PAWS for Wellness

A dog in the office is one of the best ways of beating stress at work.  Reduced stress, lower blood pressure and the release of human feel-good hormones are just some of the reasons why WellSpring celebrates PAW (Pooch At Work) Day.  Additional benefits of keeping a dog in the office includes reduced nerves, indigestion, headaches, coughs and tiredness.  But the real reason for having our dogs in the office – it’s just fun!

~ Wag more, bark less ~

Pictured from left to right are Charlie and Gracie Farquharson, Zoey Welch, Brosi Steiner, Jazzy-Rose Landry, Ella and Jessie-J Staley, along with some humans.

A New Year, A New You!

WellSpring will host a complimentary fitness assessment on Saturday, January 21st. 

Whether you want to improve your body a little or a lot in 2012, this free event is the perfect first step.   Participants will be guided through several simple fitness assessments by a WellSpring instructor or personal training student.  And at the end, you'll receive a personalized plan that you can work on to improve your fitness level over the new year.

To save your space for a personalized fitness assessment, email Bobby Breon at bobby.b@wellspring.edu or call 816.523.9140.  You can also just stop by during the event and we'll work you in.

 Saturday, January 21st 9 am - Noon

9140 Ward Parkway - Suite 100

(Northwest corner of 92nd & Ward Parkway)

                  

If you have any questions, please call 816-523-9140.

Everything you wanted to know about financial aid but were afraid to ask!

We are hosting a free financial aid workshop on Wednesday, January 18th at 5:30.  

  

If you or someone you know is thinking about going back to school, but is unsure if they can swing it or not, this is your opportunity to hear from our experts.  You will discover how you may be able to get started on a new career right now.  Some of the topics that we will cover include:

• Different types of financial aid (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Scholarships, etc.) and who may qualify for what.
• How to fill out the government forms (the FAFSA).
• Common mistakes made when filling out the FAFSA - and how to avoid them.
• Determining how much assistance is available to you.
• Other useful information to make the financial aid process a snap.  
• You can also learn more by viewing our financial aid portion of our website. 

 Reserve your spot in the workshop by emailing Jessica Fish at jessica.f@wellspring.edu.

Wednesday, January 18th at 5:30

9140 Ward Parkway - Suite 100

(Northwest corner of 92nd & Ward Parkway)

                  

If you have any questions, please call 816-523-9140.

Winning the Battle of the Bulge

Most would agree that obesity is a growing problem (no pun intended).  However, 2012 may be the year Americans make serious strides to fight growing waistlines.As in most years, weight loss will be top a top priority for many in 2012 but shedding extra pounds won’t just be about diet and exercise in the new year—it will include lifestyle coaching, more involved personal trainers and enhanced gym offerings.  Personal Trainers will become more integrated to health choices of their clients.  For more information on the WellSpring Personal Training Program, visit here.

Fitness experts agree that personal trainers will not only tell clients how much weight to lift and how often, but also be able to provide tips to improve their lifestyle outside of the gym. What’s more, fitness facilities will start to hire nutritionists, physical therapists and psychologists to offer wellness, nutrition and stress-management classes and advice to patrons in the new year.

Technology and social networks have penetrated pretty much every aspect of people’s lives so it’s not surprising its finding its way into the health and fitness world.  The new year will also usher in a slew of social media and mobile apps designed to create more interactive and online-based workout programs and classes. People will have full workouts at their fingertips on smartphone and tablet devices. Because of the influx of apps, personal trainers will have a new arsenal of tools at their disposal to provide one-on-one or group training anytime, anywhere.

Tried and tested workout programs will also maintain their popularity in 2012.  Zumba, boot-camp style workouts, interval training and TRX Suspension Training, which uses ropes and webbing to let you work against gravity and your own weight, will continue to be popular.  Balance and core training designed to improve your balance, stability and torso will gain in popularity during the new year.

You can now book your massage appointment online!

WellSpring School of Allied Health now offers the opportunity to book your massage appointment online with one of our student therapists.  55- and 90-minute table massages are only $30 and $60, respectively!

"WellSpring is as good as any professional massage I've ever had and better, much better, than most. This is an experience you don't want to pass up". - Clark Smith

Ready to make a Booking?

Select the desired location & service then follow the prompts to select a date & time that is convenient for you. After you choose a date & time, you will create an account with your details and complete the booking.

Kansas City Campus – http://kcwellspringsc.clickbook.net

Lawrence Campus – http://wellspringsc.clickbook.net

Please note that it is not possible to book same day appointments using the online system.  Please call for same day appointments.

For information on the WellSpring Massage Therapy program, visit our website.

Donate blood and save a life. Right here, right now.

Join us as we celebrate National Blood Donor Month by donating life-saving blood at our blood drive on Friday, January 6th from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm.  We are partnering with The Community Blood Center as they are the primary supplier for local hospitals in Kansas and Missouri.  An individual with the area that The Community Blood Center serves needs a blood transfusion every 4 minutes.  Blood and its components can be used to assist with many medical procedures.  People who have been in car accidents and have suffered massive blood loss may require transfusions of up to 50 pints or more of red blood cells.  Cancer, transplant, trauma and open-heart surgery patients require platelet transfusions to survive.

