Mercy has launched a program to unite women across Toledo in an effort to improve their health and spiritual well-being.
The program, “For Every Woman,” will start off on the Web with health pointers from the hospital’s nutritionist and physical therapist and will eventually grow out into exercise meetings at places such as Wildwood Preserve Metropark, said Andrea Price, president and CEO of Mercy.
“Women take on many, many roles: we are the mother, the daughter, the wife, the sisters, the counselors and even spiritual advisers and the list can go on and on,” Price said during a July 12 press conference. “We always talk about how do we balance, but it’s really not about balancing, it’s about juggling.”
This leads many women to neglect their personal needs, she said. Experiencing the juggling act herself, Price said she started thinking about the program about a year ago.
Mercy will use foreverywomanbymercy.org, (note: Website no longer active) Facebook and Pinterest to connect to interested women. The four areas that the program seeks to address are: stepping up exercise, strengthening work and life balance, enhancing spirituality and improving nutrition.
The program is free to users.
The idea is that a woman is more likely to engage in healthy activities if she is encouraged by a group of other women shooting for similar goals. And improving health doesn’t always have to mean logging endless hours at the gym, said Donna Copeland, a Mercy physical therapist. She offered a couple examples of small changes that might make a difference. These include parking as far away as you can from your destination to force yourself to walk more, pacing while you talk on the phone and doing jumping jacks during commercial breaks if you watch television.
The program’s kickoff took place at Wildwood Preserve Metropark.
“We recognize the importance of having not only a clean, balanced and protected environment but also recognize the importance of having a balanced, active lifestyle,” said Stephen Madewell, director of Metroparks of the Toledo Area.
