Enjoy LIFE program draws attention in Plainfield
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A wide
variety of area health and fitness groups made their presence known Wednesday
night at the Plainfield Recreation Center as the Enjoy LIFE program held a
meet-and-greet style event to introduce local residents to all of the wellness
opportunities in Plainfield.
Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) is a collaboration between Backus and the Plainfield Recreation Department to promote healthy lifestyle changes for the people of Windham County.
Approximately 60 people packed the recreation hall’s main meeting area and were treated to a variety of presentations ranging from a introductory message from Jessica Plasse-Van Rye, APRN, of the Plainfield Backus Health Center to live demonstrations by members of the Danielson Martial Arts Academy.
“We want to see this area be as healthy as it can be,” said Myra Ambrogi, director of the Plainfield Recreation Department, “People talk about insurance rates, and unhealthy habits leading to more doctors’ visits. It’s time for people to start taking a look at their lifestyles.”
According to a report released by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Windham County has the least healthy population in all of Connecticut, making it the perfect place to spearhead the year-long project.
Marie Dumaine, owner of Marie’s Fitness and Massage Center in Plainfield, has been directing fitness classes in town for 10 years and has seen the effects first-hand.
“People have become more sedentary,” she said. “They text or talk by computer instead of walking or meeting face to face. That decrease in activity is putting a damper on fitness.”
The goal of the evening was to get a sense how many people were interested in what the area had to offer, and to teams up for a fitness challenge in which weight loss will be tracked. Ms. Ambrogi cited a spike in program activity after the closing of the Norwich YMCA last April. That decision left Plainfield as the only town with a publicly accessible indoor pool in the region.
Backus clinical educators Alice Facente, RN, and Lisa Cook, RN, spent most of the evening getting to know local residents and gathering information to be used in crafting the direction of future programs, which are scheduled to take place monthly.
The next program, slated for Wednesday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Plainfield Recreation Department, is “How to Eat Healthy Without Really Trying.” Backus registered dietitian Sarah Hospod will talk about how to read nutrition labels, “going for the rainbow” when eating fruits and vegetables” and how to calculate calories.
Future summer events will include investigating the trail options around Plainfield High School for all levels of walkers and joggers. To sign up for these events or for more information about the fitness challenge or the Enjoy LIFE program overall, call 860-889-8331, ext. 2495.
“It’s very important for people to keep moving,” said Ms. Dumaine. “When it comes to getting fit, people realize they can if they’re not afraid to try.”