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Archive for November, 2011

Looking for Healthy Dining Options in Chicago? Laura Bruzas Can Help

Posted in Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Workplace Wellness, tagged , , , on November 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Fresh fruit

After eating a wonderful traditional Thanksgiving meal, I was inspired to look for some new healthy eating tips. I came across one that I think we should all check out: Healthy Dining. It is an all-volunteer community education and outreach program in Chicago devoted to providing simple, healthy lifestyle options for Chicago diners. By subscribing to the newsletter (free), you have access to “a steady diet of bite-size, easy-to-digest morsels of practical information, valuable resources, easy recipes, time and money-saving ideas, conservation tips and special subscriber-only invitations and offers that support good clean living.”

Who Started Healthy Dining in Chicago?

Laura Bruzas

 

In 2003, Laura Bruzas founded Healthy Dining to help teach Chicagoans that good nutrition and an eco-friendly lifestyle can aid in to disease prevention and management. Bruzas’ holds a degree in Marketing, has 15 years in HR/Recruiting and spent five years working with Whole Foods Market. When Laura was in college, a friend gave her a copy of Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe and she has been on that path ever since.  Laura is also the author of Eat Well for Less, a collection of 50 simple tips and fast recipes to save time and cut your natural food bill in half.

 

For ten years, Laura has been an adult education instructor at the Latin School. She received a grant for developing and delivering a series of community wellness workshops, has taught healthy cooking classes at Whole Foods Market, Gildas Club of Chicago and the Discovery Center, presented a motivational lecture series on wellness and personal effectiveness for Chicago Public Library patrons and has spoken to audiences at the Chicago Women in Publishing Conference, Chicago Green Drinks, and FamilyFarmed.org EXPO.  Prior to publishing Healthy Dining Chicago, she was the editor of Living Well from 1998 to 2002.

60 Second Desserts and a variety of Four-Course Dinners in Under an Hour.

Laura has a full list of Q&A’s about healthy dining. Check out the questions and answers here.

Bruzas also teaches classes at the Moraine Valley Environmental Institute, as well as hosting corporate Lunch & Learns on the topic of Healthy Dining on a Dime and offering home parties with menu options that include 60 Second Desserts and a variety of Four-Course Dinners in Under an Hour.

For More Information or to Schedule a Lunch & Learn or Home Party
Please contact Laura at 312.666.9979 or via e-mail Laura@HealthyDining.org.

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Grab Your Ice Skates Chicago, the City Rinks Are Open This November!

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, tagged , , , , , on November 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

In Chicago, we don’t need to wait for the first snowfall to get our skate on! There are at least two well-known out-door ice skating rinks that are now open for Chicago children and adults this winter. The Rink at Millennium Park and the rink at Wrigley Field. List compiled from Chicago Park District site and Explore Chicago.

Ice Skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink

The Rink in Millennium Park will opened Friday, November 18, 2011 and will remain open through Sunday, March 11, 2012. Skate rental is available for $10. The ice rink is located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison streets.

Daley Bicentennial Plaza, Grant Park

Ice Rink at Daley Plaza

337 E. Randolph St.
312.742.0064
$7 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Monday – Friday, 1 – 9 pm, Saturday – Sunday, 3:30-8:30 pm

No food concessions available.

Ice Skating at WRIGLEY FIELD!

For the third consecutive year, an ice skating rink will welcome skaters to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field this winter, thanks to the generosity of the Ricketts family and the Chicago Cubs, 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney, the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, Westrec Marinas, the Central Lakeview Merchants Association, Patch Landscaping and the Lake View Citizens’ Council.  Skate in the Cubs parking lot at the corner of Clark and Waveland. For more information – 312-617-7017.

Ice Rink at Wrigley Field

The Rink at Wrigley
1060 W. Addison St. – Addison St. and Clark St.
312.617.7017

Note: Due to unusually high temperatures the Rink at Wrigley will not open until further notice. Skating was slated to be open from November 25, 2011 through February 26, 2012. Check the website for updates as temperatures cool:  http://www.rinkatwrigley.com for more information.

McKinley Park

Ice Rink at McKinley Park

 

2210 W. Pershing Road
312.747.5992
$6 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:30 – 7:30 p.m.

No food concessions available.

Midway Plaisance Park

Ice Rink at Midway Plaisance Park

 

1130 Midway Plaisance North (east 59th Street at Woodlawn)
312.745.2470
$6 skate rental; admission free

Open Skate Hours: Monday – Friday, 12 – 7 p.m., Saturday, 1 – 9 p.m.. Sunday, 12 – 7 p.m.

Food concessions available.

 

Mt. Greenwood Park

3721 W. 111 St.
312.747.3690
$6 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:30 – 7:30 p.m.

No food concessions available.

