By Paige Kyle, Fitness & Wellness Coordinator, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor
As I mark my one-month anniversary as St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor’s Fitness & Wellness Coordinator, I’m inspired by the endless possibilities to build a healthier culture of wellness on campus.
When I ask people to define what an employee wellness program means to them, the response tends to be, “Incentivizing employees to eat healthy and exercise more, right?”
It’s true that 12-week diet commitments to the 30-day fitness challenges have their place in a successful program, but we can do so much more. I believe we can start thinking bigger. In fact, did you know we already have?
In the past five years, St. Joe’s Ann Arbor has made great efforts to become better stewards of our land and resources by using our purchasing power to support healthier, sustainable practices on campus. In the last three years, our employee benefits have expanded support for preventive services, such as weight loss programs, smoking cessation, and health screenings. The CareBridge colleague assistance program provides access to resources for financial, and work/family life services.
And most recently, with health and wellness as a priority in 2015, the Join Me initiative is igniting our focus toward improving the health of southeast Michigan communities. By expanding our reach across lifespans, income levels, and community venues, we’re spreading the message of wellness in any way we can.
As your Fitness and Wellness Coordinator, my first goal is to add to the positive energy and help health and wellness on our campus. For the month of July, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter @pekyle as I share my own experience of wellness. Have fun following me around campus, or better yet, join me and post your own experiences, using @stjoesannarbor and #SJjoinme. Let’s start the conversation of wellness, what it means to practice it, and how we can live healthier lives in our workplace, home and community..
About Paige Kyle, MPH, RDN
Paige believes wellness is anchored to our purpose in life. Whether it’s how we live, work, or play, her mission is to provide SJMAA employees with the opportunity to exist with that same congruency at work. Paige earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Colorado State University and her Master’s in Public Health, Nutrition from the University of Michigan. Paige spent time at SJMAA in 2014-15 with the Clinical Nutrition team as part of her Dietetic Internship. She is also an ACSM Personal Trainer and has enjoyed teaching a variety of fitness classes over the years. When Paige isn’t walking the halls of SJMAA, she’s in Ann Arbor connecting people with exercise, enjoying time with her friends, learning more about health and wellness, growing in her faith, and taking on personal fitness challenges.
Will SJMHS ever bring back the fitness courses formerly offered in the Women’s Health Center?