Comment
Rate
State workers pick up the pace
| Advertisement |
By NATALIE FIELEKE
News Tribune
Over 1,200 Missouri state employees exercised in droves, completing a mile-long route around the Capitol Wednesday during their observation of National Employee Health and Fitness day.
Gayla Vandelicht, executive director of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, said organizers were thrilled and overwhelmed by the turnout in Jefferson City.
She said the goal was to show employees that they could incorporate exercise into the middle of their workday and still have time for lunch.
"It was mainly to show people that on your lunch hour, you can get a little bit of exercise ... You don't have to change clothes and go to the gym to get exercise," Vandelicht said.
Some walked and some ran. Brenda Record and Freda Chesnut talked as they completed the mile at a rapid pace.
Record cited increasing incidence of obesity as a good reason for walking, or gardening, her most frequent choice of exercise.
"We're all too fat," she said.
Record said she could understand why employers would want to promote physical fitness in their employees.
"It makes a difference in medical costs," she said. "It means less money and less time off of work."
Tom DeHaven, a Department of Natural Resources worker, sat at a shady table by the Governor's Mansion, check point for walkers.
Although DeHaven volunteered to sit at the check point, he wasn't skimping on the exercise.
DeHaven rode his bike four miles to work, something he said he likes to do several times a week spring through fall.
"It's more a mental thing, I think," he said. "It clears the head from the day's activities. But it's also a physical thing."
DeHaven noted that many state employees have made fitness an office effort, walking in groups over lunch or doing aerobics in conference rooms.
But the state hasn't always offered health screenings, yoga and aerobics on the Capitol lawn.
The last time state workers participated in health and fitness day was in 2000, and 500 people walked, Vandelicht said.
"It should be an annual thing," she said, noting that the day is federally observed each year but the state fitness council has not always participated. "We wanted to pick it back up this year."
nfieleke@newstribune.com
Gayla Vandelicht, executive director of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, said organizers were thrilled and overwhelmed by the turnout in Jefferson City.
She said the goal was to show employees that they could incorporate exercise into the middle of their workday and still have time for lunch.
"It was mainly to show people that on your lunch hour, you can get a little bit of exercise ... You don't have to change clothes and go to the gym to get exercise," Vandelicht said.
Some walked and some ran. Brenda Record and Freda Chesnut talked as they completed the mile at a rapid pace.
Record cited increasing incidence of obesity as a good reason for walking, or gardening, her most frequent choice of exercise.
"We're all too fat," she said.
Record said she could understand why employers would want to promote physical fitness in their employees.
"It makes a difference in medical costs," she said. "It means less money and less time off of work."
Tom DeHaven, a Department of Natural Resources worker, sat at a shady table by the Governor's Mansion, check point for walkers.
Although DeHaven volunteered to sit at the check point, he wasn't skimping on the exercise.
DeHaven rode his bike four miles to work, something he said he likes to do several times a week spring through fall.
"It's more a mental thing, I think," he said. "It clears the head from the day's activities. But it's also a physical thing."
DeHaven noted that many state employees have made fitness an office effort, walking in groups over lunch or doing aerobics in conference rooms.
But the state hasn't always offered health screenings, yoga and aerobics on the Capitol lawn.
The last time state workers participated in health and fitness day was in 2000, and 500 people walked, Vandelicht said.
"It should be an annual thing," she said, noting that the day is federally observed each year but the state fitness council has not always participated. "We wanted to pick it back up this year."
nfieleke@newstribune.com
 |
 |
|
| Up, up and whoa: Height-wary principal takes short flight to promote reading | Holts Summit officer shoots, kills dog after animal attacks girl |
Article Rating |
|
Before commenting read the News Tribune Forum's policies and procedures.
Thanks.
To add your comments you must be registered and logged in |
RSS
