Posts Tagged ‘WELLNESS’

Life Time Fitness Delivers Comprehensive Alternative to Traditional, Participation-Based Wellness Programs As companies look for effective ways to reduce escalating health care costs while supporting measurable change with their employees, Life Time Fitness, Inc. , the Healthy Way of Life Company, aims to help companies lower costs for the employee, employer and insurer. myHealthCheck offers a comprehensive health assessment that identifies risk factors, promotes ongoing guidance with wellness … Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

South Franklin Circle in Bainbridge offering wellness center memberships South Franklin Circle is offering the general public a limited number of memberships to its wellness center, 16575 S. Franklin St., Bainbridge. Read more on Chagrin Solon Sun


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    My update on the Jillian Michaels Wellness cruise. Go to www.facebook.com

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    www.yourbestfriendcalled.com Free videos on relationships, romance,weight loss, reduce stress & time magagement. Bonnie Bruderer is a Top personal development life career wellness coach.

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    slimcoach.biz Nick Logan’s #1 Success Principle – Self Discipline Napoleon Hill said “The Master Key to Riches is Self Discipline” You can listen to all the gurus out there, and learn all the success principles, but without the #1 principle for success- Self Discipline…you are dead in the water. Brian Tracy defines self discipline as “The Ability to make yourself do what you should do on a daily basis, whether you feel like it or not. If you are passionate about fitness, coaching and teaching, helping people and making a significant income online watch this video and remember to subscribe. To YOUR SUCCESS, Nick Logan http

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    Center for Health and Wellness opens With the traditional giant scissors in hand, Midland and Odessa Chamber of Commerce ambassadors joined together Monday to cut the ribbon signifying the grand opening of the for Health and Wellness.The opening of the center also ushered in a new era… Read more on Odessa American


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    An Investment in the Future of Your Business

    Concern for employee wellness is an increasing trend among American business. Why? The link between employee wellness and the bottom line is clear, consistent and undeniable. Employers who integrate wellness into their overall objectives find that they experience lower healthcare costs, lower rates of absenteeism and presenteeism, increased productivity and better employee morale.

    In fact recent research shows that wellness program can:

    Health Coaching and Wellness Coaching are cost-effective, results-oriented programs that enable employees to work one-on-one with a health coach or wellness coach to bring balance to their work and personal life and improve their overall health.   Our confidential health coaching and wellness coaching programs allow participants to address a wide range of topics including; stress, fitness, nutrition, use of tobacco and many more.

    Helping your employees improve their health causes them to feel better about themselves and their employer which leads to increased employee engagement and retention. By providing health coaching and wellness coaching you send a powerful message to your employees that you value them, their well being, their health and their contributions to your organization.

    Health Coaching and Wellness Coaching offers employees unlimited access to their own personal health coach or wellness coach thus allowing them to use the service as often as they like, with no additional cost to you.   Through our health coaches and wellness coaches employees not only learn what they need to do, but more importantly, they learn how to sustain their new, healthy lifestyles. The health coach and wellness coach is there to provide positive reinforcement, advice, additional information and support at every step.

    The results of health coaching and wellness coaching speak for themselves.   Of those who used the InfiniteHealthCoach. com health coaching and wellness coaching model. . .

    When one Fortune 500 company tested the effectiveness of this program, the annual cost of their top 4 risk factors decreased by 23%. Yet another client decreased medical costs by 23% in just six months and had a positive ROI of $5. 50 for every dollar spent.



