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Archive for the ‘Nature and Stress’ Category

Kankakee River State Park Puts Great Hiking and Clean, Clear Water on the Map

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , , , on September 22, 2010| 6 Comments »

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

Recently I was reading Backpacker magazine’s top lists of hikes around the U.S. They  listed 3 of the top hiking places in Chicago: The Chicago Lakefront, Starved Rock and Kankakee River State Park.  The lakefront is more of an outdoor mall these days than an actual hiking path, but it is a well known Chicago route so I give Backpacker that much. But I was surprised that they did not mention any of the fantastic hiking paths in the rest of the Chicago Area: Tinley Park, Herrick Lake, Palos, Waterfall Glen, Sag Valley, and about 30 more. If you get out of Chicago proper, there are scores of really quiet, well maintained forests, meadows and trails.  I’ve been to Starved Rock a number of times, but had not yet to Kankakee. So, to verify Backpackers recommendation, my man and I bundled up our hiking gear and headed for Kankakee River State Park this past weekend!

Kankakee River. Image by Sue Shekut

The park’s trail system stretches for miles along both sides of the river. Hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails are on the river’s north side, while horse and snowmobile trails can be found on the south.

Kankakee River State Park Map. Image by Sue Shekut

On Sunday, we walked from a boat launch area on the West side of the park, over a suspension bridge, along a picnic area and then to Rock Creek trail where we climbed along the creek.

Kankakee Rock Creek Trail marker. Image by Sue Shekut

The 3-mile route along Rock Creek gives you a great view of limestone canyons and a smallish frothy waterfall. The park offers a bicycle trail that begins at Davis Creek Area and travels 10.5 miles of trails in the form of a linear trail along the river and with a loop in the west end of the park.

View from Rock Creek Trail, Kankakee. Image by Sue Shekut

This region is fairly flat with some nice hike-able cliffs and a few look out points along the river. But the Rock Creek Trail had some really steep paths along the way affording interesting lookouts of the clean clear water below.

Jason taking pics at Rock Creek Trail overlook, Kankakee. Image by Sue Shekut

On our way around the Rock Creek Trail we found a really lovely grove of pine trees. Walking into the trees we felt that special hush I often feel when I am in the presence of a grove of trees. It felt like a church or sacred space.

Pine forest along the trail in Kankakee. Image by Sue Shekut

No matter where we hiked, we could see through the water at every point!  That water is clean–at least to the naked eye–and it’s  a pleasure to be able to see such clear water in a local river.

Super clear water in Kankakee River! Image by Sue Shekut

At this point we had hiked about 7 miles and then got a bit lost finding our way back to our car which added another 2 miles to our hike. We took a wrong turn at fork in the trail and ended up by the stables.

Kankakee River Stables rents horses. Image by Sue Shekut

All told, according to my handy pedometer, we hiked 10 miles and still had another half of the park to explore on another day.

For directions, info on equestrian trials, biking, hiking, etc. click here.

A beautiful spot to relax in Kankakee River State Park. Image by Sue Shekut

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A Breakthrough in Fitness and Mentoring-Breakthrough’s Running Program for East Garfield Park Youth

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , , , , on September 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

Breakthrough Runners

The world is full of problems and that can be stressful. But feeling like I am doing my part to be part of the solution, versus part of the problem, makes me  feel a lot better and less stressed. I am always happy to hear a new story about people being active in volunteerism and fitness as well. Yesterday, I had a wonderful, heartwarming talk with Melissa Hoovy, Senior VP of Marketing Services from Legacy Marketing Partners, about a fantastic program she’s been involved with for the past two years:  Breakthrough Ministries Running Club for teenage boys and girls in the East Garfield Park area. And Melissa said they are looking for a few more good men and women to be mentors for the kids.

Melissa started her work with the running club last year when it was only offered for girls. But the program was so successful that it’s been expanded this year. According to Melissa, “Developments from last year include the addition of a boy’s group and adult mentors and more children overall participating, we have about 40 kids running now from last years 22.  It is fast becoming a valued program both for the adult coaches/mentors as well as the children getting to develop a love a running as well as new relationships with caring adults.”

