Parks and Recreation Can Help You Conquer that New Year’s Resolution

By Amanda Lehmert

Are you ready to become a healthier you, but don’t know where to start?

Greensboro Parks and Recreation has a wide range of programs to help you meet your health and wellness goals – even if you are just starting out. The programs won’t bust your budget. Most fitness programs are low-cost, and many are free. Greensboro’s fitness center, boxing gym, workout classes and weight loss support groups can help you keep fit all year round.

No contract fitness centers and boxing gym

The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. It’s tough to do that outside this time of year, so give one of our fitness centers a try. The Griffin, Peeler, Trotter and Warnersville Recreation Centers and the Smith Senior Center have low-cost fitness centers. No contract is required to become a member.

The fitness centers offer with high-quality treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and weight training equipment, as well as trained staff to ensure a safe environment for teens and adults. Adult memberships cost $10 a month or $100 for a year. Teen memberships cost $5 a month or $50 for a year.

If you want something a bit more challenging, give the Coach Al Lowe Boxing Club a try. Located at the Lindley Recreation Center, the club has an Olympic-size boxing ring, sparring times, free weights and cardio machines, and coaches who are sanctioned by United States Amateur Boxing Inc. No experience is necessary to join and the club is open to residents 12 and older for a fee of $40 per year.

Group workouts for all fitness levels

The solo gym routine might not be enough to keep you engaged. And that’s okay, because Parks and Recreation also offers a wide array of group workouts to inspire you. The costs of these fitness classes range from free to about $10. Recreation centers across the city offer perennial favorites like yoga, karate, and boot camp. Try Zumba, shred, cardio sculpt or hip hop step to get your heart rate up. Visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/reccenters to see what classes are offered at your local center.

People who are totally new to fitness should try the classes offered by the Smith Senior Center. They host free modified fitness programs like chair-based yoga and beginner Zumba for all adults – not just those 55 and over. Visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/seniors for class information.

Weight loss support

Once you’ve got your exercise routine worked out, it’s time to figure out your diet. A healthy lifestyle often starts at your dinner plate. That’s why Parks and Recreation hosts three local chapters of Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), a national program that provide support and educational information to help you eat right and set realistic weight loss goals. Weekly chapter meetings offer programs on health issues like diabetes and heart disease.

Each meeting gives members – if they choose – an opportunity to stay accountable by weighing in and sharing that week’s progress. They have scales that can support people up to 500 pounds. It costs $32 for a national membership, plus a $2-4 per month fee to attend local group meetings. Windsor Recreation Center, the Smith Senior Center and the Lindley Recreation Center each host a chapter of TOPS. Visit www.tops.org for more details about this program.

 

Amanda Lehmert is the Communications Specialist in the Communications and Marketing Department with the City of Greensboro. 

#FindHelpFriday: YMCA of Greensboro

This week, as part of our “Your Family’s Healthiest Year Yet” series, we’re excited to feature YMCA of Greensboro for our #FindHelpFriday post!

The YMCA helps and supports individuals and families with their health and wellness needs, as well as offers quality childcare for working parents in our community. YMCA of Greensboro offers membership at their 5 locations and Camp Weaver in Guilford County. Their programs include a wide variety of youth programs, child care, personal training, exercise classes, swim lessons, volunteer opportunities, and much more!

YMCA of Greensboro is committed to making their programs and services accessible to all members of the community. They offer a financial assistance program, called Open Doors, and they do not turn away individuals or families due to an inability to pay.

To learn more about YMCA of Greensboro, please visit their web-site at https://www.ymcagreensboro.org/.

Is your partner bad for your health?

By Kristi Wallace, Wellness Director at Bryan Family YMCA

Everyday, individuals across the country are hitting the gym, pounding the pavement, taking a fitness class, or signing up for a race or physical challenge.

Maybe we should not be doing this alone.

