Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "wellness"

"Live With the Chef" Cooking Class at Arden Hills This Wednesday!

2012-01-16T17:03:00Z

With the start of the New Year, it's likely you're trying to find ways to keep that resolution to eat better and lose weight, right? Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa can help you pave the way to a delicious and nutritious approach to cooking during the next "Live With the Chef" cooking class on Wednesday evening, January 18, at 6 p.m.

The talented chef will demonstrate special cooking techniques and share secrets to low calorie but high impact recipes that maximize the flavor and nutrition of every meal. This special monthly cooking class is focused on incorporating fresh ingredients designed to maximize the nutrients for a healthy and well balanced diet. You're invited to join this ongoing and popular adult cooking series - couples are welcome, too!

Space is limited, so reserve yours today. For more information, call 916-482-6111 or visit www.ardenhills.net.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

The SPCA & kennels of camp kindness

2012-01-05T23:46:03Z

My long lived neighbor and companion, Timothy Murray, adopted his first dog "Maxwell Smart" from a shelter none other than God's SPCA, Church of Christ. Un doubly he has never needed him more each day. After two years with this special companion; the wired haired terrier and him has never felt more an item.

It was no non-sense considering an adoptive pet request program offered by the little church of Rio Linda. Evidentiary, the Pet Programs were suitable for SPCA torts reform and due process; because it was easy to cleave to dog repair and salvation. I welcome those opinions of who maintain advertising still is needed in this system to keep a steady and consistent draconian function.

At camp kindness adults, seniors, and the disabled have opportunities to enrich their experiences through Hodge podgy with animals so they can draw on the natural qualities of interbreeds.. Yes, open door shelters are continually seeking animals in need. Liberally avoiding euthanasia they are more than a kennel; they’re a home.

The society for the prevention of cruelty to animals surely made me thoughtful. At last there were animals that found placement in counties of Sacramento; including Placer, Yolo, & El Dorado and even stories of success of its adopter’s over our charitable networks.

My Deacon has auspiciously prepared me to choose from an established variety of Pets required by the SPCA to offer more hope for the way of the world and the perfunctory of evidence of co-commitments during dog redemption. But, success of matching recipients to adoption pet programs is the best way to foster and alert children to the benefits of learning with animals.

The Business of Animals
Animals out in Flock
Seek out only stares from dark
Hoping for a Knowles too fake
There Business is keeping their Tone.

Many people today, have trouble communicating without the help of “salt”, implicitly meant to add seasoning to our filtered lenses. My Medical Doctor, Bill Eng M.D., states though rather subjectively, “all pets enhance the sense of well-being and in many people with health related issues.”

Truth of the matter, Life is always fair and it always matters. That’s why we should fix to stay in important company. I do notice the change in wealth associated in a Pet Companion! For practical purposes, the dog is a good listener.

In only 2012, we will have more access to Estate Planning, Micro chipping, Licensing, Spaying, Neutering, & even Vaccinations; a quandary begins in estate planning. Aggressive animals can’t be micro chipped, licensed, or vaccinated. But animals which are altered as though spayed or neutered are to be tagged for census practical purposes. A Cornell University Lab suggests that some vaccinations help protect dogs from kennel cough.

Love is defined as in wikipedia as a emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. Love is also a virtue representing all of human, kindness, compassion, and affection; and "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another." Animal nabbing is safe, innocuous, and like the kennel cough; it’s a notice to revelation in a troubled mind.

With the abridging of the gap between virtue and kindness; my perspective is maintained through the objectivity of my lens often placed in authority by an Administrative Law Judge, henceforth Joseph L. Russell, Sr. I can willingly give value when I say “He as a church Deacon provides services for our social climate and engineers miracles pursued by the pet return, pet kindness, and pet repair fortunes.”

Disclosure: I have several friends with adoptive pets and take value of the reward they receive from the fellowship of great companion love fettered by the mate of a phyla breaded.species.

In the Moment at Fusion Yoga

2011-01-25T20:37:34Z

Now in my 40s, I wake up a little stiff each morning and think about getting older. In the next moment, I am suddenly cooking breakfast, packing lunches, and rushing to take the kids to school.

Amidst this frenzied routine one day, I slammed the car door to the yelping of our four-legged family member, Piggie. Because of my thoughtlessness, poor Piggie was inside the car whimpering with her tail poking out from the doorjamb. Ugh.

How can I be more conscious of my actions and be “in” the moment?

These days, so many people are turning to yoga. Does it really work to pull oneself into the present as well as help with those aches and pains?

Ashtanga. Vinyasa. Power. Knowing where to start can be confusing, and while I’ve taken classes here and there, nothing stuck. Some studios were intimidating and appeared to be for the “in crowd” wearing hip attire and smiles on their bums.