The Breakthrough running club focuses on providing an opportunity for boys and girls to partner with individual coaches and train for at least two 5k races in Summer/Fall of 2010. Every student and mentor will meet together for a group run once a week on Saturdays (Girls =8:15am, Boys=10:30am) where there will be a brief group discussion time, hitting specific issues such as physical health, self-confidence, and emotional support, followed by a group run, and finishing with a cool down session where a healthy snack will be served.  There will also be a mid-week run held at Westinghouse H.S on Thursday evenings at 6pm.

The Runners: The young men and women who are participating in this program are from East Garfield Park which is one of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in Chicago with the unemployment rate at three times the city average and the drug crime ranking in the top %10 of Chicago’s seventy seven community areas (CPD CLEAR DATA 2007).

The Goal: The goal for this program is for our young people to expand their adult network through their individual coach/mentor, develop the knowledge and ability to live a healthy lifestyle through running, and to build self-confidence by accomplishing their commitment of finishing a 5k race.

The Miles: The students in the program will consistently be exposed to different areas of the city outside of their neighborhood through our group runs which will be held in Lincoln Park, the Lake Front, Humboldt Park and other city locations.  Training runs start with a very easy run/walk sequence and progress to runs about 3 miles in length at the end of the program and just prior to race day.

The Training: The training run for the Summer/Fall program began on August 14th and  continues through  Lawndale 5K run on Sept 18th (Both Boys and Girls Clubs will run Lawndale) and finish with the boys running the Hot Chocolate 5k on November 6th and the Girls running the Girls on the Run 5k on November 13th.

The Need: In order to give each student the maximum opportunity to improve their health and fitness we desire to provide them with adult partners, running shoes and athletic wear that they need.

How You Can Participate

Be a Running Partner —Being a running partner involves the relationship that will make this program a success!  Every running partner will be paired with a specific group of girls or boys for the season.  As the student’s partner it is your job to stick with your girl or boy during the group runs and become the positive role model and encourager that he or she needs.  The running partner will also contact the student at least once a week using the phone or text messages to make sure you both are sticking to your plan.

Be a Snack Coordinator – Since one of our goals is to teach the young people healthy lifestyles, this position is very important!  As the partners finish the group run, we will gather together and eat a healthy snack and drink as we debrief about the run and discussion.  The snack coordinator will be responsible for providing and distributing the food and drink for this post run-activity, we can provide cups, jugs, plates, napkins, and a table if necessary and communicated prior.

Donate Running Clothing and Gear– Breakthrough is doing a clothing drive for running  clothing and would take donations of any size, any gender and any season of; running shorts, running tops (dri fit if possible) socks, sport bras, outer jackets, gloves etc.  pretty much anything but shoes.  Anyone interested can contact Rusty Funk at Breakthrough rfunk@breakthrough.org to find out how you can help out.

Running Kids Need Running Shoes!

Monetary donations– Anyone can donate to Breakthrough via the website and just specify youth and family services when you make a donation online.  Working Well Massage donated 35 matching Breakthrough fleece headbands to Breakthrough’s Running Club for the youngsters this Fall season (a $200 value)! Feel free to match our donation or any amount you can spare!

Breakthrough Urban Ministries-Joshua Center

3330 W. Carroll, Chicago , IL 60624 (Just West of Kedzie)

ph: 773.722.0179
fax: 773.722.0280

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Fitness, Fun, Rest & Relaxation–Just Hours Away From Chicago in Door County, Wisconsin

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , , , , on August 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

I lived in Milwaukee during my grade school years. Each summer, my outdoorsy father would pack up our Vista Cruiser station wagon with tents, a Coleman stove, cots, coolers and our bikes for a camping trip to Door County, Wisconsin. I have fond memories of swimming in Nicolet Bay (the beach at Peninsula State Park), jumping off a pontoon boat in Sister Bay harbor  to swim in the cool Lake Michigan water and watching the goats eat on the roof of Al Johnson’s restaurant. So a few weeks ago, when my partner and I decided to get away for a few days, we headed to Door County to get some R&R, scout for locations for future retreats and seminars, and enjoy some of the last few days of summer.