Hello!  My name is Kristi Wallace and I am the Wellness Director at the Bryan Family YMCA in downtown Greensboro.  I have been working in the Wellness Industry for over a decade and have had the opportunity to help many individuals achieve their health and wellness goals.  The happiness I witness when these individuals succeed is amazing and unforgettable.  Happiness is free, happiness is contagious, and happiness builds confidence.

Maybe we should be sharing in our happiness.

Our members continually workout and work towards health and wellness goals in hopes of achieving more and more.  Everyone knows there is strength in numbers, right?  Everyone knows the more the merrier, right?  Why are we not taking these theories and applying them to our own health and wellness goals?

We know that physical fitness is important.  The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.  We know that time is scarce and precious, too.  I say – SHARE these minutes and kill two birds with one stone!  Lace up those sneakers and grab your significant other off the sofa and get moving!

Maybe we should grab our partner and not our ear buds.

Physical fitness can benefit not only your own health and overall wellness but also your relationship with your significant other.  It is time you grab your partner’s hand and invite them to be not only your life partner, but your workout partner too!

Studies continue to suggest that couples that sweat together, REALLY do stay together.  Couples report feeling more satisfied in their relationship and more in love after participating in an exciting physical challenge or activity TOGETHER.  Exercise is a perfect example of the type of invigorating activity that can have these positive effects.  It is the physiological arousal, rather than the actual activity, that drives and improves the romantic attraction.

Perhaps, sharing a health and wellbeing goal, taking regular walks or runs together, ballroom dancing, or having a date night at the gym can boost the quality of your relationship.

Maybe we should start today!

The city of Greensboro offers many opportunities to get out and get active.  Many of these activities are free or minimal in cost.

Below are some local resources to look into for your next date night.

  • Fitness by the Fountain – Center City Park
  • Namaste for Mimosas – Boxcar Bar + Arcade
  • Downtown Dashers – Bryan Family YMCA
  • RunnerDude’s Fitness – Various Locations
  • Tuesday Trailhead Fitness – Morehead Foundry

Grab your partner and achieve those health and wellness goals together!

Kristi Wallace is the Wellness Director at the Bryan Family YMCA in downtown Greensboro. 

Introducing New Youth Sports Resources from HRI & YMCA of Greensboro!

Youth sports offer unique and meaningful opportunities for parents to strengthen their relationships with their children and encourage their children’s positive health and development. HRI is proud to partner with YMCA of Greensboro to offer a new set of resources to help parents and caregivers strengthen their family relationships and encourage their children through sports.

Please visit http://www.guilfordhri.org/youthsports/ to learn more about these resources, which include articles and resources to learn more about how adults can connect with the youth in their lives through their participation in sports.

Be the Example You Want Them to See!

 

By Beth McKinney, Wellness Director, Spears Family YMCA

By February, people who made resolutions to exercise and eat healthy are realizing that it’s a commitment that takes effort. Don’t give up! Make healthy living a way of life for your family and 2018 can be the last year you make those resolutions.

Being active as a family is important right from the moment the test says “pregnant.” Your pregnancy will be healthier, your delivery will be easier and your recovery will be quicker if you do moderate exercise during the pregnancy but this is a time, more so than ever, that you want to discuss your activity with your health care provider to make sure you stay within his or her recommendations for your particular pregnancy. Prenatal yoga classes are available at many Greensboro yoga studios and offer a safe way to increase flexibility and strength plus help you relax and sleep better during your pregnancy.

When your children are preschool age, active play is the most important type of exercise. Toss and roll a ball, play hide and seek, go on nature walks. Greensboro is full of trails and parks for you to discover and explore. Pick out something to “keep an eye on” at the Bog Garden and take a weekly trip to see how the tree is blooming or if the owl is out. Just remember that activity shouldn’t be an “event” every time. A simple walk around your yard or neighborhood on a daily basis establishes the habit of daily activity and a toddler’s legs don’t need a 2-mile walk to get exercise! The one “formal” activity that is important for preschoolers is swim lessons. Living in the South, we are constantly around pools, lakes and the ocean. Children need to learn water safety from an early age and at a bare minimum, how to float. The YMCA of Greensboro offers reasonably priced swim lessons at most of its branches and winter is the best time to learn so that when warmer weather comes around, your family is prepared for safe water fun.