An Internet search brought Fusion Yoga Studio to my attention, and I decided to check out the karma class. It is offered twice a week to make yoga accessible regardless of one’s ability to pay. A donation bowl accompanies each class for voluntary contributions.

It was noon on a Wednesday.

The yoga room was lit by an array of candles on the floor and a few wall sconces. Two palm plants and a framed mirror surrounded the candles against a backdrop of deep crimson. The ceiling and wall to the right were painted black, the wall to the left painted yellow. No windows. It felt like a warm cave.

After a few minutes to settle in, the instructor asked if it was my first visit and whether I had injuries. She then instructed us all how to ujjayi breathe. Seeming to hear my mental queries, she answered with where to put body parts, how to listen to the body and reminded us to breathe.

Learning to connect physical movements with consciousness of the mind is central to the class. The focus is internal, less about a physical goal of having a perfect pose.

Not looking around the class at anyone else nor looking at myself in a mirror, I was focused and, for the first time, I was learning yoga. There are moments of being “in” the moment.

After class, I sat with instructor and owner Lori Moore McCormick.

“You have to be taught to work mentally in your postures,” McCormick said. “You can’t be thinking about your grocery list while trying to do a headstand.”

Fusion instructors have several years of experience and are trained to use language to guide students through yoga postures. The goal of Fusion instructors is “to teach, not just lead … so that one day you won’t need the teacher,” McCormick said.

While this concept seems to run counter to an effective business strategy, the emphasis is on helping students develop an individual awareness of body alignment, mental presence, and well-being, all of which may vary on any given day.

According to McCormick, instructors are also required to be able to teach mixed levels. A class may have a cancer survivor, an athlete recovering from an injury, and another in vibrant health. Fusion serves a diverse clientele.

Bob Enright, 59, cleans the studio in exchange for free yoga classes and has been a patron for the past year.

“I had a bad back,” he said. “Yoga completely cured my back, and it helps me to feel calm, more patient.”

A climber who also works out at Pipeworks, Enright shared his perspective: “Studios can be intimidating, especially for mid-aged men. Some think exercise should be macho. But I tell my friends, ‘No matter what you’re doing as a sport, you do it longer and better with yoga than without yoga.’”

McCormick further explained Fusion’s approach: “We try to tailor the practice to the needs of the individual, rather than try to take set flows regardless of who is in front of the instructors.” Otherwise, people can develop injuries.

Straightforward and knowledgeable, McCormick comes across as down-to-earth without being preachy. Meanwhile, there is a spiritual element to her practice.

“There is no finished down dog,” she said. “Every day one comes to the mat with all that comes with that day. We are all mind, body and spirit. Sometimes people forget that. Depending on what type of day one had at the office or whether there was a death in the family, one’s body may be in a different place.”

Holding firm to her convictions about yoga, McCormick also responds to the needs of her patrons and community. Fusion hosts concerts and wine-tastings in addition to offering yoga instructor trainings and renting out rooms to community groups. Becoming a meeting place is part of the studio’s evolution.

In February, tai chi will be offered for the first time. The studio will host the Nada Brahma Music Ensemble for a night of Indian music on Feb. 12, and kirtan is coming in March.

Getting back to the question: “Does yoga really work?” I think it can, depending on what you bring to the mat and that you keep going back. Certainly, finding a studio or instructor with the right fit makes all the difference. There are more than 20 yoga studios in and around Sacramento to check out!

Fusion Yoga Studio is located at 2310 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite C2, in Sacramento. Fusion offers a range of classes, from Yoga Basics to Power Flow and other advanced classes. To learn more about the studio, see fusionyogasac.com.

Begin 2011 on the Right Foot!

2010-12-22T19:06:01Z

Race Into the New Year With My First 5K Run/Walk

This annual fundraising event is a flat and fast 5k (3.1 mile) run/walk for people of all ages and fitness abilities. It begins and ends at the State Capitol and loops around beautiful Capitol Park. Proceeds help support Wellness Task Force Programs.

Join us as we kick off the New Year with a walk/run, sparkling cider toast, and a place to write your New Year's resolution!

Check out the new and exciting additions to this year's event, including a Toddler Tumble Busfor kids' entertainment, free sports massages, and free food samples from Grateful Bread, Clif Bar, Blue Diamond, and more! Register NOW!

Sunday, January 2, 2011
California State Capitol
10th Street and Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA

GREAT restaurant deals and raffle prizes, too! Bring your race bib to Lucca Restaurant and Bar in Downtown Sacramento for special menu items and discounts. Win gift certificates to Sacramento Pipeworks, Grateful Bread, Arden Hills Country Club AND training certificates from Mama Bootcamp and Moms in Motion! Special prizes for the team with the most participants, as well!