For the uninitiated, Door County is the area of Wisconsin some call the Thumb. If you look at Wisconsin like a giant hand, the right-hand side has a “thumb” sticking out of it. Along the top of the “thumb” is a lovely area and country called Door County. It has a number of small towns along the lake and it’s been the quieter Wisconsin/Chicago tourist destination compared to the Dells.

Summit House (one of 7 houses) at Eagle Harbor Inn. Image by Sue Shekut

On of the reason I like to go to Door County is that, for this part of the country, there are a lot of outdoor activities you can do within a few miles of your hotel. We stayed in Eagle Harbor Inn in Ephraim and we were so pleased with our suite, we almost did not want to leave our rooms. Eagle Harbor Inn has a small indoor pool and a room with workout equipment. (It’s such a nice place we could see how it would be a great winter get away for snow showing, cross country skiing and sitting by a roaring (gas) fire. This s a great place for a retreat, workshop or even a corporate event since the Inn had about 7 Victorian style houses split into condo-like Suites. We had a one bedroom and it was absolutely cozy, inviting, quiet, and lovely. (The Innkeeper said some people some to Eagle Harbor Inn to enjoy the peace and quiet and to write books or work on software projects.)

Boats in Ephraim Bay. Image by Sue Shekut.

A mere 3 blocks away is South Shore Pier which rents pontoon boats, speed boats and wave runners by the day and half day. We rented a pontoon boat and tooled around the designated bay, boating from Ephraim to Fish Creek to Sisters Bay. Sitting in a boat may give you some time to synthesize vitamin D, but not much fitness, so we dropped anchor around Horseshoe Island, out of the way of speedboat traffic) and swam in the cool refreshing water. Since the boat requires deep water, jumping off the side of the boat means there is no bottom underneath your feet so you get a quite a swim. The water is cool, not freezing, but it’s not bath water either so it really wakes you up. As along as we  kept swimming though, it didn’t feel cold at all.

View from the boat on Lake Michigan in Door County. Image by Sue Shekut.

Peninsula State Park is a mere 5 minute bike ride from Eagle Harbor Inn. There are a number of trails throughout the park which is situated on, you guessed it, a peninsula jutting out of the “thumb” of Door County. On our second day in Door County, we hoped on our bikes took a left out of our hotel and in about 5 minutes (And a BIG hill), we were at the entrance of Peninsula State Park. After getting a map from the golf course info center, we found  miles of interior mountain bikes trails and we rode about 17 miles along the crisscrossing trails, through patches of mosquito ridden woods where we saw no other bikers or hikers. In one section of our ride, we joined the other bikers along the main bike path (gravel) that peeks out into the lake. Wooden benches waited for resting bikers and hikers along rocky beach near the bike path.

After a long days hike, we were fortunate (and also because I planned ahead!) to have a two person hot tub in our room at the Inn. Soaking after a long day of biking and hiking was a wonderful way to end our day.

Hot tub, fireplace and a bed. A great way to rest and relax. Image by Sue Shekut

Our final day in Door County, we decided to act like proper tourists so we did a round of Put putt golf at the Pirates Cove and then eat lunch at All Johnson’s.  If you haven’t gone to Door County, I hope you have a taste of some of the things you can do to enjoy the area and getaway from the big city to nature, peace and quiet and some interesting Door County sights.