Riis Park

6100 W. Fullerton Ave.
312.746.5735
$6 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:30 – 7:30 p.m.

No food concessions  available.

Rowan Park

11546 S. Avenue L
773.646.1967
$6 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:30 – 7:30 p.m.

No food concessions available.

Warren Park

6601 N. Western Ave.
773.761.8663
$6 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:30 – 2:30 pm, 3-5 pm, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

No food concessions available.

West Lawn Park

4233 W. 65th St.
773.284.6078
$6 skate rental; admission free.

Open Skate Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:30 – 7:30 p.m.

No food concessions available.

Indoor Rinks

McCormick Tribune Plaza and Ice Rink

McCormick Plaza Rink

Ice Skating Chicago

Located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street  between Washington and Madison Streets).

Now in its tenth season, the rink is scheduled to remain open through Sunday, March 13, 2011 this year (weather permitting). Admission to the rink is free and skates are available to rent for $10. Try free ice skating and ice dancing lessons in February during Chicago Winter Dance.

Skate rental is available for $10.

The 16,000 square foot ice skating rink has a state-of-the-art chiller system that can maintain the ice even in the event of unseasonably warm weather. Several factors would need to be considered before the rink is closed. If you have questions about the weather, please call 312-742-5222 before you come.

Hours:

Regular Hours

  • Mondays—Thursdays 12PM-8PM
  • Fridays 12PM-10PM
  • Saturdays—Sundays 10AM-9PM

Chicago Winter Dance Extended Weekend Hours in February

  • Fridays 12PM-11PM
  • Saturdays 8AM-11PM
  • Sundays 8AM-9PM

McFetridge Sports Center, California Park

Ice Rink at McFetridge Sports Center

3843 N. California Ave.
773.478.2609
Indoor Rink – open year-round except for the month of August
$3 skate rental; admission is $4 for children 12 and younger, $5 for ages 13 and older, and $2 for seniors 60 and older.

Open Skate Hours:
All ages: Wednesday and Friday, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Adults: Wednesday, 9:15 – 10:30 p.m.
Teens & Adults: Friday, 9:15 – 10:45 p.m.

Food concessions available.

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Happy Thankgiving from Working Well Massage!

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, tagged , , on November 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Thanksgiving is a holiday in which we give thanks. I’d like to thanks many people and groups this year. without all of you, Working Well Massage would not exist. I am grateful to Working Well Massage clients, massage therapists, support staff, Working Well Resources readers, fellow massage therapists throughout Facebook and POEM. I am grateful for my teachers, fellow students, in both massage school and graduate school. I am grateful for all the stressed out and sore and injured people who come to me personally or to my team of massage therapists. I am grateful to my friends and family who support me emotionally and sometime physically when I need help moving equipment or building a massage booth! I am grateful to Whole Foods Market for their continued support of our business and our massage booths in Chicago areas stores. I am grateful to the AMTA and ABMP, both organizations dedicated to improving the field of massage therapy. I am extremely grateful to the Massage Therapy Foundation, a relatively new organization that aims to “advance the knowledge and practice of massage therapy by supporting scientific research, education and community service.” And I am very very grateful for the Forest Preserves and other natural areas set aside for parks, recreation and the preservation of our natural environment.

Sue Shekut, Owner of Working Well Massage

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! I wish you and your loved ones a healthy and safe holiday!

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College Students Can Get Healthier With the Healthy In College Blog

Posted in Health and Wellness, Nutrition, tagged , , on November 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Students Studying

Image by University of Denver via Flickr

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

When I go to my graduate school classes, I often make note of what my fellow students are noshing on. For some, its fruit smoothies and edamame from a nearby sushi bar. For others, its chips and cookies from vending machines in the school. Others bring french fries and burgers. Most of us are hungry, pressed for time and needing enough nourishment to get us through our classes.

Now there is a blog, specially catering to Chicago college students, that has great tips for staying healthy. Check out Healthy in College Blog for tips on creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle while in college.

In the blog post” The College Breakfast” where the blogger gives student reasonable alternatives at fast food restaurants for breakfast. The Healthy College blogger offers alternative to Breakfast Burrito, Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich, and cereal. In”How to Stack Your Dorm Fridge: The healthiest and tastiest snacks“, the blogger provides healthier snack food options to the standard potato chips and Cheetos diets many college dorm dwellers munch on.

Like Health in Chicago, the Healthy in College blogger chooses to remain anonymous. But she  or he does say that the blog “Healthy In College is for prospective college students, current students,master students and alumni alike who are interested in obtaining and maintaining good health throughout their years in school.”