For more information or to register, visit the My First 5K and Kids' Winter Fun Run website.

Youth Scholarships Available!

Know a young person who'd like participate on January 2nd? We have 30 scholarships available for youth interested in doing the 5K and 30 for kids (10 years and younger) to participate in the Fun Runs.

Contact the Wellness Task Force at myfirst5k@wellnesstaskforce.org OR call 916-534-7750 if you are interested in a scholarship for your youth!

ABOUT THE BENEFICIARY, The Wellness Task Force: Our mission is to create and promote programs and policies to increase access to healthy foods and physical activity in California's schools and workplaces.

Disclosure: Jill Broughton is an employee of the Wellness Task Force.

Nick Clark to Co-Lead Zuda Yoga Folsom’s 40-Day Transformation

2010-12-13T22:37:36Z

FOLSOM, Calif. Dec. 13, 2010 – Nick Clark, Folsom-based lifestyle coach and wellness professional, today announced that he will co-lead Zuda Yoga Folsom’s 40-Day Transformation, a program to help participants change habits and rid their lives of “things” holding them back.

What: 40-Day Transformation with Corri Chadwick & Nick Clark
Time: Friday, January 21, 2011 at 7:30pm - Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7:30pm
Place: Zuda Yoga Folsom
220 Blue Ravine Rd. Ste 130
Folsom, CA
Cost/Rewards: Program Cost: $199 includes a copy of the book, “40 Days to
Personal Revolution,” and a 40-day continuous yoga pass for Zuda Folsom (all current class passes will be frozen until after the program). Also, enjoy 10% off all items in the boutique during the 40 days and one free week of Yoga at Zuda Folsom with the completion of the program
Register: Pre-registration is required as space is limited

“Through the 40 Day challenge, we guide participants through a personal journey to help inspire positive change and self actualization,” said Nick Clark, founder of Nick Clark Health. “This is a great opportunity for people to bring a positive change into their lives by committing to health and well-being and making it a part of daily life.”

About Nick Clark Health
Based in Folsom, Calif., founder Nick Clark is a dedicated lifestyle coach and wellness professional. Clark is one of the areas top health professionals and yoga instructors and constantly works to inspire, educate, maintain and improve his clients’ health.
Style magazine’s Style Readers’ Choice Award Winner: The 2010 6th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards #1 Favorite Yoga Instructor. To learn more about Clark, visit http://www.nickclarkhealth.com.

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Event provides free services to seniors

2010-10-20T04:57:00Z

The City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division is hosting a Senior Awareness Day next Tuesday, October 26, 2010 from 9am to 3pm at the Pannell / Meadowview Community Center.

This free event filled with services to older adults and seniors could not come at a better time.

“With a national economic crisis, we’ve seen more services to seniors reduced or cut altogether,” said Kris Wimberly, Neighborhood Resource Coordinator and coordinator of next Tuesday’s event.

Wimberly addressed the City Council prior to receiving a resolution recognizing October 26, 2010 as “Senior Awareness Day”.

“Our focus for the day is to promote health, wellness, and positive aging for the thousand of seniors and their families living throughout the City of Sacramento,” said Wimberly.

The event will include a number of free services for seniors including:

Flu shots (free with Medicare Part B)
Eye screening
Dental exams
Haircuts / Grooming
Massages
On-site Legal Assistance
Crime Prevention Workshop
Animal care
On-site pharmacist
Home & fire safety
Gardening tips & Giveaways
A free bookstore
Leisure enrichment resources

A “Senior Café” will also operate during the event.

“Senior Awareness Day will allow us to take the time to show the older adults that we care and we continue to see them as our heroes,” said Wimberly.

Those interested in the event should call 916-808-6525.

Photo of Pannell / Meadowview Center from: City of Sacramento Department of Parks & Recreation

Sac State celebrates opening of The WELL

2010-09-03T04:17:24Z

Sacramento State students won’t be disappointed with their investment.

The WELL officially opened Thursday in front of a crowd of 250 students, faculty, staff and community members. The University’s new 151,000 square-foot recreation and wellness center was paid for by a student fee approved by students in a campus-wide referendum.

“Today is a historic day for Sacramento State,” said Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez. “I especially want to congratulate the students, because you are the ones who came to me and told me this is what you wanted, and you worked very hard to make it happen.”

“I know for many, many years you’ve been looking forward to this day, and what a day it is. It’s a day when all our recreation, health and fitness services are housed under one environmentally friendly roof. It’s a day when your commitment to passing the referendum has come to fruition.”

