Wellness Incentives at Work Pay Off!

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/19/business/gargiulo-google-workplace-empowerment/

Extend Lives & Save Dollars in Your Workplace

Smokers will be more successful at quitting if their employers implement a smoke-free workplace. Employers can support their staff further by scheduling one of our on-site Smoking Cessation Workshops. We offer a 60-minute workshop or a 5 week smoking cessation program. Healthier employees result in a happier and more productive workforce.

Employees will learn their unique smoking habits (social, pleasure or stressed smoker?) and triggers that lead them to smoking.

They will be educated on the most effective smoking cessation methods available today and discover the RIGHT stop smoking method so that they QUIT today!

We conveniently bring our classes to your office or group. For more information and to schedule please contact The Back Rub Company at 480-330-2066.

Wellness Programs Are Good For Business & Good For You

Here at The Back Rub Company we see and understand the benefits corporate wellness programs bring to both employer and employees. One business has put a dollar amount on the benefits in a recent study.

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November is the Great American Smokeout

The Plain Hard Facts of Smoking.
(Source:American Cancer Society)

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States.

Each year 443,000 premature deaths and 49,400 non-smokers die as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke. (American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2009)

It turns out that more than 70 percent of adult smokers say they want to quit, but without help, fewer than 5 percent succeed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the annual cost of tobacco use to an employer averages $3,783 per smoker per year.

Regardless of how long you have smoked and how old you are, quitting smoking can help you live a longer, healthier life. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for you, your loved ones and your work colleagues.

Read more on the benefits to your body as little as 20 MINUTES after you stop smoking.

Is Your Office Becoming a Pain?

October is National Ergonomics Month. If your workplace does not "fit", you could be setting yourself up for discomfort and ultimately health issues. Sitting using a computer for a large part of your work day can include repetition of tasks, awkward posture, eye strain and pressure on arms and fingers. Simple steps can help you avoid these problems.

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If you sit at your computer for more than an hour a day, benefit with our on-site Office Yoga Class. Learn how to integrate yoga stretches and postures into your day to reduce the aches and pains of sedentary positions. This workshop focuses on the mind-body balance to not only shape you physically, but to bring about a sense of internal peacefulness to your life as well.

To schedule call The Back Rub Company at 480-330-2066.

Does Happiness Lead to Success?

Studies suggest 'yes', emotional health and awareness leads to success. The American Psychological Association concludes that those of us who are emotionally aware, are more likely to have successful careers and well-being in our personal lives.

October is Emotional Awareness Month.

If we are emotionally healthy we experience positive moods, confidence, energy, and this can make us feel more sociable. We're also more likely to be in touch with the verbal and non-verbal emotions of others. This increases our chances of success in other areas of our lives.

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The Back Rub Company takes your emotional health seriously and offers on-site Wellness Workshops that will improve your emotional awareness. Give you and your co-workers the opportunity to generate success. To schedule call 480-330-2066

Remember - Teacher Appreciation Week is May 3rd - May 7th

Teaching is both a rewarding and stressful profession, and these remarkable professionals have the important job of educating the future of our country. Help a teacher de-stress by scheduling them a chair massage during teacher appreciation week. Details to follow soon.

On-Site Fitness in the Spotlight

April is Physical Awareness Month.

Companies large and small are aiming to make physical fitness part of their employees' lives. Aside from the proven health benefits of exercise, fit employees can handle physical work tasks better, deal more easily with stressful situations and are less susceptible to illness and injuries.

Enroll your company for something adventurous this month like Belly Dance, Yoga, Pilate's or Zumba!

For more information and to schedule an on-site fitness class please contact The Back Rub Company at 480-330-2066.

5 Steps to a Successful Administrative Professional's Week

During the economic downturn many administrative professionals increased their workload without pay and took on more responsibility in the office.

Here are some tips to show your appreciation for your administrative employees:

• Treat them to a chair massage. We work on-site at a time that is convenient for you and your staff. During April 19th - 23rd take 20% off for any on-site chair massage visit for your administrative staff.


• Show them you care about their family. Southwest Center for the Martial Arts will host FREE Stranger Danger and Women's Self-Defense classes. Saturday, April 10th, 1pm-2pm, children ages 6-12 years. Sunday, April 11th, 1pm-2pm, women ages 16 and up.


• Make 'em laugh. Show your funny side during Laugh at Work Week April 1st - 7th. Laughter releases tension, encourages creativity and contributes to effective teamwork and increased productivity. It helps employees relate to each other in the workplace.


• Organize an appreciation breakfast or luncheon at the office.


• Praise and recognize. Do not underestimate how important praise and recognition are as motivators.


• Take the time to write a thank you note to your employees. Everyone likes to feel appreciated!