There haven’t been many posts lately, but I’m particularly found of the most recent post in June 2011, “Getting Your Just Dessert… Healthy Takes on Summertime Treats!” where the post share a recipe for “The Sheet Cake Alternative: Angel Food Berry Cake.”

Image from Healthy in College blog

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Chair Massage Wins Out over Table Massage at Lincoln Park’s Whole Foods Market

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , on November 10, 2011| 3 Comments »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Can a business be TOO successful? How about two businesses? Sometimes they can be! In the case of Working Well Massage and the Whole Foods Wellness Club, being too successful in some areas made it a better idea to split our two businesses and focus on what we each do best.

On Sept 5, 2011, Working Well Massage expanded our massage business to offer table massages in the new Wellness Club in Whole Foods Market in Lincoln Park. We aligned with the Wellness Club to offer discounted massages to Wellness Club members and full price massages to non-wellness club members. Both Wellness Club leadership and WWM thought that the massage business would be very successful in the Wellness Club and that we would need the consultation room to provide table massages. However, we found that table massages were not as big of a draw to the Wellness Club as nutritional consultations turned out to be.  We also found that the WWM chair massages business was so successful on the main floor that there was less of a need for massage in the WC than we thought. Both the Wellness Club nutritional offerings and the chair massage offerings on the main floor resulted in few table massage clients in the Wellness Club and a greater need for the use of the consultation room for nutritional services.

At the same time, WWM resources were being stretched thin. A massage business can only survive financially if it has clients. WWM massage clients ended up preferring the affordable, accessible, walk in appointment at the WWM chair massage station to table massages in the Wellness Club upstairs. Trying to market both massage and fitness and nutrition was taxing the resources of both WWM and the WC and confusing WWM customers.

By Oct 12 2011, both Wellness Club leadership and WWM agreed that it made more sense and was a better business decision to close the table massage business. Instead Whole Foods Market decided to focus the Wellness Club more on nutritional offerings and fitness and channel massage clients to the already established and successful WWM chair massages booth near Express on the main floor.

I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this rapid opening and shutting down of table massage services may have been to some of our clients. Working Well Massage continues to offer chair massages at the Lincoln Park Whole Foods Market. And the Wellness Club is focusing on nutrition and fitness in the balcony (mezzanine) upstairs!

Visit us in the WWM chair massage booth from Noon to 8p.m. Daily and receive your own relaxing chair massage.

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Hey Chicago, Get Healthy With the Healthy In Chicago Blog!

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Wellness for Parents, Workplace Wellness, tagged , , , , on November 9, 2011| 2 Comments »

Downtown Chicago Building Roundup: North

Image by Gravitywave via Flickr

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I was looking at my WorkingWellResources  blog subscribers and noticed that I’ve got a few blog stalkers.   OK, not stalkers, just fans. One of them is Healthy In Chicago, an easy to read, fun and accessible blog about healthy lifestyle choices for Chicagoans.

What I like about this blog is that it’s not about being perfectly healthy. The blogger admits that it’s about trying to do his/her best at making healthy lifestyle choices. I am certainly not perfect either. I often have to check myself to see if I am practicing what I preach. And sometimes I fall short of the optimal healthy guidelines I would like to adhere to. I am human. And so are my clients. WE strive for our ideals but don’t get overly critical of ourselves when we fall short of perfection! This attitude of acceptance and moderation helps me be less critical and judgmental of my clients and allows them to share their successes and weaknesses with me more easily. So I am happy to introduce you to another blogger that has a similar positive, but not fanatical, outlook on Wellness.

Check out the Top posts on the Healthy In Chicago blog:

Chicago, Meet HealthyinChicago on the blog here. To follow Healthy In Chicago tweets, check out @HealthyNChicago.

Who is the Author of Healthy In Chicago?

The blogger chooses to remain anonymous, but did post some fun factoids about him/herself.

From the Healthy In Chicago Website, the blog author:

  • Is someone who doesn’t always ”practice what they preach” in terms of health advice.  I am not the perfect pinnacle of health.  I truly believe in moderation and not depriving myself of things (food and drinks) I love, which doesn’t always fit within the “recommendations” of healthy living.
  • Has a sweet tooth
  • Makes attempts to make healthy choices and health goals however
  • Has a college degree in Sport Science
  • Employed with IL largest health system, and is responsible for educating the community on health topics that plague Chicagoan’s (diabetes, heart disease, asthma, obesity, etc)
  • Previous experience as a personal trainer
  • Certified Intrinsic Coach (basically a life coach, someone to motivate you to follow through with the decisions, you have made in your life…example, quitting smoking)

The blogger also states that:

“I came to a point in my life where I was looking for more active, healthier activities and resources in the city…and really couldn’t find them and neither could my friends. So, I thought…why not share the information I find with everyone so they too can have the local resources to enjoy a healthier life, when and if they want to?  And with that Healthy In Chicago was created!”