Getting The WELL built was no simple task. Two ASI Recreation Center Referendums failed in the late 1990s. It wasn’t until 2001 that ASI President Peter Ucovich raised the possibility of a new referendum with University Union Director Leslie Davis. Student-center open meetings and focus groups began taking place in 2003 to explore possible features and interest levels. Gonzalez offered support and assistance.

Students approved a measure to fund The WELL – then called the “Recreation Wellness Events Center” – in Spring 2004. Fee increases began the following semester. The facility was later renamed “The Wellness, Education, Leisure, Lifestyle Center”, or The WELL.

“It’s a wonderful day to be here to see what coming together really can accomplish,” said Ucovich. “I have yet to be inside this building, so I’m excited to see what is actually inside this great facility.”

“This represents a beacon of hope,” said California State Assemblymember Alyson Huber, who presented Gonzalez an Assembly Resolution recognizing the work that went into making The WELL a reality.

The WELL comes equipped with 13,860 square feet of cardio and weight space, an indoor running track, a multi activities court, a four basketball court complex, a rock climbing wall, a MAC Court, and four racquetball courts. Peak Adventures (outdoor recreation and bike shop) moved to the facility from its previous, much smaller location at the University Union. The Health Center also moved from its older location near Yosemite Hall.

The facility is also a LEED Green Building. It is projected to use 23% less energy than a typical new building, 43% less water than a typical new building, and its construction used 25% recycled content materials, and diverted 82% of the total waste generated from going to a landfill.

“This building has a wonderful presence,” said John Davis of Hornberger & Worstell Architects and the design team leader. “It’s an energy sustainable model for Sacramento and the California State University system.”

Individuals eligible for membership to The WELL include Sac State Students, administration, emeriti, faculty, staff, and pre-paid alumni. Alumni Membership is currently limited to alumni memberships to those who have paid into the facility.

Tours of the facility were given throughout the day with demonstrations provided on cooking, rock climbing, and roller hockey.

A dodge ball tournament was scheduled for later in the evening.

Pictured performances: 2nd Nature Crew, Martial Arts Club of CSUS

Music, merriment and message in Curtis Park

2010-07-23T17:57:31Z

On Sunday, July 25th, revolutionary artist Kevin Sandbloom will headline an event that integrates great music, easy relaxation and family fun as the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association presents this year’s second Music in the Park. This free summertime concert is part of the 2010 season of events from one of the most active neighborhood associations in the state.

Each performer, activity and sponsor will reflect the event’s theme of “Health and Wellness.” This midsummer event will feature elements that are both familiar and new to the many residents and visitors who flock to the annual Curtis Park concert series.

Children will race to the stage at the start of the evening to hear legendary children’s composer and performer, “Mister Cooper,” who is returning to offer his participatory musical presentation. The creator of Songs That Teach, an original curriculum-based music program, “Mister Cooper’s” musical talent and rapport with children have made him indispensable to schools and parents throughout Sacramento. Cooper’s music, as Christie Hamm of Belle Coolidge Library says, establishes “a connection with children long after the songs are over.”

During intermission, kids can once again participate in a hula-hoop contest, and can visit Sacramento’s Health Education Council, who will be on hand to educate both kids and adults on the best ways to eat healthy and stay active. In operation since 1979, the Health Education Council’s mission is to promote well being in Sacramento’s communities through education, programming, and partnerships. Children who visit their table can also play the health trivia game, for which they’ll be awarded prizes for correct answers.

Next up on the stage will be headliner Kevin Sandbloom, who offers audiences his unique blend of music and message. A guitarist whose style is referred to as “urban delta soul,” Sandbloom’s compositions are sung in a voice, says Sean Rasul of WhoGotSoul.com, that ranges from “a smooth or raspy falsetto to a powerful and distinct tenor,” and with lyrics that are “poetic and insightful.” It’s music that reaches the gut” from a musician who is active in the world of community involvement and human rights.

Sandbloom is currently releasing an EP of songs related to the cause of social justice, with partial proceeds benefiting the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, an organization devoted to the advancement of ideals named in the United Nation’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With grooves ranging from soul and R&B to hip-hop and bossa nova, Sandbloom is the perfect centerpiece for an evening of soulful relaxation. As the online music blog Rasx Context says, “If you take the extremely talented D’Angelo and Ani DeFranco, and mix it with even more humanity, you end up with Kevin Sandbloom.”

A number of returning sponsors are partnering with Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association to help make the event possible. Since 1946, SMUD has empowered its customers with solutions that increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, and reduce global warming. It’s All Yoga has been voted “Best in Sacramento” twice by Sacramento News & Review. Personal trainer and nutritionist Sham Sanghera’s Inspired Wellness Boot Camp enables clients to achieve goals and maintain healthy lifestyles. For twenty-five years Miss Helen has nurtured children and provided developmental activities in the areas of music, crafts, and movement. The Law Office of R. Andrew Murray prides itself on its personal attention to clients in matters of real estate, business formation, estate planning, and bankruptcy.

