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The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas
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Wellness Center Gives NAD Workers a Good Workout -
Offers Program to Improve Performance
14 November 2008
It's not the wafer thin models that bombard our television sets and newspapers, but the need for physical and mental wellness that has inspired the new healthy lifestyles program organized by the College of the Bahamas's Center for Continuing Education (CEES) and the new Wellness Center.
CEES provides continuing education in a variety of programs and the majority of its customers are working adults. So it is not surprising that this Healthy Lifestyles Programme, inspired by President Janyne Hodder, targets business organizations and the members of the country's workforce.
The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) is the first to use the pilot project programmed by Assistant Director of CEES, Antona J. Curry, and Wellness Center Director, Bradley Cooper.
Theresa Burrows, the Training Coordinator at NAD, approached CEES, and Cooper and Curry responded with a proposal to offer courses that would help to develop the wellness of NAD's staff.
Ms. Burrows says this program is important because "health and fitness are important in daily living to get good performance at work" and that NAD would be offering the program to every one of its employees from their line staff to top management.
The first session was held on Friday, November 7th, 2008, and had approximately fifteen participants. Bradley Cooper reminded them that the "journey to a better you takes effort and commitment; what we are going to give you in the next four weeks is just the start but it requires your commitment, you just have to make the first step and you've done that today."
Shammond Nairn, an employee of NAD who works at the parking lot booth, was so enthusiastic about the chance to get fit that she came straight from work after an eight hour night shift to begin the sessions. "This is my first time in the gym" she said, "so it's a good opportunity they've provided for us." Shammond hopes to retain everything she's learnt in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
The Healthy Lifestyles program will go on every other month from November 2008 to May 2009. The sessions occur every Friday within a particular month and run from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. The first hour is dedicated to healthy lifestyle practices, including meal planning and smart shopping, while the second part of the session is dedicated solely to workout and exercise.
According to Mr. Cooper, participants have already begun to feel the burn. "It was fun," said Margret Delaney, Work Control Coordinator at NAD. She also described the first session as "eye opening" and "a wake up call". Her sentiments are echoed by Assistant Director Curry who said she received positive feedback from many participants who said they enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to coming again.
While Assistant Director Curry feels confident that things will continue to go well, Mr. Cooper hopes that in short order the program will even be able to help persons develop their spiritual wellness. Both Ms. Curry and Mr. Cooper hope to take the program to other business establishments in an effort to build healthier lifestyles throughout the Bahamas.
Office of Communication
Tel: 302-4304
Email:communication@cob.edu.bs
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The College of The Bahamas
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