As your children enter elementary school, options for activity are endless. My advice for families is to let your child explore different options in recreational sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and flag football that are offered at YMCAs and recreational leagues throughout the area. Dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, and martial arts are readily available at locations in the Triad. Many schools and some YMCAs have a running program called GO FAR (Go Out For A Run) which teaches healthy eating, setting goals and training for a 5K. Remember as your child tries these activities, he or she may have very different ideas about what they like compared to what you as a parent like. Try to keep an open mind and allow your child to be his or her own person (as long as that person is not always sitting on the couch watching television!)

Let your children see you take time for yourself to exercise. Join a gym that offers childcare so that you can bring them with you while you work out. Ideally the childcare area will have opportunities for active play so that they can burn off some energy at the same time. As a reward for good behavior in the childcare area, take them into the gym and run or shoot baskets or head to the pool for a family swim time. From the time they are born, focus on setting a good example of getting activity throughout the day and on a regular basis.

The other area in which you can set a good example is your eating behaviors. Remember the 80/20 rule of eating healthy 80 percent of the time. Try to achieve some balance – treats are not forbidden, but they should truly be treats, something you have once in a while. A bowl of ice cream every night is a habit, not a treat! Be careful about trying to eat healthy 100 percent of the time. It’s not realistic and can actually lead to poor eating behaviors later when your child has access to sweets or junk food and doesn’t know how to control or limit himself or herself.

Throughout the year, try to be active most days of the week and try to eat healthy most of the time and remember that little eyes are watching you so be the example you want them to see!

Beth McKinney is the Wellness Director at Spears Family YMCA. She is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor through the American Council on Exercise and a mom of 4 healthy, active (most of the time) kids!

Resolve to Have Your Family’s Healthiest Year Yet!

By Christine Murray, HRI Director

Our goal through the Healthy Relationships Initiative is to promote happy, healthy, and safe relationships of all kinds. We’re passionate about helping people in our community learn new ways to connect and build stronger relationships with the important people of their lives, and we believe that healthy relationships are an important foundation for healthy people and healthy communities.

Did you know that the health of your relationships is tied very closely with your physical and mental health? There’s a growing list of research findings that demonstrates that high quality relationships help to promote good physical health, as well as that relationships that are under distress can lead to health problems. (For links to some informative news reports on this research, check out the list at the bottom of this post!)

With the start of 2018, you may have New Year’s Resolutions on your mind today. While it’s true that New Year’s is a good time to think about healthy changes you’d like to make, there are a lot of reasons to make your and your family’s health a priority all year long, including your physical, mental, and relationship health.

To help you kick off what we hope will be your family’s healthiest year yet, we’re excited to partner this week with YMCA of Greensboro to share resources and information to help families in our community promote physical health and wellness while connecting as a family. Our HRI team, along with our partners at the YMCA, believe that physical activity and other healthy behaviors can be a powerful way for people to connect within their families and relationships.

By taking more healthy steps in 2018, you can start a chain reaction that will promote positive health and wellness in your body, mind, and relationships. Stay tuned all week for ideas for incorporating more health and wellness into your relationships this year!

**********************

For those interested in reading some additional articles on the connections between healthy relationships and physical and emotional health, check out the list below:

#FindHelpFriday: Centering Pregnancy at the Guilford County Public Health Department

Today’s #FindHelpFriday featured community resource is the Centering Pregnancy program at the Guilford County Public Health Department. This program allows women to network with other women and provides social support, as well as prenatal education and care. The Centering Pregnancy Program has improved birth outcomes for Guilford County.