These familiar sponsors are joined by Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, which, established in 1977, is a public agency devoted to supporting, promoting and advancing the arts in the region. Born at Home, an independent midwifery practice providing complete maternity care to families in Sacramento and surrounding counties. Tammy Cohen of K9 Bliss teaches dog owners the structure and consistency of communication that results in secure, blissful companions. D20 Dental, the first green dental office in Sacramento, combines the latest clinical practices and technological innovations in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Locally-owned since 1973, the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop is a trusted source of natural foods and products, and a reliable resource for consumer information.

Returning as Music in the Park’s main sponsors are Meg, Michael and Melissa Heede of RE/MAX Gold, the number one independently-owned brokerage firm in California, and City Councilmember Lauren Hammond, who is gifting SCNA with the stage that is the main setting for the event.

In accordance with city codes, alcohol will not be permitted at the event. However, an enclosed garden of fine beer and wine will be on site, with beverages available for purchase by concert attendees.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) was formed in the 1970’s to rescue the old Sierra School from demolition. Since then, SCNA has brought neighbors together for a diverse slate of year-round events, and has offered a cohesive voice for community concerns. The restored Sierra 2 Center serves as a focal point for artists, teachers, students, parents, children, and seniors, who gather frequently in its dance studios, gardens, performance spaces, meeting halls and classrooms.

Laurie Rood Awarded Broker of the Year

2010-07-16T00:11:22Z

Laurie Rood, CEO and President of Rood & Dax Advanced Insurance Services, Inc., has received the Broker of the Year Award from the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters.

The Broker of the Year Award honors an SAHU member who has provided tireless effort as a consumer activist on behalf of clients, in support of the insurance industry and the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to receive this award” said Rood. “At Rood & Dax, we put the client first and plan for long term cost and quality solutions. We advocate and educate, and are proactive about true employee wellness.” By equipping employers and employees with wellness knowledge and tools, Rood & Dax helps them become wiser health care consumers by understanding the direct relationship between lifestyle choices and their bottom line.

Rood believes she was honored with this award in part because of the team effort of her staff, which sincerely cares about the firm’s clients.

Rood and Gayle Dax-Conroy merged businesses in January 2000 to form Rood & Dax Advanced Insurance Services, Inc. (www.benefitsdoneright.net). Combined, they have 35 years of experience as consultants analyzing, implementing and administering personal insurance and employee benefit plans. Rood & Dax provides analysis of benefit plans for cost containment and assists with regulatory compliance to reduce client liability. In addition, the firm works with carriers on behalf of clients for billing and claims issues; provides employee education, including wellness programs; and delivers ongoing customer service with the goal to exceed our client expectations.

"I'm excited that we can recognize the leaders in our industry on a local level,” said SAHU Immediate Past President Dennis Carlson. “Laurie shares a passion for the concerns of her clients and the financing of health care. She is a reflection of the local health insurance industry as a whole and a testament to the high caliber of brokers, agents, and insurance company representatives we have in the Sacramento region."

The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (www.sacbenefits.org ) is a local chapter of the National Association, and is committed to promoting and encouraging the association of agents and health insurance professionals and other benefit professionals for the purpose of educating themselves and the public; and to advocating responsible health legislation and ethical industry practices.

Disclosure: The author of this posting is an employee benefits consultant at Rood & Dax Advanced Insurance Services, Inc.

New gym/wellness facility at CSUS

2010-07-08T01:56:28Z

With 151,000 square feet of floor space, self-shading sky lights, recycled sunflower seed walls, and a host of Big Ass Fans, Sacramento State's new recreation center is sure to be the main attraction when the fall semester begins.

The name of the building is the WELL. It's an acronym for: wellness, education, leisure, lifestyle. Inspiration for the name came from the perspective that the university didn't want just an athletic center, but a place that encouraged wellness in all aspects of a student's life.

The WELL will house a primary and urgent care clinic, pharmacy, psychological services and laboratory services in addition to four basketball courts, four racquetball courts, an indoor track, and plenty of cardio and free-weight space. The full list of features can be viewed here.

"It's more than just a recreation center — we're looking to service the students on many levels," WELL Director Mirjana Gavric said. "We're building a place where people can go and forget about books and finances for a half-hour and then get back to the world."

The project has been a long time in the making, dating back over 10 years when the student body rejected the proposal through a referendum in 1999. The project was shelved until three years later.