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    Since switching careers in 2005 I’ve found it absolutely astonishing the amount of questions I continually get from people interested in becoming a wellness coach. Back when I was in the environmental software industry I can’t remember one time that a person had asked me to provide an informational interview! Now it seems that I get a request for this at least monthly – and I love sharing what I do.
    With all these requests in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to share my experience with wellness coaching, provide some background on what exactly coaching is, and give those of you with interest in learning more a foundation for making decisions as to how you might want to move forward. What is a Wellness Coach?
    This is an excellent question and a good starting point for these discussions. ‘Wellness’ has become a popular word as of late – and it carries with it a vast array of meanings based on who you talk to. Wellness coaches support their clients in creating lifestyle change such that they get more of their definition of wellness into their lives. You notice that I emphasize a key element of coaching is to listen to and understand how the client defines wellness as that is really what is important to improve their life. How does a Wellness Coach differ from a Nutritionist or Trainer?
    There are many Wellness Coaches that are nutritionists and personal trainers, however not all trainers and nutritionists are Wellness Coaches (and vice versa). The biggest difference is the approach that is taken towards achieving goals. A personal trainer is typically hired to provide guidance, motivation, education, hands on support and to tell you how to achieve your goals. This support is very appropriate in many cases. A nutritionist has a similar function, they are trained to provide information, guidance and design a recipe for success when someone has very specific dietary needs and goals. Again, they serve a fantastic role in supporting their clients through the questions they have.
    A Wellness Coach takes a much different approach when working with clients. Fundamentally a coach assumes that you have your own answers. Certainly there are opportunities for education and sharing information when appropriate (and this information should be shared only in the coaches areas of expertise), however the focus of a wellness coach is one of empowering the client to clearly see for themselves the most appropriate path forward such that they can make sustainable, long term lifestyle changes. This is much different than telling them what they need to do today. It involves discussing goals, a vision, and designing a plan together.
    A wellness coach will ask empowering questions to the client that re-enforce their compelling reasons to make healthy lifestyle decisions rather than telling them the reason why they should make change. A coach will provide tools for motivation, goal setting, self discovery and embrace the fact that no two clients will need to have the same approach in making lifestyle change. As you can see the quality and depth of conversation that a wellness coach and a trainer will be very different. Corporate and Private opportunities for Wellness Coaching?
    10 years ago, there were very few people operating under the title of ‘Wellness Coach’. For that matter the term ‘Life Coach’ was extremely rare to come by as well – both are careers that have been recognized in the mainstream today. Many Wellness Coaches operate their own business. They draw from their background, market themselves, and present a coaching offering to clients that benefit from their services. Typically a wellness coach will work with clients in the area of nutrition, exercise, weight control, stress management, and some coach on areas of relationships, sleep quality, disease management, and life balance. If you are interested in knowing the specific areas that a coach focuses on – refer to his/her biography, as the topics can vary. Generally speaking, unless the coach is branching out into other talents/markets, they tend to focus on these primary areas.
    With the growing trends towards increased longevity and increased waist size – it seems that the market for these talents would be huge. The truth is that there is a huge need – however as a new occupation just gaining recognition in the mainstream society you still see relatively few wellness coaches in relation to conventional healthcare practitioners, nutritionists, trainers etc. This is often why you see many coaches wear multiple hats.
    Many more opportunities are beginning to arise in the corporate environment. A number of progressive companies (including Sutter Health in Northern California) are recognizing the value of designing healthy lifestyle’s as a preventative measure such to curb escalating health care costs. A handful of employers are offering wellness coaching programs as an employee incentive. Its simply good business to show this commitment to their employees. Implementing Wellness Coaching programs creates a corporate culture of health and wellness, it facilitates learning, and most importantly is welcomed by employees looking for the key to making sustainable lifestyle changes.
    For those wondering if they can get a job with a company offering these services, you may find that these corporate jobs at the moment are few and far between (but there are always opportunities if you create them). I personally expect a number of new wellness initiatives to explode in corporate America within the next decade. A large part of this will be varieties of wellness coaching programs. What kind of training do you need to be a Wellness Coach?
    A good question to ask is what differentiates a wellness coach from a nutritionist or trainer. The fact of the matter is that there are no ‘requirements’ for an individual to label their business as ‘coaching’. We see this trend in executive coaching, life coaching, business coaching, and real estate coaching. There are no laws that require a certain certification to call yourself a coach in any field! So go ahead and call yourself a coach – but be ready to explain why you are a coach and not a trainer etc. when someone asks (obviously this is not my recommendation).
    So that is interesting – then what kind of training do I typically need. Well a strong foundation in nutrition, exercise physiology, stress management, or combination of these will be a great starting point. To truly master coaching, I would recommend going through an accredited coach training program to learn the keys to communicating as a coach and supporting people in finding their own answers. Typically one of these courses takes 12 months to 3 years as they require a number of practical application hours as well. There are a variety of programs with different emphasis, so my suggestion is to find one that fits well with you.
    There are programs specifically tailored for wellness coaches to learn the fundamentals of coaching in relation to health and wellness. These tend to be shorter courses (on the range of 3-6 months) and are not accredited by the major credentialing organizations. The most popular example is wellcoaches – an online/on phone training program that gives you the basics and foundation of becoming a coach. This is a great start – my personal preference is a full life coach training program as it goes into great depth for developing listening schools and understanding client perspectives and I found the program I attended to be absolutely fantastic.
    As a side note – I strongly believe that within the next 10 years we will also see a change in the coaching industry. The International Coach Federation and other credentialing agencies are pushing strongly to honor and recognize the title of ‘Coach’ or- similar to that of RDA, MFT etc. The current credentials available through the ICF are ACC (associate certified coach), PCC (professional certified coach) and MCC (master certified coach). The Future of Wellness Coaching
    Having a private business and working in the corporate environment I’ve seen huge changes in the past couple years alone. I have no reason to believe that wellness coaching will slow its pace of growth. As I introduced this article, I mentioned how often I am asked the question of what it is that I do and how can I get involved. This is exciting to me as it shows me how much interest and concern there is in changing our countries wellness perspective. This is exciting to me and seeing the shift in our mentality and lifestyle to one of prevention rather than treatment is a huge step in the right direction.



