Corporate Fitness and Active Aging

NIFS High Five: Jane Reynolds

We say it with pride quite regularly, our amazing staff in corporate and senior living fitness centers are what help us serve our clients so well. Their strong educational background in health and fitness helps us set the bar high while their exceptional creativity and relationship building skills allows them to keep their members engaged and asking what’s coming next. Since we have the privilege of getting to know our staff across the country, we thought our followers might like to as well. Join us monthly as we throw a different NIFS team member a High Five.

  • JReynoldsName: Jane Reynolds
  • City, State: Stuart, Florida
  • Years with NIFS: 1.5 years
  • Position: Wellness Coordinator
  • What brought you to NIFS: I was relocating back to Florida from South Carolina and looking for work when a friend of mine told me about NIFS and an HFS, per diem opening and urged me to apply. Side not, relocating back to Florida to be closer to my grandson.
  • What is the most impactful moment you have shared with a member: This is such a multifaceted question. I have had many impactful moments here at my site with many members. I have witnessed many of our members become stronger physically and mentally especially this past year. I have seen many members that are stepping out of their comfort zone and trying and loving tai chi, yoga, and meditation. I have been told by several members that they feel stronger since they started taking aerobics and strength training and have said they love that I challenge them. I always remind them that age is just a number! On the other side of fitness, I have had several heartbreaking moments with members who have lost their spouse. One is now in the process of getting herself back into fitness and needs some one-on-one attention. Making connections both physically and emotionally have made for many impactful moments.
  • What separates a NIFS fitness pro from the rest: What separates NIFS from the rest is their philosophy towards fitness and wellness. As a NIFS professional, we are challenged to work on programming that promotes physical wellness and mindful programming. What is so interesting about most of the programs offered is that they blend so well together. NIFS is not just about picking up weights and getting sweaty!
  • What is your favorite thing about working at your client site: I would have to say the residents and my co-workers. I feel that this is my home away from home! As an example, during the initial lock-down restrictions back in March, our Executive Director made it possible for us to purchase groceries onsite, so we did not have to go to a store and offering the COVID-19 vaccine for staff. They have taken such wonderful care of us and the residents. Also, we have the most beautiful surroundings, and I am treated to gorgeous water views every day!
  • What motivates you: Our residents motivate me daily. I am in awe of their perseverance and their desire to get in shape to stay independent. They are truly the greatest and bravest generation!
  • What is your favorite hobby: I have a few hobbies but my favorite activity these days is spending time with my sweet grandson, Briland. I stay in shape, so I have the energy to chase him around. Those toddlers are fast! Other hobbies include gardening. There is nothing like growing your own tomatoes! And I have just started playing shuffleboard! Along with teaching classes here at the community, I enjoy riding my bike, walking and strength training to stay fit. And how could I forget that we have some gorgeous beaches minutes from my home. Is laying out at the beach a hobby?

Interested in learning more about our staffing services? Click below for what best fits your needs.

ACTIVE AGING   |   CORPORATE FITNESS

Where to start when lifting weights

GettyImages-85446814When thinking about starting a resistance training program there are a few things to consider. Making sure you have the right order for exercises, determining the appropriate number of reps/sets to perform, and making sure you get enough rest are what we will be going over in this blog. With any program you start, make sure that you are warming up properly before performing any type of lift. The great thing about resistance training is it can provide you with muscular strength and endurance gains no matter your age.

1. Making sure you have the right order.

There are thousands and thousands of exercises that can help increase strength in certain muscles around the body, but what is the best order to do them? Most programs will have you start with compound exercises. Compound exercises like the title suggest recruits multiple muscle groups to help preform the lift. Squats, Bench Press, and Deadlifts are examples of compound exercises that should be performed first. After the compound exercises you can do what are called accessory lifts. These lifts will typically only activate one muscle. Biceps Curls, Triceps Push Downs, and any machine exercise are examples of accessory lifts.

