WELLNESS CORNER
COMMITTEES Public Policy & Legislation
The letter below is from the office of Senator Patrick Gallivan who represents New York States 59th district which encompasses Erie, Wyoming, Livingston, and Monroe counties. His letter shows supports for all of our legislative asks and is written to NYS Legislative leaders and chairpersons. Thank you, Senator Gallivan, for all your advocacy efforts! LAC RECAP: Letter from NYS Sentor Patrick Gallivan SUBMITTED BY BARBARA ALBI FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR, DEPEW UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Julia’s Wellness Corner: The Benefits of Yoga BY JULIA ALOTTA ADVOCACY COORDINATOR
Let’s face it 2020 and 2021 have thrown us all for a loop. Between our daily life challenges, it just seems impossible to catch a break. Whether you have ways of dealing with stress or not I challenge (I am serious I want pictures emailed to me) you to try practicing yoga. Key word is try, no one is an expert the first time they try something. 15 minutes of Yoga a day is all you need to center yourself around the craziness in between breakfast and lunch serving times, or delivery days. You do not need to do any complicated stretches or fancymoves— just sit at your desk and take a few deep breaths. As time passes you will feel better. Besides the benefit of stress management, yoga can also increase calories burned, which in turn increases one’s ability to lose weight. Let me e O x b p e l s a i i t n y … is a complex disease - there is no quick fix, or one size fits all solution. Even genetics plays a role in weight issues. However, there are some contributions to weight gain that are sometimes overlooked. For starters, eating processed foods and living a sedentary lifestyle adds to the problem, as well as stress. Yoga can be part of the solution because yoga can helpmanage stress, improve your mood, curb emotional eating, and create a sense of community when other people get on board. The next question you may ask is where can I do this? Well, I have an answer.
Start with YouTube. Type in the search bar “5-minute yoga flow, 10-minute stretch, 5-minute stretch and meditation, 15-minute chair yoga.” However you want to be guided through a yoga session, search that on YouTube. Then, sit on a padded surface - which could be your chair or the ground on a mat with enough room to sit tall and extend your legs. I highly suggest practicing before or right after work. It is a guaranteed way to start and end your day with calmness and gratitude. Tip: encourage your Food Service team to participate in a yoga class in person-- this is a great way to get moving and encourage team bonding! Yoga is a form of exercise that unites the mind, body, and spirit. Haven’t convinced you yet? Scientific evidence suggest that stress leads to an increase in the hormone cortisol. This hormone can increase abdominal fat, decrease muscle mass, cause cravings for fat and sugar, and thus can lead to obesity. Yoga can decrease stress and cortisol levels, enhance mood, decrease anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and improve chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. When in doubt—just try it.
CL I CK HERE TO L I STEN to Julia Alotta interview Elizabeth Coffey about her experience as a yoga teacher and how practicing has transformed her life.
LISTEN HERE
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FreshBites
SPRING 2022
FreshBites
SPRING 2022
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