To learn more about the Centering Pregnancy program, visit their web-site at http://www.myguilford.com/humanservices/health/adult-health-services/centeringpregnancy-prenatal-care/. You can also check out the video below to hear from some of their team members:

Holiday Stress and the Holiday Blues

By John Holt, Executive Director of Cornerstone Psychological Services

With the holidays once again just around the corner it’s time to talk about holiday stress and holiday blues. The holidays can be full of activity, excitement and promise, with parties, shopping, entertaining, religious observances, family gatherings, and decorating. However, with this time of year inevitably comes stress, which for many people begins with the “countdown.” The clock starts ticking around Halloween and many people begin to feel that there is not enough time to fit in everything. We often have higher expectations for this time of year than for any other, which places even more pressure on us and increases the likelihood we may end up disappointed.

For some, the holidays can be an emotionally low time, with feelings of loss or sadness and increased stress because of not being able to be with loved ones, due to death, divorce or separation of any kind. Feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anger can intensify when contrasted with the joy expected of the holidays.

Here are some tips for coping with holiday stress and blues.

  • Make realistic expectations for the holiday season.
  • Set realistic goals for yourself.
  • Pace yourself. Do not take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
  • Make a list and prioritize the important activities. This can help make holiday tasks more manageable.
  • Be realistic about what you can and cannot do.
  • Do not put all your energy into just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day, New Year’s Eve). The holiday cheer can be spread from one holiday event to the next.
  • Live and enjoy the present.
  • Look to the future with optimism.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Don’t set yourself up for disappointment and sadness by comparing today with the good old days of the past.
  • If there has been a recent loss, you may want to do something different like take a vacation with a family member or friend.
  • If you are lonely, try volunteering some time to help others.
  • Find holiday activities that are free, such as looking at holiday decorations; going window shopping without buying and watching the winter weather whether it’s a snowflake, or a raindrop.
  • Limit your drinking, since excessive drinking will only increase feelings of depression.
  • Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way.
  • Spend time with supportive and caring people.
  • Reach out and make new friends.
  • Make time to contact a long lost friend or relative and spread some holiday cheer.
  • Make time for yourself!
  • Let others share the responsibilities of holiday tasks.
  • Keep track of your holiday spending. Over-spending can lead to depression when the bills arrive after the holidays are over. Extra bills with little budget to pay them can lead to further stress and depression.
  • Spend time with people who care about you. Do not isolate yourself. If you feel there is no one available, then reach out to others in need.

Use these tips to help fend off holiday stress and the holiday blues so you can truly say HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

John is the Executive Director of Cornerstone Psychological Services (www.cornerstonehelps.com) and has a Masters Degree in clinical psychology and an Education Specialist Degree in school psychology. He is licensed in North Carolina as a Psychological Associate and Professional Counselor. John is also a Nationally Certified Psychologist and Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist.  He sees older adolescents and adults, and has extensive experience in helping clients having a broad range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, adjustment problems, and trauma, as well as interpersonal, marital and partner issues. He also has expertise in psychological assessments.

 

 

The Greatest Gifts

There is no material gift in the world that can compare to the treasure you’ll find in healthy, satisfying relationships with the people who are important to you! Although our official HRI “12 Days of Healthy Relationships at the Holidays” is coming to an end, we wish you the best for happy, healthy, and safe relationships all season long!

Making the Holidays Brighter for Others…Together

Even if you’re facing a difficult holiday season this year, know that there are others who are likely facing more grave challenges and difficulties this time of year. Have you ever thought how powerful it would be to join together with your partner, family members, and friends to give generously to make a difference in the lives of others? This is a powerful way for people to connect at the holidays and all year long. To make this idea come to life, discuss possible charitable contributions you could make together or volunteer opportunities you could do together, and pick an idea that is meaningful to all involved. Not only will you be strengthening your own relationships by giving generously together, but you’ll also be making a difference in the lives of others! Now that is a true holiday gift worth giving!