Pirate's Cove Mini-Golf. Image by Sue Shekut

Map of Penisula State Park Bike routes. iamge by Sue Shekut

Beach at Nicolet Bay. Image by Sue Shekut

Bikes at Nicolet Bay. Image by Sue Shekut

Volly ball at Niceolet Bay. Image by Sue Shekut

Sequeway Tour of the park for seniors. Image by Sue Shekut

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The North Face Gets Youth Out Doors and Off Video Games

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , , , , on August 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

Glen Falls, Cashiers, NC. Image by Sue Shekut

It’s an amazing year for outdoor enthusiasts like you and me! Not only did the federal government establish the America Great Outdoors initiative, but outdoor gear retailer, The North Face, announced the creation of the Explore Fund™ Grant Program to Reconnect Children with Nature. This is such a great idea to tackle childhood obesity, stress and give children great health and fitness experiences in the great outdoors. And it gives children a chance to explore a wonderful world that they might not see if left to play video games indoors.

The North Face Partners is providing more than$100,000 Outdoor Nation Youth Summit Delegates and other groups that help reconnect children with nature. “Today’s young skiers, campers, runners and climbers are tomorrow’s outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists,” said Steve Rendle, President of The North Face and VF Outdoor Americas. “We are providing education, access and connection through ongoing events, funding and PlanetExplore—an online community that helps individuals and families discover local outdoor recreational activities. Our goal is to get more people outside, having fun and exploring their world in ways that are meaningful to them.”

The Conservation Fund also announced a $50,000 matching grant to the Outdoor Foundation to be used with the Explore Fund to support concepts generated by the Outdoor Nation delegates. The Outdoor Nation event brings together 500 young delegates from each of the 50 states to champion the outdoors. The delegates were selected based on interest in the outdoor and a commitment to lead local, regional and national efforts that will reconnect youth and nature.

“Reconnecting young people with the outdoors is critical for the health of our population, our economy and our environment. It’s time for a new Outdoor Revolution and we need young people to step up and lead. Thanks to the Outdoor Foundation, The North Face and our many other partners, the delegates at the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit will for the first time be able to do just that,” said Larry Selzer, President and CEO, The Conservation Fund.”

“Recent high profile government initiatives like the America’s Great Outdoors program and the First Lady’s ‘Let’s Move’ campaign are part of a national trend to encourage Americans – especially youth – to lead healthier lifestyles and reconnect with nature. Across the country programs are trying to get kids outside and moving; however, few programs are focused on young people as leaders,” said Chris Fanning, Executive Director, The Outdoor Foundation. “Outdoor Nation and the Explore Fund initiatives are two of the first efforts that aim to empower youth to champion outdoor change in their communities and on their campuses.”

What is The North Face®?

The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers technically advanced products to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snow sport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snow sport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

What is The Conservation Fund?

The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, it has helped protect more than 6 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. Learn more here.

What is Outdoor Nation?

As part of a broader national initiative, Outdoor Nation and its community of ‘Outsiders’ are committed to increasing and expanding youth participation through entertainment, education, engagement and action – especially among urban communities and communities of color – resulting in a healthier, more active generation.

What is The Outdoor Foundation?

The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Through ground-breaking research, action-oriented convening and outreach and education programs, the Foundation is working with partners to mobilize a major cultural shift that leads all Americans to the great outdoors. In 2010, the Foundation launched Outdoor Nation — a ground-breaking initiative that aims to empower youth to champion the outdoors on campuses and in communities. For more information click here.

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Tell The Us How You Embrace Healthy Living in the Great Outdoors

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , on August 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

If you read my blog you know I am a big nature lover and outdoors enthusiast. Being outside in nature, hiking, biking swimming or whatnot, makes me feel calmer, fitter and happier overall. I’ve written about nature and stress management and how both exercise and nature can help alleviate anxiety and other stress related conditions. Now, I hear that the current Presidential Administration is on the same page!

This past April at the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, President Obama established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation agenda to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors.  The President understands that protecting and restoring the outdoor spaces that we love and reconnecting people to the outdoors must happen at the local level. Therefore, President Obama directed the principal leaders of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to travel across the country to listen and learn from people directly involved in finding grassroots solutions to reconnect Americans to the outdoors.  The President indicated that the sessions should engage the full range of interested groups, issues, and solutions.

