Sat Nov 07 2009
Sometimes being healthy can be as simple as taking a walk down Capital Avenue.
“Many times we think of dumbbells, a treadmill and an expensive gym membership, but that’s just not the case,” said Stephanie Marshall, state wellness director.
Marshall led about 150 state employees on a St. Patrick’s Day parade and health walk Tuesday morning on Capital Avenue to Second Street and back.
It took about 20 minutes to complete the mile-long walk, and Marshall and several other employees wore bright green shirts and shamrock stovepipe hats.
“We took the opportunity to have some fun behind the holiday,” Marshall said. “But the focus here today is to bring some awareness about getting out and moving and having fun while doing so.”
The weather was clear and sunny with a temperature of 66, which Marshall attributed to the “luck of the Irish.”
She became the state wellness director about three months ago and had previously worked with corporate wellness programs for about five years. Marshall has a University of Kentucky master’s in health promotion and a bachelor’s in fitness from Eastern Kentucky University.
She manages and promotes the state’s Journey to Wellness program, which includes a variety of elements such as nutrition and exercise
The program offers state employees help with smoking cessation, yoga classes, weight management and “desk Pilates” videos – exercises employees can do at their desks.
There’s also the Virgin HealthMiles program that encourages employees to record their physical activity using pedometers. Since the program was launched last fall, employees have walked 16.6 million miles.
Kentucky is ranked as one of the most unhealthy states in the nation according to the United Health Foundation. Kentucky ranks 49th in smoking rates (28.2 percent) and 40th in adult obesity rates (28.7 percent).
The St. Patrick’s Day health walk is only the first of many upcoming wellness events, Marshall said. Plans include fitness challenges, health screenings, weight management and classes on stress.
Sometimes being healthy can be as simple as washing your car instead of going through the automatic car wash, Marshall said.
“There are simple, fun ways to get your body moving the way it was designed to,” she said.
However, being healthy is a continuous effort, not just a one-time effort or event, she said.
“It’s more than just one day of walking – it really is a lifestyle,“ Marshall told employees on the Capitol steps “And you have embarked on your journey by being here today.”
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