2. Determining the number of sets and reps.

Before starting a program, you have to figure out why you want to do this in the first place. Establishing goals can gear you towards keeping you on track and building the perfect program. For example, if your goal is to do the most exercises in a row, you would want to build your program around muscular endurance. ACSM suggest to perform at least 12 reps (how many times you perform the exercise) for 2 to 3 sets (How many rounds you perform the exercise) with little or no rest in-between sets. There are 2 different resistance training programs. To gain muscular endurance, perform 6-12 reps for 2-3 sets with 1-2 minutes of rest in between and to gain muscular strength, perform >6 rep for 2-6 sets with 3 minutes of rest in between.

3. Why is rest so important?

When starting a weight lifting program, after the first couple of weeks you can be experiencing some soreness due to the muscles being used. Now making sure that your soreness doesn’t become an injury is making sure you build in rest days around your program. ACSM recommends the amount of time you should rest a muscle group before performing resistance training again is 24-48 hours.

Interested in getting started with a resistance training program, seeking support from a qualified fitness professional can be a great step. There are fitness assessments you can complete to evaluate your current strength and fitness levels that can be used to design a resistance training program unique to your goals and needs.

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Topics: weight lifting

Staff High Five: Jaclyn Ruemmler

We say it with pride quite regularly, our amazing staff in corporate and senior living fitness centers are what help us serve our clients so well. Their strong educational background in health and fitness helps us set the bar high while their exceptional creativity and relationship building skills allows them to keep their members engaged and asking what’s coming next. Since we have the privilege of getting to know our staff across the country, we thought our followers might like to as well. Join us monthly as we throw a different NIFS team member a High Five.

  • JRuemmlerName: Jaclyn Ruemmler
  • City, State: Indianapolis, IN
  • Years with NIFS: A little over a year
  • Position: Fitness Center Manager
  • What brought you to NIFS: I was working in corporate wellness in North Carolina for about a year before I decided to move to Indianapolis with my boyfriend. I really enjoyed corporate wellness and working with a variety of people so after doing my job research, NIFS seemed like a perfect fit! I like that it is a smaller company, but with sites all over the country and a very welcoming atmosphere.
  • What is the most impactful moment you have shared with a member: Through our virtual Personal Fitness Quest program, I have been able to work with a variety of employees. I worked with one woman who had been quite sedentary her whole life and had poor range of motion with her movements. She was very excited to participate in this program and was determined to improve her health. After a course of 4 weeks, she had improved her shoulder range of motion and was moving much smoother. She had a step goal set for everyday and always came to our sessions with a positive attitude. Now she continues her workouts and stays active with our online offerings.
  • What separates a NIFS fitness pro from the rest: We all bring something different to the table with certifications, education, background, etc. but our overall goal as a staff is to improve the wellbeing of our members. We use creative, fun ways to interact with our members and always encourage them to accomplish their fitness goals.
  • What is your favorite thing about working at your client site: I love the facility and the people, we work with all kinds of people with different fitness goals and I enjoy helping them reach those goals. Also, the virtual programming has been awesome, I have been able to work with people all over the world.
  • What motivates you: I love seeing members enjoy a group fitness class, accomplish a fitness goal, or really enjoy a program we run. These all motivate me to be creative and continue to work hard.
  • What is your favorite hobby: I enjoy running and staying active outside (when it is warm!). I also enjoying exploring the city and surrounding areas with my boyfriend and friends.

Interested in learning more about our staffing services? Click below for what best fits your needs.

ACTIVE AGING   |   CORPORATE FITNESS

Topics: nifs staff

One resident’s reason to keep pushing forward

timThe individualized exercise prescription continues to be a strong driver of resident engagement in fitness programming in the senior living communities we serve. The approach is highly personalized and we have helped residents prepare for vacations with the grandkids, train for an upcoming golf season, focus on balance training, and condition for mountain hiking trips. The unique motivations for residents to begin or adapt their exercise routine are always inspiring. I have been working in fitness in the senior living industry for almost 20 years and the resident success stories we hear never get old and always bring a smile to my face. Hearing about individuals reclaiming their independence, achieving new goals, and gaining confidence is powerful and we are fortunate to work in a field that allows us to play a role in these accomplishments.