On-Site Cooking Classes...

Our on-site cooking classes are designed to educate, inspire and motivate employees to improve their diet so they have more energy for work and life. Our healthy cooking coach and chef will show your employees how great taste and good nutrition go hand in hand.

We offer a wide variety of Demo Cooking Classes such as:

• Healthy, high energy snacks
• Savvy salads
• Healthy dips & dippers
• Soothing Soups
• Cooking for a family with food allergies
• Great recipes with apples
• Creating amazing salad dressings
  

We also offer lecture classes with food samples in the following areas:

• 12 Tips for healthy trade-offs that pay-off
• Exploring coffee alternatives
• Fats that harm, fats that heal: Do you know the difference?
• Tame your inner cookie monster!
• Your kitchen's little helpers
  

Please contact us for more information regarding our on-site cooking classes.

Workshop Spotlight - Nutrition for a Healthy Heart

Heart disease is still the #1 cause of death in the U.S. However, it is possible to reduce your risk of heart disease - by eliminating the risk factors you can control, and managing the risk factors you cannot control.

This workshop will discuss ways to reduce your risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, exercise, lifestyle and weight management.

We conveniently bring our classes to your office or group. For more information on our on-site programs please visit The Back Rub Company or contact us to schedule.

New Year - New Fitness Class

First, a look at the ridiculous.

Now a look at a more sensible, but fun and effective approach to office exercise.

A 60-minute on-site Yoga class with The Back Rub Company will improve your physical and emotional health. Yoga utilizes stretching postures, breathing and meditation techniques to calm the mind and tone the body. What a great way to begin 2010!

Contact us at 480-330-2066 or email for more information.

Make a New Year's Resolution NOT to make one!

Instead, set yourself realistic goals that are attainable. Here are some interesting thoughts on the subject.

The Back Rub Company can help you set attainable goals. Besides our effective 12-Week Weight Loss Challenge or our on-going Weight Management Program, we offer a complete range of on-site Wellness Programs.

Our 4-Week Jump Start is a great way to start your transition into healthy living. Topics include: cleaning out your pantry, health assessment questionnaire, elimination-diet guidelines, the "Dirty Dozen" of produce and reducing exposure to toxins in your home.

We also offer the following Wellness Programs:

• 5-Week Blood Pressure Control
• 5-Week Smoking Cessation
• 5-Week Stress Management
• 10-Week Mastering Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes and Heart Disease and more

The Back Rub Company also offers on-site 15 to 30-minute One-On-One Counseling and convenient Virtual (on-line and telephone) sessions with a health coach.

Kick-start 2010 with attainable goals that will improve your health and quality of life!

Workshop Spotlight - 12-Week Weight Loss Challenge

Losing weight is often a personal goal after the Holidays. Make it a company goal to have employees who are within their healthy weight range.

Our 12-Week Weight Loss Challenge allows employers and peers to motivate and support each other as they strive for healthier lifestyles.

Participants learn label reading, effective exercising, smart grocery shopping, healthy meal planning and more.

The Challenge focuses on assisting employees with simple and effective changes in everyday habits to keep the weight off for life! Our weight management team consists of dietetic technicians and registered nutritionists accustomed to working with corporate populations.

Schedule a Weight Loss Challenge through 1/31/10 and participants will be entered to receive a FREE one-on-one nutrition and fitness consult with our weight management expert!

We conveniently bring our classes to your office or group. For more information on our on-site programs please visit The Back Rub Company or contact us to schedule.

The Plain Hard Facts of Smoking

(Source:American Cancer Society)


Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States.

Each year 443,000 premature deaths and 49,400 non- smokers die as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

It turns out that more than 70 percent of adult smokers say they want to quit, but without help, fewer than 5 percent succeed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the annual cost of tobacco use to an employer averages $3,783 per smoker per year.


Benefits of Quitting Smoking

• 20 minutes after quitting your heart rate and blood pressure drops.


• 12 hours after quitting the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.


• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting your circulation improves and your lung function increases.


• 1 to 9 months after quitting coughing and shortness of breath decrease.


• 1 year after quitting the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.


• 5 to 15 years after quitting your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker.


• 10 years after quitting the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases.


• 15 years after quitting the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.

Workshop Spotlight - Soothing Soups Cooking Classes

Workshop Spotlight - Soothing Soups Cooking Classes

Cooler evenings bring the yearning for comfort food, especially after a stressful and busy day at work. Before reaching for high fat, low nutrition convenience foods, schedule one of our on-site cooking classes.

We are proud to feature Soothing Soups this Fall. Participants will earn how to prepare tasty, nutritious soups that will warm the whole family and help keep winter coughs and colds at arm's length, plus give you energy for work and life.