In 2002 the University Union Operation of CSUS Inc. explored the idea again in partnership with the university, Associated Students Inc., and other auxiliary organizations to discuss how to proceed.

They held open meetings and focus groups, and conducted a student survey to find out what the campus community would want in a building like this. They also hired an outside consultant to help them with feasibility aspects.

"It was really the partnership between the students and President (Alexander) Gonzalez that bought the project to fruition," Union Executive Director Leslie Davis said.

In the spring semester of 2004, a referendum was finally passed that made way for the WELL's construction. The project's groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2008.

"The biggest thing about the WELL is the impact it will have on the campus. It will aid in the recruitment of students, it will aid in the retention of students, and it will be a source of pride," Davis said.

The new building cost $71.3 million, $50 million of which is being paid for through a California State University system-wide bond. The other portion of the cost is being covered by student fee hikes approved through the referendum passed six years ago, according to University Project Manager Victor Takahashi.

Takahashi is in charge of the design and construction of the WELL and has been one of the leaders in making sure the building meets LEED certification standards.

"We are trying to make this a sustainable building," Takahashi said.

The WELL management staff anticipate getting the silver certification but are working toward attaining gold. In order to achieve this, the building employs many different energy-efficient technologies. The abundance of natural lighting in the building and the use of recycled materials in the walls and floors are two examples of the building's green characteristics.

"We're cutting edge," Davis said.

The grand opening will be on Sept. 2 and will be open to the public. There will be free food, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the building and an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest dodgeball game.

You can view the WELL webcam with live video of the construction progress here.

Health and Fitness Week - Unofficial Declaration!

2010-05-12T21:07:12Z

Share the news! The Wellness Task Force unofficially declares the third week of May, "Health and Fitness Week." To celebrate we are offering two great opportunities to engage in some fun activities with us.

Let’s Move! Walk the Park
Join the Wellness Task Force and your downtown Sacramento friends in a fun walk around the Capitol and receive a free goodie bag for participating!
Thursday, May 20, 2010 from Noon to 12:30pm
West Steps of the State Capitol

RSVP here by May 17th to ensure you receive your goodie bag. We'll need your name, email address and phone number. View event flyer. This event is sponsored by the SmartSpot division of PepsiCo.

Fit Crawl 2010
There are still a few tickets left! Take this opportunity to experience some of midtown Sacramento’s most exciting fitness activities in one day! On May 22nd from 1pm to 5pm, you can punch, kick, stretch (and more!) your way through the afternoon. Five local businesses, Asha Yoga, Bodytribe Fitness, Fleet Feet Sports, Sacramento Pipeworks, and Ultimate Fitness will offer free mini-classes or demonstrations to participants of the Fit Crawl 2010.

“Crawlers" will rotate between participating businesses on bicycles to sample a variety of fitness activities, receive special offers, and meet new friends. Unwind afterward with light food and beverages at L Wine Lounge.

Tickets can be purchased in advance only at: Asha Yoga (1050 20th Street), Ultimate Fitness (1705 I Street), Bodytribe (920 21st Street)

All proceeds benefit the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness. For more information click here.

Neighborhood Summit 2010

2010-04-27T16:07:35Z

Save the Date!

City of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Services Department presents:

The Neighborhood Summit 2010

Healthy Neighborhoods = A Sustainable City

FREE
Friday, May 21, 2010
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Sacramento Convention Center, Grand Ballroom
1400 J Street

Workshop topics offered at the Neighborhood Summit include:
• Sustainability and Wellness
• Maintain, Promote and Revitalize Neighborhoods
• Community Resources and Partnerships

The Neighborhood Summit would not be possible without our generous sponsors:
• The Nehemiah Corporation of America
• JB Management, Inc.
• Sierra Health Foundation
• UC Davis Campus Community Relations
• Sacramento Consolidated Charities

For additional information call 808-6525.

Fit Crawl. "Pub's" Healthy Cousin

2010-04-20T21:24:23Z

Searching for the right fitness activity? Come play with us!

This is your chance to experience some of midtown Sacramento’s most exciting fitness activities in one day! On May 22nd from 1pm to 5pm, you can punch, kick, stretch (and more!) your way through the afternoon. Five local businesses, Asha Yoga, Bodytribe Fitness, Fleet Feet Sports, Sacramento Pipeworks, and Ultimate Fitness will offer free mini-classes or demonstrations to participants of the Fit Crawl 2010.

Tickets can be purchased in advance only at: Asha Yoga (1050 20th Street), Ultimate Fitness (1705 I Street), Bodytribe (920 21st Street)

All proceeds benefit the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness.

For more information call: 916-288-5173 or click here.

Fit Crawl 2010 is sponsored by: Smart Spot Division of PepsiCo, which means yummy, healthy swag!