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    Do you find it challenging to stay motivated when endeavoring to make changes to your health? Are you aware that changes must be made in your daily life but you do not know where to begin? If so then Health and Wellness Coaching might just be the solution you have been seeking. Health and Wellness Coaching is a service offered by trained professionals who work with you individually to assist you reach your Wellness goals. Health and Wellness Coaching motivates, guides, and supports a person in order to reach sustainable behavioral changes by offering creative solutions to their problems. Health and Wellness Coaching provides individually designed programs to meet your unique needs by focusing on physical, mental, and emotional health. They assist you become proactive in your life by removing unhealthy behaviors and making Wellness a priority. Benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for Your Staff MembersStaff Members can benefit from Health and Wellness Coaching in a variety of ways. Health and Wellness Coaching can assist individuals decrease major health risks in their lives by changing high risk behaviors. Some of the many reasons why employees work with Wellness Coaches are to get in shape, lose a little (or lot) of weight, reduce stress, stop using tobacco, and design balance in their lives. Wellness Coaches aid individuals with current health problems as well as preventing future health issues. Because each program that a Wellness Coach designs is unique to suit the needs of the individual, they can be sure that it’ll be a program that is right for them. Most busy employees mistakenly believe that they do not have the time for Health and Wellness Coaching. Fortunately Health and Wellness Coaching professionals are able to offer their services in a variety of convenient ways. While electronic Health and Wellness Coaching through the use of e-mails and instant messaging has become a popular method due to its convenience, telephone and face-to-face interactions may also be used. Staff Members have the ability to reach their goals and improve their lives through the assistance of Health and Wellness Coaching. Benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for the CompanyThe overall benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for a business are remarkable. Staff Member high risk behaviors such as tobacco use and obesity cost companies millions of dollars every year. These high risk behaviors often cause preventable illness and keep employees from coming to work. Health and Wellness Coaching guides, supports, hold individuals accountable, and ensures that they receive continued motivation to assist them reach their Wellness goals and eliminate unhealthy behaviors in their lives. By implementing Wellness Plans and using Health and Wellness Coaching in their companies, employers reduce the risk of preventable illness in their companies. This improves the overall health of employees, reduces healthcare and insurance costs, decreases absenteeism, and ultimately enhances performance and productivity. When employees experience the benefits of higher levels Wellness in their lives it causes an improvement in job attitude, energy, and morale. Companies that utilize Health and Wellness Coaching for their employees experience the benefits of higher productivity. Wellness CoachWellness incorporates many facets of our daily lives. From the amount of sleep to the water we drink, to the food that we eat and the activity that we maintain, our health is dependent upon many factors of our lifestyle. Working to improve our Wellness can be challenging to reach on our own. That is why we can utilize the assistance of a Wellness Coach. What’s a Wellness Coach?A Wellness Coach is a highly educated professional who is trained in behavioral change. Wellness Coaches generally have degrees in Exercise Science, Health Education, Exercise Physiology, Counseling and Education. A Wellness Coach assists individuals in recognizing current health concerns as well as preventing future health related issues. These professionals work with individuals in a variety of ways including; face-to-face, phone, via instant messaging and / or email. The latter of those is also referred to as electronic Health and Wellness Coaching and is the most efficient and cost effective method of working with a Wellness Coach. No matter what method is used for communication a Wellness Coach provides a personalized program specifically designed to address the needs and concerns of each personal client. In what ways can a Wellness Coach assist me?  Most individuals maintain several healthy habits in their lives. One person may be a fitness enthusiast; another may abstain from alcohol and tobacco; while another may maintain a healthy daily diet. However, overall Wellness is much like a puzzle, and a high level of health is only achieved when each piece of this puzzle is in place. A Wellness Coach will aid an individual in correcting his/her missing piece of the puzzle. An web-based Wellness Coach may address the needs of sleep deprivation, stress management, diet, or any number of health related issues. The Wellness Coach will motivate, guide, and offer valuable resources to offer individuals with the necessary tools to make life changes. How is a Wellness Coach unique?A Wellness Coach serves a distinctly different purpose than a personal trainer, a counselor, or a supportive family member or friend. First, a Wellness Coach is an expert in his/her personal field. When a client determines the need for a Wellness Coach he or she will complete a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). based on this assessment the individual will be assigned a Wellness Coach specifically selected to address his/her individual needs. Next, a Wellness Coach is available electronically 24 hours per day. Through web-based communication individuals have the opportunity to contact a Wellness Coach as much or as little as he may like. Communication with a Wellness Coach may range from daily to weekly, and can occur by e-mail, journal or a combination of both. Finally, a Wellness Coach is trained to aid in changing the way that the individual thinks and the way that they view themselves. A Wellness Coach maintains the purpose of helping the individual to work towards achieving a higher quality in life. This happens by addressing the cause of a certain problem rather than simply addressing the effects of a problem. A Wellness Coach will assist individuals recognize their needs, determine goals, and take the necessary steps towards achieving these goals. While Wellness are growing concerns in our daily lives, it may seem challenging to make the time to educate oneself and address the needs or our well being. Working with the assistance of a Wellness Coach enables us to emphasis on our personal needs and make progress towards changing.



