Creating Optimal wellness environments: the 29th Annual National Wellness Conference features AFAA's unique health promotion approach

There should be a natural affinity between fitness instructors and health promotion/wellness professionals. After all, exercise is no longer viewed as an option when it comes to risk reduction it's a central tenet of good health. Exercising every day for at least an hour is recognized as the best way to avoid becoming one more victim of the fastest growing disease in America--diabetes. As a result, health promotion professionals talk up exercise and fitness trainers familiarize themselves with the full gamut of stay-healthy ideas ... just as it should be!

Over the last few years, AFAA has been laying the groundwork for instructors to embrace this wellness perspective. New online courses, continuing education and specialty certifications are presented on such diverse topics as weight management, stress reduction and exercise guidelines for arthritis, diabetes and other chronic health conditions. AFAA's Fitness Triage[R] helps you integrate information on certain chronic conditions into an exercise protocol and gives you a first-time, credible, well-rested triage assessment system so you can confidently consult with clients. As part of a public health initiative, AFAA offers a free exercise risk assessment online. Walk your clients through the system at www.yourbody.com.

Bridging these two professions, Meg Jordan, Ph.D., R.N., editor of American Fitness, will present three seminars, including one keynote during the National Wellness Conference this July. Her keynote will cover "Adventures of a Global Medicine Hunter" and her other presentations will feature AFAA's complete Fitness Triage[R] 32-item questionnaire, designed to identify exercise risk status using AFAA's patented software and color-coded classification system. She will also present how the system lines up with AFAA's Fitness Gets Personal [R] cards, each with specific guidelines for whatever exercise level (red--stop; yellow--caution; green--proceed) was determined by the assessment. In addition, she will offer a seminar on how to bring wellness strategies and fitness training into integrative medicine settings.

The National Wellness Institute (NWI), headquartered on the University of Wisconsin campus in Stevens Point. has long been recognized as the leading organization for professionals in wellness and health promotion. NWI has offered unparalleled opportunities to learn about "best practices" and programs at its annual conference. If you're looking for a way to connect with the wellness industry, don't miss their summer fun-filled conference, complete with preconference workshops, breakout sessions and featured presenters, including Anthony Campuo, Ph.D., David Hunnicutt, Ph.D., Mark Mathabane and Deborah Kern, Ph.D.

This year's theme, "Creating Optimal Wellness Environments," looks at improving individuals' health beyond the customary wellness environment, such as health clubs or corporate wellness centers. Creating the types of cultural support systems that help people make healthy choices on a consistent basis is a tremendous challenge in society. This conference will allow you the opportunities to brainstorm and network with professionals committed to fostering healthy living.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group