Chicago Outdoor Enthusiasts this is your chance to Shine! Join senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for a public listening session and discussions in Chicago, IL on the relationship of health and the outdoors. Discussion will include active and passive recreation, barriers to access, and new ideas, opportunities, and solutions for enhancing healthy living outdoors for all Americans.

Listening Session and Discussion Information

When: Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Where:

GENERAL Listening Session

Northwestern University School of Law

Thorne Auditorium

375 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60611

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 YOUTH Listening Session (high school & college)

Prentice Women’s Hospital

250 East Superior Street – Room L
Chicago, IL 60611

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Who: National and local leadership from Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality will be present to hear your thoughts and to participate in a conversation with you about America’s Great Outdoors.

  • 8:30 am – 12:30 pm: General Session to capture public input for a report back to the President
  • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Youth Session to engage the next generation on ideas for making healthy living outdoors more available, accessible, and affordable

Both sessions are free and open to the public. They will make every effort to accommodate everyone, though space may fill up, so please pre-register via the email address below corresponding to the session you wish to attend (note that adults above age 24 should attend the General Session to allow space for youth ages 16-24 to participate in the Youth Session).

Please Register

To reserve a seat in the discussion, please register in advance via email below with:

·         your name

·         the name of the organization with which you are affiliated, if any

·         your telephone number

·         an email address where we may confirm your registration

(On-site registrations will be accepted if space is available.)

Transportation

Please consider public transportation to the event:

  • CTA Bus Route #66 Chicago Ave
  • CTA Red Line “L” train: exit train at Chicago Ave stop walk/take cab/bike east to event space

Address: Chicago Ave. and 800 N. State Street

Parking at Northwestern Memorial Hospital:
The main parking structure is located at the Huron/St. Clair parking garage, 222 East Huron St.

  • $10 for less than seven hours
  • $22 for seven to 24 hours

A validation for a parking discounts may be available at customer service desks located in Feinberg/Galter Pavilions, 1st and 2nd floor, and Prentice Women’s Hospital, 1st floor.

Questions

If you have questions, please call Andrea Cernich at 240-276-9869.

Website for Your Comments

If you are unable to participate in person, please submit your comments and ideas via the America’s Great Outdoors website at http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/.

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Find Hiking Trails Near You…By Zip Code!

Posted in Fitness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , on July 29, 2010| 2 Comments »

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

 

Back in 2010, Backpacker Magazine had a feature that is fantastic for my clients and readers that are in a new town or traveling to a new locale. It was a trip search feature that lets you find hiking trails near you by zip code.

EDIT as of 5-25-17, this feature no longer works. Instead, Backpacker, com allows you to search for trips by state. It is only available for some states, however. Check the link here.

For trails in the Chicago area specifically, Backpacker now this this link available here.

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Have a Summer Adventure in Wisconsin at Wildman Ranch

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , , on July 25, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

When I talk to clients with children looking for a place to take them for a summer vacation and when I talk to young clients looking for a challenging way to spend a few days, I know there are a lot of options for travel this summer. Wisconsin may not stand out as a big destination, especially for those born or raised in the West Coast. But fear not, the Midwest is not all flat and boring.  Aside from Starved Rock and Devil’s Lake, Northern Wisconsin has a lot to offer the outdoor enthusiast.

This past Spring when I attended the Adventure Travel Expo, I stopped by the  booth of Wildman Ranch.  The representatives there were super friendly and a little…wild. They had a white water raft in their booth and one of the gentleman agreed to pose in their raft!

Wildman Ranch Booth at Adventure Travel Expo. Image by Sue Shekut

What can you do at Wilman Ranch?

Be a wild man or wild woman. Or even a wild family!

• Wildman Whitewater Ranch is an outdoor adventure resort and whitewater rafting center in the Midwest.

• The ranch offers whitewater rafting trips down the scenic Peshtigo and Menominee Rivers in Wisconsin near the Michigan border.

• Challenge yourself on their 60-ft tall High Ropes Course and adrenalin-pumping Giant Swing.