Fighting empty calories through proactive academic nutrition

2009-10-29T04:55:59Z

Something is missing on Natomas Unified School District’s campuses that makes it harder to satisfy a sweet tooth: soda and candy vending machines.

A 2005 California Health Interview Survey showed that 62 percent of teens consume 39 pounds of sugar each year from soft drinks alone. The research showed that counties with the highest obesity rates had the highest rates of soda consumption.

One Natomas Unified School District parent, Heather Reed, said she “agrees 100% with the district’s ban on soda machines” and believes there is a link between adolescent obesity and soda consumption.

Reed is in a unique position; not only is her daughter an eighth grader at Leroy Greene Middle School, but Reed works as an Education Nutrition Consultant for the California Department of Education and also serves on the district‘s Health and Wellness Committee.

“I think sodas are like comic books,” Reed said. “They’re not going to nourish you.”

In 2007, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law banning the sale of soda on public high school campuses. Resulting in lost income for school districts, the law didn’t fully take affect until earlier this year. NUSD has no candy vending machines, but currently there is no law against them.

Last month, the Wellness Committee unveiled its “Wellness Policy on Physical Activity and Nutrition,” an outline of nourishment goals, daily physical education plans, rules about meal times and special instructions for foodservice at classroom parties.

Limiting foods with minimal nutritional value, restricting fat and sugar, and increasing whole grain, fruit and vegetable offerings are all goals of the “Wellness Policy.”

The policy states that brand names or logos on school books and scoreboards can only represent foods approved by the Wellness Committee. While Reed said she doesn’t think advertising of any kind belongs on school campuses, the potential for profit is appealing.

Reed said school fundraising through selling candy is another area that the Wellness Committee has started to regulate. Students are discouraged from selling candy to raise money and candy is not supposed to be given as a reward for good behavior.

“Personally, I don’t think candy is an evil thing.” Reed said, “I think selling it for fundraising is a bad thing.”

With budget cuts of more than $13 million forcing the district to re-evaluate its spending, one area that will see a dramatic change is foodservice. According to NUSD Public Information Officer Heidi Van Zant, the district started using Chartwells, a foodservice management company, on June 1 in order to carve money out of the budget. Students now pay $3 for lunch entrées, last year they paid $2.50.

Van Zant describes a high school cafeteria under Chartwells as “a whole new world.”

The new options for high school students are almost overwhelming; in one cafeteria, seven entrée areas each serve a different style of food daily. Students also get fresh fruit and a choice between fat free milk and 100% juice. Every week, students are given 35 different entree choices including crunchy tacos, vegetarian or Hawaiian pizzas, teriyaki beef or orange chicken plates, eggplant deli sandwiches and spinach or chef salads.

Inderkum High senior Mariana Diaz said she doesn’t usually eat school lunch entrées, but she does eat a la carte and snack items. Diaz, who drinks mostly water, said she stopped drinking soda four years ago, so the absence of soda vending machines on campus has never affected her diet.

“My mom stopped drinking soda so I just decided not to because I know it’s unhealthy,” Diaz said.

Diaz said she mostly brings food from home instead of buying any $3 school lunches, but she occasionally buys $2 burritos that haven’t changed in quality or price since last year. She said more students, like herself, would buy school entrées more often if the prices were lower, the portions were bigger and students could get through the service lines faster.

Diaz added that although Inderkum sells breakfast, like cereal and muffins, she has never eaten any breakfast items at school.

“I guess I just come to school too late to get breakfast,” Diaz said, “but I probably wouldn’t spend my money on it anyway.”

Reed said the Wellness Committee is planning a two-week “walk-to-school free breakfast pilot program” aimed at promoting breakfast to high school students. Breakfast is extremely important, Reed said, and even though 75 percent of Natomas High School students qualify for reduced price meals, a lot of them don’t take advantage of it.

“Some schools are doing amazing things with food like creating gardens, farms, and increasing fresh fruit and veggie options,” Reed said. “The goal is to try to make foods not only more healthful but connect it to the rest of the school.”

The Wellness Committee meets on the second Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. The Board will hold a Student Health and Wellness Workshop on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. in the district’s Education Center at 1901 Arena Blvd.

What's happening at the Capitol: September 17, 18

2009-09-17T04:19:53Z

Thursday, Sept. 17

8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. The California State Treasurer's Office will be setting up an information booth for the State Employees Charitable Campaign near the traffic circle west of the Capitol. About 75 people are expected to visit.

9:30 a.m. - noon A film crew of eight people from the China Travel Channel will be filming on the north and west sides of the Capitol.

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. American Heart Association will be holding a wellness fair on the west steps of the Capitol. During their lunchtime, about 2,500 state employees will also be walking around the Capitol in the AHA's annual Health Walk.

