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Published in Health Club Management 2014 issue 8
Managing workplace stress: the role of exercise and diet
Chris Andrews,MD,
Personal Touch Fitness
I was interested to read your articles on mental health in the June issue (see HCM June 14, p30 and p56). As corporate gym specialists, we at Personal Touch Fitness are only too aware of the problems caused to employees by stress.
Unfortunately, although stress is a big cause of absenteeism – the latest research by the Health and Safety Executive shows that 13.4 million of the days lost annually to illness are attributable to stress, anxiety or depression – employees are often afraid to admit it to their bosses, which makes the problem even worse.
Stress management is a large part of what we provide. This not only includes telling people how to read the signs of stress, but also how to cope with it through exercise, which has been proven to reduce stress by as much as 30 per cent. Achieving 10,000 steps a day, as recommended in the government’s physical activity guidelines, can play a significant role.
We also run courses specifically designed to aid relaxation in the workplace, including yoga, pilates and tai chi. Appreciating the value of holistic therapies in relieving stress, we also offer massage to relieve tension. And because it takes place at work, it provides a legitimate excuse for people to get away from their desks and unwind.
Stress, and how to handle it better, is also one of our popular ‘Lunch & Learn’ talks.
Some of the solutions are incredibly simple and just require minor changes. For example, encourage staff to conduct their meetings outdoors. Walking and talking in the fresh air is highly recommended, and I guarantee people will enjoy getting outside the building. It will also help them achieve their 10,000 daily steps.
Last but not least, people should pay attention to their diet – cutting down on sugary foods and never skipping breakfast – and get lots of good sleep, ideally seven hours a night, and with all electronic devices turned off at least an hour before bed.
Letting employees hold work meetings outdoors can help combat stress / PHOTO: WWW/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ BIKERIDERLONDON
Gone are the days of a ‘one size fits all’ offering
Julian Berriman,R&D director,
Premier Training
I always read Health Club Management with great interest, but the June issue really made me take stock of where we are as an industry. It’s an exciting time.
Mental health was debated well: it’s heartening to see more providers recognising that these considerations can be as important as physical motivators.
It was also interesting to see how technology is improving the sector, not only tracking what we do but also being used to feed back on user experience. This is powerful stuff and will ensure the very best service delivery day in, day out.
I thoroughly enjoyed the feature on the Aspire National Training Centre, which has 3,000 disabled members (30 per cent of the user base). As a nation, we have so many different needs to be met; the opportunities for trainers to operate in a market niche are incredible.
Microgyms are a game changer for consumers, operators and indeed trainers – a very exciting development and one that will ensure innovation and hopefully long-term sector retention.
Gone are the days of a one size fits all approach to leisure delivery. It’s not only providers that need to be flexible but the trainers too, adopting these new trends and indeed creating their own.
What a time to be in the industry! Here’s to the next 12 months.
Targeted offers are replacing a ‘one size fits all’ approach
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Malcolm McPhail
Avondale Leisure Centre is pioneering the concept of a community ‘health hub’, stripping away the barriers of a traditional club
The AlterG anti-gravity treadmill enables larger people to exercise
more comfortably
Walking programmes can help bring people out of inactivity
https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/HCM2014_8letter.jpg
Managing workplace stress through diet and exercise can bring huge benefits to all, says Chris Andrews, MD of Personal Touch Fitness
Chris Andrews
MD, Personal Touch Fitness
Julian Berriman
R&D director, Premier Training,Stress, corporate wellness, mental health, disability, microgyms
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