• Explore the Northwoods wilderness on an ATV Trail Tours and, in the winter, on a Snowmobile Tours.

• Scale the terrain of the Rock Dam Gorge with a supervised Rock Climbing and Rappelling adventures.

• Team up with your friends or family in an exciting afternoon of Wildman Paintball Pursuit.

If you are feeling mellow, try out the “Lazy River” Tubing, Lake Touring in a Sea Kayak, or a round of golf on the Wildman USGA Golf Course.

Wildman ranch also provides campsites and cabins nestled among towering hemlock trees along the river’s edge just beneath the famous Horse Race Rapid of the Peshtigo River, the longest stretch of whitewater on the entire river.

Rates for rafting run from $32 for an adult up to $54 depending on the rafting course you select. Children rates run less. Click here for rates on all Wildman activities.

Wild Man Ranch is located just north of Door County,  4.5 hours from Chicago.

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Cash In on Great Hiking, Golfing, Water Recreation in Cashiers, NC

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Massage Research, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , , , , on June 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

This May we traveled to Cashiers, North Carolina to scout for locations for future seminars and group trips. One of my clients had told me to travel to Cashiers versus Asheville, NC for great hiking and a more outdoorsy experience. He was absolutely right! I found a great Inn on Trip Advisor. (My favorite travel site. If you don’t know about it, check it out! Similar to Yelp, but for travel, Trip Advisor provides user-generated reviews of hotels, cities, attractions, national parks, etc.)

View from top of Glen Falls, one of 17 area waterfalls near Cashiers, NC. Image by Sue Shekut

We stayed at the Laurelwood Mountain Inn, which is a sweet hotel sitting in the middle of beautiful downtown Cashiers!  “Downtown” Cashiers consists of the Inn, a gas station, a number of restaurants (from the BBQ at the farmers market store to the high-end Italian Restaurant, Horacio’s, to Bucks Coffee House with free WI-FI). There are also some antique shops and other small businesses but it’s mainly a two street town (at the junction of highways 64 and 107).

Farmer's Market in Beautiful Downtown Cashiers, NC, Image by Sue Shekut

The biggest find and a great surprise to us, was that there is a hiking store, Highland Hiker, just 1 block away from Laurelwood Mountain Inn. For a small “town” in the middle of the mountains, it was a shock to find such a large well equipped hiking store. The shop keepers we met were all avid hikers and gave us great service in helping us find new camel backs and hiking gear for our day hikes in the area.

Laurelwood Mountain Inn was a fantastic find. We stayed in one of their “suites” which is really a duplex condo, 2 bedroom, 2 bath with a two-person hot tub in the master bath. (A well deserved treat after hiking all day.) The condo had all the amenities of home with cable TV, a small kitchen (with mini-fridge versus a full size fridge) and was built by the current owner.

Laurelwood Mountain Inn Condo Staircase. Quality craftsmanship throughout. Image by Sue Shekut

The owner of the Inn built a waterfall right outside the door of our cabin (long before we came to stay, of course) along with a  gazebo. Eric, the Innkeeper, told us that the owner’s waterfalls were so popular he got busy building waterfalls for area residents. Now the owner is too busy to run the Inn so he hired the Innkeeper and his wife. After spending time in Cashiers, I could see why people would want to leave the big city and live up in the mountains!

Waterfall outside our suite at Laurelwood Mountain Inn. Image by Sue Shekut

Note: There are a number of vacation rentals in the area for large families and groups. Check out VBRO (Vacation rental by Owner), Trip Advisor or the GoCashiers site here for pics of great homes to rent on nearby Lake Glenville. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce also has a listing for accommodations here. There is also a higher end hotel with a golf course and tennis courts, High Hampton Inn & Country Club.

And, yes, the waterfalls at the Laurelwood Mountain Inn are a lovely but a small replica of the actual waterfalls to be found all around the Cashiers area. There are about 17 waterfalls near Cashiers. We did a day hike to Glen Falls and were not disappointed! It was a very active hike with a fair amount of climbing and many many photo opportunities like this one below!

