? Seriously? Alright!

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Oh Mah God.

www.recessatworkday.com

Did you get the memo?

June 19^th is Recess At Work; a part of any good employee wellness program.

What's next?

Start planning now!

Help Clean up Oregon's Beaches by Voting Here

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:41:00 +0000

I know this may be a little bit different posting than our usually sassy fitness survival tips - but here at Recess we believe that a part of being healthy is taking care of our environment, especially the one that we live in.

A huge part of my health and well being comes from nature, the ocean especially. Most weekends you will find me and my dog catching waves at Short Sands, missing waves and enjoying sand in our toes in PC, hiking up Saddle Mountain, or eating burritos in Manzanita. I love the ocean for everything it brings to my life and to my environment.

I'm not alone, Recess' Health Immersion Program (Boot Camp) ends in a surf camp at the Oregon Coast. The picture to the left is is past participant who found that surfing became the way that she loved to easily stay healthy and motivated to be fit.

For the past 6 years I have been an active member of the Surfrider Foundation's Portland Chapter. SF is a grassroots non profit dedicated to preserving the world's oceans, waves and beaches.

Last year Surfrider teamed up with Barefoot Wine and launched the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue project to make and keep America's beaches barefoot friendly! They toured around the country, helping beaches through cleanups and native plantings.

Afterwards the lucky beach crew celebrated with a party featuring food, music, and of course tons of Barefoot Wine! This year Portland is one of the lucky cities in the running to be chosen as a featured beach! All we need to do is vote!!! And the good news is you can vote daily :)

If you feel inspired to bring national attention to our own Oregon beaches and celebrate how great they are with Barefoot Wine - then please vote here!
http://www.barefootwine.com/beachrescue

Add a bookmark and do it daily - oh and now that the sun is out - head for the beach and get some sand in your toes as well. Did you know that you can burn almost 300 calories just strolling down the beach for an hour?

OMG Work is Making ME Sooooo Fat!

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:44:00 +0000

Ok so here is the bad news. Work really DOES make you fat.

Survey says 45% of employees gain weight at work

"Your wallet may not be the only thing your job fattens.
According to a survey published Wednesday by Chicago-based CareerBuilder.com, 45 percent of workers have gained weight at their current jobs.

Twenty-six percent of employees said they have gained more than 10 pounds and 12 percent said they have gained more than 20 pounds while in their current jobs. Women are more likely (50 percent) than men (42 percent) to say they have put on the pounds at their current jobs."

Does this look all too familiar?

What's next:
Try an on-site group fitness class at work to eliminate a barrier and keep the needle on the scale from creeping upwards....

Taking your workout to the streets saves energy too!

noreply@blogger.com (cieadavid) — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:47:00 +0000

Did you know that if 10,000 people avoid the treadmill for 15 hours each month, in a year we'll save enough energy to power a post-workout whirlpool tub for almost 29 years. Now that is energy worth spending!

Also why not try riding your bike? It is another great way to get your heart rate up. In addition, if 10,000 people bike once a week (to the store, to work, to the bar...one way), in a year we'll save enough gas to drive from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina 92 times roundtrip!!

Home Gym Equipment Is For The Birds (errrrr cats?)!

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:41:00 +0000

Research shows that 80% of home gym equipment goes unused after the first year. If you are feeling discouraged by seeing that $1,000 treadmill collecting dust in front of your basement television - don't lose hope!

What's next?
If you are bored of the same routine then taking a walk with a heart rate monitor can be just as beneficial as walking on a treadmill. Use the monitor to continually improve the intensity, distance and duration of your walks. Vary your route - mixing it up to keep it interesting. As a bonus to the environment - taking a walk doesn't produce carbon emissions!

And if you are still feeling guilty about not using that treadmill then we suggest getting creative about who should use it and how it should be used. Other members of your family might still benefit!

Treadmills - all the cool cats are doing it.

Corporate Gym Memberships - A Perk for the Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Recess) — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:40:00 +0000

Ask companies what they are doing to improve the health of their workforce and many respond that they offer a corporate gym membership.

In an era where growth of the cost of health care is surpassing nearly every other business expense, I can't help but feel like banging my head against the wall every time I hear this response. Here's why:

Poor Participation:
Chances are, people aren't using your corporate gym membership program. An article by Bradley Cardinal Ph.D. estimates that only 9-20% of employees take advantage of corporate gym memberships. Those who take advantage of the programs are often the ones who would have participated regardless of whether or not their employer subsidized membership.

Nationwide only 16% of Americans belong to a gym; however, more than 60% of Americans don't get enough regular physical activity. You do the math but the outcome is the same - for whatever reason most people don't like or are not able to go to a gym.

Ignoring Employee/Buyer Motivation (and reality!):
Hoping that offering a corporate gym membership will entice those same people to see the error in their ways and pick up the exercise habit is a bet with lousy odds.

A report in The Houston Christian Post cites an IHRSA official as saying "Despite the national obsession with fitness, about 85 percent of Americans do not belong to a gym, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. The most frequently cited reason for not joining a gym? A lack of time and intimidation, said Brooke Correia, the industry group's spokeswoman."

Raise your hand if you think offering a corporate gym membership is going to give people more time or help them feel less intimated by a gym. If you raised your hand you are a fool.

Not Rewarding Or Encouraging the Right Behaviors (i.e. increased fitness):
Even among the few who do go to the gym, statistics show they do not go enough to make a difference in their health. The Surgeon General recommends that Americans engage in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Most health club members only make it to the gym 92 times per year and that does not speak to the quality or the duration of their visit - simply that they walked in the door of their health club.

As we all know many of those same clubs offer massage, tanning and other non-exercise activities - like standing around and talking to the tan, muscled up guy at the weight station to the right.

Return on Investment?
Those going to the gym are too few to impact your company's general health. And if those going are otherwise healthy (i.e. have fewer risks to reduce to begin with) then offering Corporate Gym Memberships is leaving a very substantial subset of your workforce progressing toward inevitably higher levels of disease risk as time passes.

What's next?
Keeping people's real motivations in mind, how can you make physical activity accessible and attractive to a larger portion of the working population?

Offer classes on-site as part of a larger multi-component wellness program that is convenient and appealing to employees.
Monitor attendance and market the program in a way that is attractive to high and medium risk populations.
Remove barriers to entry by emphasizing moderate intensity programming and comfortable, qualified instructors with experience teaching mixed level classes.
Award incentives to those with improved risk status, regular program participation, or, a combination of both.

Don't get me wrong, as part of a broader, multi-component corporate wellness program, offering credits for joining a gym can be a good way to reward folks who are already motivated to practice healthy behaviors. On the flip side, corporate gym memberships alone are not an adequate or even substantial substitute for an effective wellness program.