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    You may or may not have heard of wellness coaching – its a field of health and wellness that is new, exciting, and rapidly evolving. While not everyone knows what a wellness coach is today (similar to the what I suspect people knew of personal trainers 30 years ago), I envision that in another 10 years the term and understanding of the profession will be widespread.
    While the term itself may be common in a decade, I suspect that the background and knowledge of wellness coaches will be every bit as varied as those we currently see in any industry that requires a certification rather than a four year degree. I say that not to knock the background and qualifications of most wellness coaches (many are RN’s, personal trainers, registered dieticians, competitive athletes, or other medical professionals), its just to say that the your coach may have a very unique and particular background which may make him or her a good fit or not to work with you. Why would I hire a coach and not another industry professional?
    I introduce this article deliberately giving you some sense of the varied backgrounds that coaches come from. I myself have a history in athletics, certifications in nutrition, and a personal experience with cancer. When you hire an industry professional rather than a wellness coach – such as a registered dietician, you are hiring someone to essentially tell you what to do. Perhaps you want to know exactly what meal plan would work best with your body chemistry. You are hiring a consultant to tell you how you should live your life. Likewise, if you go to a personal trainer, you are asking them what exercises you should do get fit, build strength, improve cardiovascular fitness etc. Doctors are hired to prescribe medication and suggest lifestyle changes. Get the picture?
    Now, think about the coach you may have had in grade school, high school or beyond. Some coaches may have told you what to do, but the good coaches got to know you. They learned who you were and explored your strengths and weaknesses. They were able to work with you and develop your skill set such that you could excel at the sport you were playing. They understood the psychology of the sport, that there would be wins and losses and they kept the big picture in mind when you yourself may have lost sight of the vision.
    A wellness coach is not a consultant. Typically the coach has a background in which they could be a consultant, but they have chosen what they feel to be a more empowering career. A career which embraces the concept that people can make long term lifestyle changes from their own volition. If you look at topics such as weight loss – approximately 5% of people that lose 10 pounds or more keep it off over 5 years. That’s staggering. Telling people what to do is easy and it may promote short term success, but long term lifestyle change is more deeply rooted than short term wins. Even medical scares as serious as heart attacks typically only promote lifestyle changes on average for under a year (amazingly many people even go off life saving medications as early as a year after a heart attack – and how easy is it to remember to take a pill!).
    So to answer the question, Why would I hire a wellness coach rather than another industry professional; the answer is simply choice. What do you feel is the approach that will work best for you – information or partnership? If you are self motivated, change comes naturally for you and you have a compelling reason to make long term sustainable changes, perhaps some expert advice is right for you. If, however, you feel that the information is the easy part, and changing your life is the harder part (as studies would indicate is the norm), then perhaps a coach would teach, inspire and team with you to excel in the area that you are looking to master. What can I expect working with a coach?
    You may be surprised at the discussions you’d have with a wellness coach. You are more likely to talk about what inspires you, your wellness vision, your personal goals and your dreams and aspirations than you are to talk about the breakfast you had last week. Now, be clear that this is not psychoanalysis. A coach acknowledges the varied background, successes, setbacks and triumphs you’ve had in the past, but that is water under the bridge. Be prepared to talk action, to develop a plan, to build accountability structures and to think through real life ways you can be successful with your goals.
    With the varied background you’ll find with coaches, you’ll notice that each has a unique methodology, philosophy and personality. We all express ourselves differently. If you are considering a coach, make sure to interview your prospective colleague to see if you believe you can reach your goals working with this person. If not, perhaps the coach is not right for you, or perhaps you’d be better off hiring a consultant that guide you and point you in the right direction.



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