Glen Falls, Cashiers, NC area. Image by Sue Shekut

Descending to the next level of the Falls we were glad to have brought our hiking poles!

Hiking Glen Falls, NC. Image by Sue Shekut

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only an hour away from Cashiers so we were able to take another day hike to see the actual “Smoke” from along the Great Smoky Mountains. (The “smoke” in the Great Smoky Mountains comes from the mystical blue mist (from water vapors) shrouding its peaks.)

View from Newfoundland Gap Trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Image by Sue Shekut

Our last view of the Great Smoky Mountains from Jump Off Point.

Great Smoky Mountains Jump off Point. image by Sue Shekut

Would we go back? As often as we can!

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Stretching While Hiking in The Great Smoky Mountains

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , , on June 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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

It’s taking me a while to get ALL my photos uploaded, resized and cataloged from our recent visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. Sitting in front of my computer working on the pics makes me want to stretch! So I am going to start showing some of our trip pics that include some simple stretches you can do while hiking. The stretches require a hiking pole or stick but any nearby long tree branch or stick will do!

Graveyard Fields midday

One of the places we were able to visit in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was the Graveyard Fields. This area had once been ravaged by forest fires and most of the growth is new growth. The area gets its name from the days prior to the fire when so many trees were cut down the meadow looked like a graveyard of tree stumps.

Hiking from this point begins with a  steep decent down wooden stairs.

Stairs to Graveyard Fields paths

As you climb down the stairs, you enter a magical Hobbit-like land of too-good-to-be-true green fields and small forests. babbling brooks and shallow streams abound.

Wood path in Graveyard Fields, Great Smoky Mountains

All along our path we ran into incredible flowers and peaceful areas of natural beauty.

After a fresh rain easier in the day, our hiking poles really helped us get around muddy patches and cross over streams and creeks.

Some areas made great use of our hiking poles to navigate slippery rocks.

After a few days of strenuous hiking up deep ascents, it was a pleasure to hike a shallower inclined path. At halfway point, we sat and admired a small “waterfall” over rocks in a creek.

After a few days of hiking and driving, we needed to stretch. My partner demonstrated some easy back stretches.

Stretching without the pole to warm up

A great mid back stretch using the hiking pole

Deeper stretching using the poles

Much of the terrain in the Great Smoky Mountains involves ascents and descents. Using hiking poles makes it easier to cross streams (for balance), to hoist yourself up on the next level of rock in the path and as we show above, for stretching!

The rewards of a long day hiking and driving include vistas like this one at Sunset.

Graveyard Fields at Sunset

More pics and stories of our hiking adventures to come!

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Indoor Plants Ease Stress for Computer Workers

Posted in Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , , on June 9, 2010| 6 Comments »

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

Workspace Without Plants

More good news about indoor plants: Researchers at Washington State University found that indoor plants decreased stress of computer workers and improved productivity.

The  study was conducted in a computer lab at Washington State University.  Subjects were asked to participate in an experiment to measure stress levels in people using computers.  They were randomly assigned to be tested in the computer lab when plants were absent or when they were present.  In the room with plants, the interior plants were placed around the sides of the room. Then the blood pressure and emotions of subjects were monitored while they performed a slightly stressful computer task that measured reaction times in response to seeing and decoding the shape of a simple object on the screen.

When plants were added to the lab, people were more productive (12% quicker reactions on the computer task) and less stressed (systolic blood pressure lower).  They also reported feeling more attentive when the plants were present.

Workspace With Plants

Again, yet another study shows that adding a little “nature” to your indoor life can actually not only make your work space or living space more aethetically pleasing, it can also help you feel better and think more clearly!

The research study was partially supported by the American Floral Endowment and the Horticultural Research Institute.

Source: Lohr, V.I., C.H. Pearson-Mims, and G.K. Goodwin. 1996. Interior plants may improve worker productivity and reduce stress in a windowless environment. J. of Environmental Horticulture 14(2):97-100.

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