You have the opportunity to make a difference.  Please make an appointment online, go to www.savealifenow.org and perform a quick search and enter the sponsor code: WELLSPRING.

Personal Trainer industry growing and changing in order to meet consumer needs

From 2011 to 2016, the Personal Trainers industry is projected to expand. An increase in disposable income and participation in sports will help drive the industry forward as well as consumers spending more on discretionary services and former personal training clients return after a time of tight spending.

The personal fitness trainers industry has experienced a shift in its traditional business model to fit newer consumer preferences. For instance, more training fitness instructors are providing services to children as the rate of childhood obesity rises. Also, more baby boomers are demanding personal trainers as they begin to age; they are looking to improve their health to keep in shape at an older age. Lastly, the industry catered to consumers hindered by the recession by offering small group classes at a cheaper rate.

Industry experts project that personal trainers will likely offer specialized services to differentiate themselves. For example, more trainers will provide teaching on nutrition to improve the overall lifestyle of their clients.

WellSpring is proud to announce our partnership with The Rose Brooks Center in its Adopt-A-Family program which gives much needed help to women and children.  

We are asking everyone to make either a monetary donation or donate personal items (clothes, toys, food, etc.) to help families through the holiday season.  In addition, there are opportunities to donate time to the shelter.  If you are interested in helping out those in need or if you have any questions, please let us know.

Personal Trainers at the center of fitness trends in 2012

The American Council on Exercise recently announced its top 2012 fitness trends to watch this week. The group of more than 1,500 fitness experts say their clients are combining traditional exercise with life coaching that shows a greater understanding of the gravity of the obesity epidemic.
"While there is still much more work to be done, we are encouraged by the positive attitude change among consumers, which will hopefully foster important fitness-related behavioral and lifestyle modifications," said ACE Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. "In the year ahead, personal trainers and other fitness professionals will be called upon to provide more coaching focused on overall health and well-being to spur this momentum and ACE will support this effort by continuing to offer the industry's most innovative, research-based professional fitness certifications, education and information."
Here are more of ACE's 2012 fitness trends to watch.
-Obesity awareness: Losing weight will continue to be the primary reason consumers seek personal training support as the public responds to the expanded messaging concerning the dangers of physical inactivity and obesity. The recently released Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index report that showed a modest improvement in the nation's obesity rates for the first time in more than three years is a very encouraging sign. However, the fact remains that three out of five Americans are still overweight or obese.
-Whole-life training: Lifestyle coaching will become a bigger trend with more personal trainers looking to improve their clients' lifestyles. Fitness facilities will hire nutritionists and other healthcare professionals such as physical therapists and psychologists to serve the expanding needs of their health-conscious members including wellness, nutrition and stress management programs.
-Behavior modification: While great strides have been made in health education, the average consumer still believes the best way to lose weight is by following a restrictive or fad diet.
-Community collaboration: Access to fitness services and education will continue to expand, including activities in gyms, parks and recreation centers. Local leaders are taking a more active role to address health issues in their communities. This includes proactive measures through school-based education programs and engagement with low-income and at-risk families.
-Influence of technology: The 2011 ACE trend report showed technology is starting to play a role in complementing in-person fitness services by providing additional motivational support. In the coming year, social media and mobile-based apps will continue to revolutionize the industry, with fitness organizations creating more interactive and online-based programs and classes.
-Senior and youth specialties: Aquatic fitness and group fitness classes will be the most popular forms of exercise for older adults. With First Lady Michelle Obama advocating for active children, expect to see more physical fitness in schools, youth-based classes at fitness centers and families who work out or participate in outdoor activities together.
-Workplace support: Due in part to several years of declining economic conditions for business owners, employers will look to outsource wellness programs to local fitness facilities and health clubs that can provide total health management while seeking out employee discounts and reduced membership fees to increase access for workers.
-Popular workouts: Zumba, boot camp-style workouts, TRX Suspension training and interval training will continue to be popular workout trends along with balance and core training becoming more prevalent in 2012.

Massage proving to be beneficial to more people

A recent survey by the American Massage Therapy Association indicated that more consumers consider massage to be be beneficial to one’s health than they had in the past.
Glenath Moyle, the AMTA president, corroborates these findings, saying, “These survey results indicate that more and more people are finding relief for their pain and other health problems with regular massage. We’re happy that people recognize the health benefits of massage and are integrating it into their regular health maintenance routines.”
The survey also revealed that the percentage of people who use massage therapy for pain relief has increased from 25 percent in 2010 to 31 percent in 2012. This also indicates a gradual shift from considering a massage to be a pampering technique to actually having numerous health benefits.
Since pain relief is a key benefit of massage therapy, the number of people who use massage therapy is almost three times as many as those who try acupuncture for pain relief. In fact, deep-tissue massage therapy along with yoga, Pilates and prescription medication were all considered to be treated as options as good as each other in the treatment of pain relief.
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