2013 Fitness Challenge Program Highlights

We are excited to announce the roll out of the 6th Annual WHOI Fitness Challenge to begin on Sunday, May 12th! It's time to get yourself in gear and join us for a summer of fun, fitness and friendly competition. Don't miss out on this opportunity to have some fun and improve your health. The first two complete teams to arrive at the Kick-Off will recieve a special gift that can be utilized throughout the competition!

Important Dates

5/11- Deadline for TEAM Registration
5/13 - Kick-Off/Motivational Session(12:00 - 1:00 pm in Redfield)
5/17 -Waiver form must be submitted
8/06- Awards/Closing Ceremony (11:30 am - 1:00 pm at Smith)

To help you stay on target with this year's Challenge, we will continue to keep you updated with reminders of all important events and key dates throughout the 10-week program.

Stay tuned for suprises along the way!

Weekly Activities
Tuesday's are the day for fun activities. Gretchen McManamin* will be leading a walk from Smith each Tuesday starting on the 14th. Start time is 12:00 and route will be sent out to all challenge participants on Monday.

*Wednesday the 22nd there will be a walk instead of Tuesday the 21st

Also starting May 14th there will be a Zumba class at 5:15 in Clark 507*. The class is one hour and cost $5.00 per session. Deb Snurkowski is the instructor.

*May 21st and June 18th in Carriage House.

Alexandra Lancaster leads Therapeutic Qi Gong every Tuesday throughout the year. It is similar to Tai Chi because the movements are done slowly, quietly and standing up, but it is much easier and less complicated. Qi Gong consists of many exercises, and Therapeutic Qi Gong takes 36 of those and incorporates them into an order that targets the whole body, head to toe. It only takes a half hour, Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes (or bare feet), and it doesn't make you sweat. The benefits are improved balance (of body, mind and emotion), breathing, mobility (great after sitting at a desk/lab bench all morning), energy and health, and it's a de-stressor. Tuesdays at 12:15 beside the ramp to the side door of Clark when the weather is good, 5th floor when it's not

Every Wednesday starting on the 22nd, at 5:30 a bike ride will commence with Peter Landry as the leader. Meet Peter in front of the Clark building.

Thursday's Maria Pisareva will lead a walk either around Ring Road or on the Fitness Trail. Meet her in the Clark Lobby at 5:30 every Thursday beginning May 16th.*

* no walk May 23rd.

Important Reminders

Minimum of 4 (out of 5) members must perform at least 2 hours of activity each week to be eligible for weekly TEAM prizes.
Activity performed for less than the 2-hour requirement should still be reported and will be counted towards cumulative totals
Reported activities should be performed outside of your normal work schedule (either before or after work, or during lunch breaks)
Don't feel left out! Activities and healthy behaviors achieved during vacation should absolutely be included.
Logs MUST be submitted by the following Monday by 3pm (EST) to be eligible for that weekly prize.
IMPORTANT: Once the log is completed and closed for that week, we cannot go back to adjust it so be sure to double-check you are inputting points for the appropriate week before completing and submitting your activity log each week.

Please view the rest of the HR Wellness website for complete program details.

For questions and comments, please email wellness@whoi.edu or a Benefits representative:

   Julie Fawkes (jfawkes@whoi.edu)
   Linda Snow (lsnow@whoi.edu)
   Susan Darmofalski (sdarmofalski@whoi.edu)
   Denise Cabral (dcabral@whoi.edu)

Last updated: May 13, 2013