A Wellness Mindset

The weather was warm and the action fast and furious, but, hey, no big deal. What’s the problem with huffing and puffing and sweating when you’re enjoying the company of friends and getting a really good workout at the same time?

 

The scene, actually, was vaguely reminiscent of one of those late-night infomercials (minus the Pacific beach) or an episode from that ‘80’s happening called The Richard Simmons Show…except this was unscripted and for real.

 

This was a group of Collegiate faculty and staff participating in the HIIT & Fit class, one of the many offerings of Link It & Live It, the wellness program that serves both students and adults who call the campus their home away from home.

 

“The greatest wealth is health,” said Collegiate’s wellness coordinator Kathy Wrenn, quoting the statement attributed to the Roman poet Virgil.

 

It’s that premise, she explains, that sums up the rationale behind the program that she initiated back in 2005 when she served as a Middle School physical education teacher.

 

The initial step was actually a very big one: a full day of wellness activities that included a mix of physical activity and classroom instruction in such areas as mindfulness, stress management, and nutrition.

 

The next significant step occurred in 2008 when Kathy and her colleague Amanda Cowgill used a summer grant to create in earnest a student wellness program.

 

“That’s when we came up with Link It & Live It, which is the connection between healthful eating, sleep, and physical activity and how it impacts the heart, brain, and body,” Kathy explained. “We came up with the concept of having a Middle School team of students – six girls and six boys – who from a PE perspective were setting the (positive) example. We did a couple of skits and contests. The whole idea was for it to be woven into the entire year. It wasn’t just a unit in PE class. We were hopeful that it would create a mindset in our community.”

 

Two years later – following a very successful roll-out with students – the administration approached Kathy about expanding the wellness initiatives to employees.

 

“That was so powerful for me personally because I thought – oh, my gosh! – they care that much about our community as teachers and staff,” Kathy said. “That’s pretty awesome.”

 

To say that Link It & Live It has become a vital part of Collegiate culture is an understatement. A guiding principle has been that healthy students are better students and healthy employees are more productive and positive role models. There’re similarities among the offerings to the various constituencies but age and experience related differences as well.

 

Here’s a sampling…

 

In the Lower School, there’re presentations in Town Hall meetings and twice-a-year contests and team challenges. In Middle School, there are also special programs, contests and team challenges plus events such as recess tournaments in a variety of sports. In Upper School, wellness is incorporated into existing clubs and classes, and health and wellness topics are covered in annual grade level retreats.

 

For faculty and staff, offerings this fall include pilates and morning KickStart fitness classes in addition to HITT & Fit. The school hosts an annual health fair (November 6 this year) where vendors provide such services as biometric screening, flu shots, and chair massages and information on health insurance coverage and the Employee Assistance Program.

 

“This has been so important because it’s changed people’s lives,” Kathy said. “I’ve had people who’ve had high readings come back on glucose. They followed up with their doctor and come back and say, ‘I found out that I’m pre-diabetic.’ Same thing with blood pressure. I’ve had people who’ve gone to their doctor immediately because their blood pressure was high. These have been life-changing events.

 

“What we’re looking for is helping people find ways to participate in the wellness program but also change their habits.”

 

Kathy’s interest in wellness came long before many of us knew the term.

 

A native of Blandinsville, IL – population 800 – she attended University of Central Arkansas, an NAIA affiliate, on a volleyball scholarship.

 

Her academic plan was to study criminology – her dream job was undercover FBI agent – but she switched majors and earned a BSE in physical education with a minor in art.

 

She taught phys ed in Little Rock, came to Richmond and earned a graduate degree in sports management at UR, and worked as a player agent for Pros Inc.

One thing led to another. A PE position at Collegiate opened in 2000, interviewed the last day of summer, and landed the job.. She’s been on board in one capacity or another (teacher, department chair, volleyball coach) ever since.

 

Now, she oversees numerous wellness-related committees at Collegiate, serves on the Cigna Wellness Council, and contributes to the website of SHAPE America, which, among several other organizations, has recognized Collegiate for the success of its program. She’s also become a sought-after resource for institutions interesting in instituting Collegiate’s model.

 

“What I tell schools is that I planted the seed, but the program didn’t really take off until 2010,” she said. “We didn’t give up during that time. We kept planting seeds. When the community’s ready, you’ll know, and it takes off. It’s almost like Field of Dreams: ‘If you build it, they will come.’

 

“I want people to realize that wellness is a bigger picture than just physical activity, healthful eating, and sleep. It’s lifestyle. It’s making sure your environment is safe. It’s sustainability. We want to prepare students to take care of themselves physically, mentally, and socially when they graduate. For employees, it’s bringing as many people into our program as we can. The big thing is preventative medicine. Rather than being reactive, we’re trying to educate and prevent anything from happening. Our wellness program has created a mindset. That was our goal.”

    -- Weldon Bradshaw