We conveniently bring our classes to your office or group. For more information on our on-site cooking classes please visit The Back Rub Company or contact us to schedule.

Book a Soothing Soups class through 11/30/09 and receive a FREE cookbook.

Employee Health on a Shoestring Budget

We all know the current state of the economy has taken a hit on our businesses and budgets. But employee health and wellbeing shouldn't suffer because of it.

So, how can you implement some unique health and wellness initiatives at your company without breaking the bank?

• Team Players: Employees work well in teams, encouraging each other and keeping their peers on track. Facilitate weekly group meetings where peers can set goals and share collective wisdom.
• Exercise: Set up a lunchtime walking group. 30-minutes for lunch and a brisk walk afterwards with peers will increase circulation, burn calories and encourage friendships. If you have an extra room available at your firm, have a few exercise dvds available for employees to do before and after work, or during lunch.
• Cook Off: Set up a fun monthly or quarterly healthy cooking challenge. Encourage employees to bring healthy dishes to share with others. Give small prizes (like yoga mats) to each winner!
• Rub Away Aches: Set up weekly on-site chair massages for employees to sponsor/pay for themselves. Massage helps reduce pain, alleviates headaches and improves alertness.

Now is not the time to put employee wellness on hold. Keeping workers healthy and vibrant reduces insurance costs and improves your bottom line!

Employee Wellness Now More Than Ever

As more and more is expected of workers during these difficult times of layoffs and budget-crunches, maintaining good health is essential in the workplace. Without a healthy and vibrant workforce, productivity suffers, further increasing hardship on already-strained companies.

Most companies across the nation are cutting back to save money. However, the majority of our clients have realized that their employees’ health has a huge impact on their bottom line and have chosen to maintain or even ramp up their wellness programs.

We are the leading Arizona provider for on-site employee wellness and have recently announced our national expansion! The Back Rub Company provides workplace wellness programs that include seated chair massage, fitness classes and lunch & learn workshops, in addition to event and trade-show massage.

We’ve built an amazing team of experts across the country. From massage therapists to nutritionists to fitness authorities, we are truly the nation’s one-stop-shop for the best employee health and wellness services.

Even the smallest employee-incentives make a big difference. The American Journal of Health Promotions shows that for every dollar spent on wellness, employers can get up to $10 back through fewer medical claims, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and other factors.

Smart companies understand that these programs increase their ROI, reduce worker's compensation and insurance claims and raise employee morale. We want to debunk the myth that wellness programs are expensive and only for corporate giants. Business owners quickly learn that weekly chair massage, for example, doesn't cost any more than an office lunch. These are affordable and one of the only things employees look forward to, especially when everyone is stressed, trying to stretch resources.

Businesses can never afford to have sluggish, un-productive workers, but as the crisis looms on, dynamic and healthy employees are essential to keep a company on track until things turn around.

For information about The Back Rub Company’s Workplace Wellness Programs, call 480-330-2066 or visit http://www.thebackrubcompany.com/.

Upcoming Events and more reasons for Massage & Wellness!

Anytime is a good time to get a massage or participate in a health-related activity. Performance, whether at home or in the office, depends on your physical, mental and emotional abilities. When you take time to recharge your body, mind & spirit, everyone whose lives you touch is better for it.

March is National Nutrition Month - idea: schedule an on-site healthy cooking class!

April 22nd is Administrative Professional's Day - idea: give a chair massage at the office or a gift certificate for a relaxing table massage!

April is Physical Wellness Month - idea: offer an on-site fitness class to encourage physical fitness!

April is Stress Awareness Month - idea: schedule a guided meditation day to help employees de-stress and relax!

Overtime = Over-Stressed Employees

A new study shows employees who work overtime are at risk for anxiety and depression.
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that working overtime is associated with higher anxiety and depression levels. Eleven percent of women who work 41 to 100 hours per week reported depression compared to seven percent who work 40 hours or less per week.

Men who work more than 48 hours per week are at the highest risk. Twelve-and-a-half percent of men who work 41 to 100 hours per week reported depression compared to nine percent who work 40 hours or less per week.

The authors of the study note that working even moderate overtime hours seems to increase the risk of mental distress.

The solution? As more and more is expected of workers during these difficult times, maintaining good health is essential in the workplace. We often see that workplace wellness programs are one of the first employee-benefits to go away, especially during harder financial times. However, without a healthy a vibrant workforce, productivity suffers, increasing hardship on the company.

Even the smallest employee-incentives make a big difference. The American Journal of Health Promotions show for every $1 spent on wellness, employers can get up to $10 back through fewer medical claims, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and other factors.

For more information on employee-benefits, please visit our website