Written by: Shawn Leiss - Director of Student Services
Health and wellness are among the most valuable commodities that one could imagine or identify; they can’t be bought, borrowed or bestowed. They are a gift that many are blessed to possess while others struggle mightily to achieve. Dickinson Public Schools recognizes that teaching and working in schools can be very stressful, and stress has a negative impact on health and wellness. Impaired health and wellness not only negatively impact school employees, but they can also have a negative impact on student achievement. Recognizing this, DPS has recently partnered with Wellsteps to provide a health and wellness program for its employees.
The Wellsteps program aims to increase the knowledge base regarding healthy lifestyle choices. For example, we know that many cancers are preventable and that approximately 40% of all cancers are caused by the typical American diet, lack of physical activity, and obesity. Research indicates that if individuals eat five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, the chance of getting several cancers can be dramatically reduced. Despite this information, only 20% of Americans consume five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Also, most Americans fail to get enough physical activity to receive notable health benefits.
Many chronic diseases (examples: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, colon cancer) don’t just happen; they are almost entirely the result of decades of unhealthy living. If a person has a healthy diet, does not smoke, and exercises regularly, the odds of getting one of these chronic diseases is much lower. While a healthy lifestyle isn’t a guarantee that a person won’t become chronically ill, it does tilt the odds heavily in their favor.
Considering the above information, the DPS/Wellsteps Wellness program is planning four behavior change programs a year as well as a few mini-campaigns. These campaigns are designed to nudge employees in a direction that will improve health. The first campaign of the program is called YOGA flow. This campaign teaches a simple Yoga routine as well as provides information about the benefits of yoga. In addition, the district has also partnered with two local Yoga providers to offer our employees six free sessions of Yoga instruction. Heather Dressler of Body Lift Fitness and Mitch Meier of Chill Yoga are each providing three sessions for our employees.
Focusing on nurturing both our mind and body, the Yoga classes have been a welcome change in our employee's day. Instructors emphasize the importance of focusing on our health and stress levels, particularly after work. Classes start with simple breathing exercises and then transition to several poses that increase flexibility and overall health. Towards the end of the class, instructors guide employees through a short meditation session that targets different tension areas in the body and gives tools on practical ways to relax. Both the Yoga flow campaign and additional free Yoga Instruction have served as a lesson that implementing small changes in our daily lives are rewarded with significant positive impacts on our future health.