Friday, Sept. 18

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club will be holding a Prisoners Of War/Missing In Action rally on the west steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to participate.

Asha Yoga: Alive and Well

2009-04-21T02:11:23Z

20th Street's Mars Complex has been the location for a lot of recent development, with restaurants, bars, yogurt shops, and now Sacramento's newest yoga studio, Asha Yoga.

Asha Yoga is owned and operated by Cori Martinez and Maureen Guildersleeve, two relatively newcomers to the area and longtime yoga practitioners who say they plan to make Asha Yoga into a public space and center for community, not just a yoga studio.

Before moving to Sacramento three years ago, Martinez lived in Hawaii, where she established and taught at her first yoga studio, Yoga Centered. She says that she saw the space Asha Yoga now occupies four months ago, shortly before meeting her business partner Guildersleeve, and immediately began preparing to open the studio. "It's easier to go faster when you've done it before, and you know all the steps," says Martinez about the speed with which Asha has been established.

Not just a studio, Asha is also a boutique store carrying a variety of clothes and yoga accessories, all of which are produced in "environmentally and socially conscious" fashions. Martinez jokes that the boutique is a way to "justify" keeping the space open all day, allowing for people to wander in and out and chat with the teachers or other students.

"We're pretty confident that we're creating something here that people want to be a part of,” Martinez says. “Even if you're not coming to yoga you can stop in and remind yourself about your yoga practice, ask questions, look around."

The space, designed by architect Catherine Reon of CRCW studio, was designed to create a sense of tranquility and richness through the use of materials like raw pine and dark bamboo. Much of the original concrete has been left in its natural state, and large lanterns illuminate the studio. The result is welcoming, grounding, and light.

Martinez says that Asha's motto, "Ancient wisdom, modern practice," is emblematic of the "blending" of knowledge and practices from classical yoga with the realities of modern life. "Most of us can't spend 10 hours a day meditating in a cave."

The classes offered at Asha are geared toward all skill levels, but are designed to be accessible to newcomers. The classes are divided between dynamic, balanced, and mellow yogi, names that are designed to be descriptive without using Sanskrit words that might discourage beginners.

Despite having opened only three weeks ago, classes at Asha are already attracting students, with most class sizes falling between five and 20 people. Martinez attributes the quick growth to a combination of extensive word-of-mouth advertising and the publicity generated by hosting several Second Saturday open houses in the months before the studio's official opening.

Martinez says that Asha will continue to host Second Saturday events, as part of their efforts to be a visible part of the Sacramento community.

Readers interested in class schedules and other information about Asha Yoga can visit ashayoga.com to learn more. Asha Yoga is located at 1050 20th Street, suite #110.

Can You Trust Your Doctor? Community Health Forums start Feb. 25th

2009-02-19T23:22:55Z

Not many people think twice about the medical advice or diagnosis given to them by their doctor. However, the public health forum starting this month might have more patients seeking second opinions.

In collaboration with the Sacramento Bee, Capital Public Radio will be hosting "Second Opinions" Community Health Forums. The first forum is titled, "Can You Trust Your Doctor?" and will feature a panel of health experts from various organizations including:

Marion Leff, M.D, Director of the Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency Program;
Marge Ginsburg, MPH, RN, Executive Director of Sacramento Healthcare Decisions;
Beth Mertz, MAPA, Program Director, Center for the Health Professions University of California, San Francisco; and
Shahram Ahari, a former pharmaceutical sales representative from Eli Lilly's Neuroscience Division, who left the industry to pursue public health and social justice issues.

This forum will be the first of many focusing on the health of the community. Capital Public Radio has organized these community health forums to provide an interactive environment where people can learn through direct contact with health care professionals in a townhall-style meeting.

A "Day in the Life of the Doctor" video will be shown and an online Q&A with the panelists from the forum will go live starting Friday and will for two weeks after the forum ends. Many questions will be gathered from the website submission and addressed at the forum.

The Pacific McGeorge School of Law will host the forum on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 6 - 8 p.m. There is no cost to attend this event. Seats can be reserved by visiting www.secondopinions.org.

Dr. Michael Wilkes, Director of Global Health and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine will be moderating the forum which is designed to give attendees practical knowledge regarding the health care system so that they are equipped to improve their own doctor-patient relationships.

As stated on their website, the mission of the Second Opinions Community Health Forum is to inform people about practical solutions to health care problems, improve the community's health care literacy and quality of care, through providing consumer-oriented information and promote greater transparency and accountability in local health care systems.

For those who cannot make it to the forum, streaming video and podcasts will be posted online. More information can be found on the website www.secondopinions.org