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Top Tweeters About Massage Therapy

Posted in Health and Wellness on November 6, 2011| 4 Comments »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Many massage therapists have their own Tweet accounts and post info about massage therapy. Interestingly, I find that most massage related tweet accounts are geared toward massage therapists, not massage clients. Unless you know a specific massage therapist and follow his or her tweets, the best sources for massage info for clients and massage therapists are from the Tweeters listed below. If you know of any other great Tweeters for massage info, feel free to comment and add your favorites!

MASSAGE Magazine

MASSAGE Magazine

Massage and bodywork news, articles, videos, products, community and more. Articles are geared toward massage therapists

Tweet Addy: @massagemag
Website: http://www.MASSAGEmag.com

MASSAGE MagazineAbout @massagemag

MassageNerd.com

The BEST one stop source for videos about massage. Geared toward practicing massage therapists, but massage clients can also benefit from checking out Massage Nerd videos!
Tweet Addy: @massagenerd

MassageNerd.comAbout @massagenerd

Loris DePaoli, RMT


A Registered Massage Therapist from BC, Canada that has treated 1000 of clients  from infants to 85 yrs! Her Goal: Treat so all can enjoy quality of life.
Tweet Addy: @massageabout Coquitlam, B C., Canada

Loris DePaoli, RMTAbout @massageabout

AMTA

AMTA
News and updates from the American Massage Therapy Association
Tweet Addy: @AMTANational Evanston, IL

AMTAAbout @AMTANational

ABMP

ABMP

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. Content geared toward practicing massage therapists.

Tweet Addy: @ABMPmassage Golden, Colorado

Sue Shekut

Owner, Working Well Massage, Wellness Coach, Licensed Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, Nature Lover, Yoga Afficionado

Tweet Addy: @WorkWellMassage Chicago, IL

Website: http://www.workingwellmassage.com

Blog: http://workingwellresources.com

About @WorkWellMassage

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Be a Fitness Winner With Wii Fit’s The Biggest Loser Game

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness on November 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I broke out our Wii the other day and my boyfriend and I played some Wii tennis and bowling. While Wii Sports can be fun, they don’t provide as fun or as active of a workout as Wii’s The Biggest Loser does. For fans of the Show, you may be familiar with some of the trainers and advice. However, the game itself looks like a lot more fun than the standard Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus workouts. To check out the video of the same showing some of the exercises and visuals, go to the Amazon webpage and click on the video. The game is available from Amazon. com for about $15.00. Click here to order from Amazon.

For a sample of one of the workouts in its entirety, nutwiisystem made this excellent video.  Check it out and you will get a realistic idea of what the Biggest Loser game offers you:

Here’s what you get with the program (from the Amazon website):

Note: You will need to purchase or own a Wii Balance Board to use this game.

  •  A daily calendar for day planning and 50 healthy recipes from The Biggest Loser Cookbook.
  • A complete workout containing over 88 exercises, including upper and lower body, core, cardio and yoga.
  • Option of a 4, 8 or 12 week program with avatars of contestants from the prior seasons of The Biggest Loser.
  • Multiplayer functionality allows you to train with a friend and compete in weekly challenges.
  • The game includes four tools to reach your fitness goals:
      • Fitness Program – This is where you establish your goals, make a plan and compete for the title of The Biggest Loser. Pick from a 4, 8 or 12 week programs.
      • Health and Lifestyle Tool – Encouragement and tips from former Biggest Loser contestants and trainers, and some of the best recipes from the Biggest Loser cookbooks.
      • Exercise Routines – Select from a collection of routines that match your skill level and let you focus on every part of your body. Through it you can also create your own routine that fits your schedule and focuses on your favorite exercises.
      • Challenge Events – Take the exercises you’ve learned and put them to the test in a series of fun but competitive events against some of the former contestants that you’ve seen on The Biggest Loser show. In Single Exercises, you can find your weakest exercise and conquer it or refine your technique to get the most out of your time.

     

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An All-in-One Site for Ergononomic Info!

Posted in Health and Wellness, Workplace Wellness, tagged , on November 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Proper ergonomics for computer work. Image by Wikipedia

Want new info on making your office at home or work more ergonomics? Check out Ergonomics Info here.

The site provides tips on ergonomic consideration for desktop computer users, laptop computer users and ideal monitor, chair and desk position to help those that work more than 2 hours a day on computers. For computer ergonomic tips, click here.  The site also includes chair reviews, keyboard and mouse reviews. The site also has a great graphic that shows proper seating positioning at a computer workstation. Go to this link and then scroll to the bottom of the page to see the graphic!

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