I had the pleasure of receiving the following feedback from Ashlie Burnett, our client contact at the Heritage at Brentwood in Brentwood, Tennessee this fall regarding our fitness manager, Tim Parrott and his work with a resident.

“Earlier today I walked past the Group Exercise Studio and noticed a resident was dancing with Tim. (Not actively, but Tim was present and nearby.) In conversation, I asked Tim and he said this resident has started and stopped a fitness routine every few months. He finally asked her specific goals and she said to dance. He decided to turn her exercise prescription into dance! Tim said after dancing for a couple of minutes she loosens up and her balance improves slightly. This is such a great example of functional fitness! Tim is a great addition to The Heritage and resource for residents.”     – Ashlie

According to resident Mrs. Nona Jane Kroha on her exercise prescription, “It has given me an impetus to move forward!”

Topics: resident wellness programs resident wellbeing Wellness consulting Active Aging

Active Aging: Practicing Gratitude to Support Well-Being

MMFC gratitude treeNIFS active aging staff across the country provided a focus on self-care programming for the senior living residents we serve with an emphasis on a variety of avenues to practice gratitude. While 2020 may have left us feeling restricted with so many variables outside of our control, practicing gratitude as a component of a well-rounded self-care routine empowered residents to reflect on the positive aspects in their life and enhance their well-being. After all, research has proven that people who practice gratitude show more positive emotions, demonstrate more kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.

Here’s a little bit what our staff are reporting from those offerings:

NIFS Wellness Director, Candace - Newport News, Virginia

“We provided an Emotional Wellness Presentation focusing on education and self-care practices to enhance emotional well-being. Residents were very thankful for this presentation as most have felt their mental health has suffered during COVID-19. We also hosted a Gratitude Workshop where residents created Gratitude Pumpkins. They wrote all of the things they are thankful for on the pumpkin. They were also given “gratitude exercises” and thank you cards to write to those they are most thankful for!”

NIFS Wellness Coordinator, Meredith - Raleigh, North Carolina

“We hosted a speaker here that is a psychiatrist and he spoke on aging with grace (specifically during COVID-19) and so much of what he reflected on was taking time to express gratitude especially in the times when we feel we have the least to be grateful for.”

NIFS Fitness Specialist, Jennifer - Lakewood, New Jersey

“For our Health Center, family members recorded a short video wishing their loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving with well wishes. This was displayed on Touch Town on Thanksgiving Day. The excitement and wishes that the family members expressed were breathe taking. I have to say, that the programs and exercises that we provide, the residents are extremely thankful and appreciative.”

NIFS Fitness Manager, Miles - Bridgewater, New Jersey

“To deal with the toll the year has taken on resident’s mental and physical health, I ran a two-part presentation discussing the importance of stress management and mental health as we approached the COVID affected holiday season. The residents attended enjoyed the material and we were able to have great discussions after both presentations. In fact, hearing their concerns inspired me to begin a meditation class in December.”

NIFS Wellness Coordinator, Becca - Indianapolis, Indiana

“We ran a Tree of Gratitude program where we watched a tree grow full of gratitude leaves filled out be residents. The tree grew and filled in with more and more leaves as the month went on as a strong visual representation of what individuals and our community as a whole has to be thankful for.”

NIFS Wellness Director, Miles – Richmond, Virginia

“Residents were thankful for the self-care material as it was really needed here during this time period. The chaplain gave us recognition for the program, promoting each self-care week offering during her weekly bible study that is streamed.”

 

Self-care continues to be more important than ever as we not only ride out the challenges of the pandemic but also through the seasonal changes ahead where many have difficulty being as physically active and struggle with seasonal mood disorder. Additional offerings NIFS team members provided residents over the holiday season included deep breathing exercises, laughter yoga, Chi Tea and Tai Chi events, mindful meal planning, mindfulness practices and healthy sleep tips. Adopt a daily practice of identifying three things you are grateful for and consider these additional self-care tips from NIFS to show yourself and others a little love.

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Topics: senior wellness programs resident wellness programs Wellness consulting Active Aging