Active Living

Physical activity doesn’t have to be all work and no play.

In fact, it can be just the opposite! There is no need to think of strenuous workouts that are painful and boring. Instead, imagine doing fun physical activities you enjoy and look forward to. Get active your way, everyday, and watch the health benefits follow!

There are three types of activities you need to do to keep your body healthy and fit:

  • Endurance activities help your heart, lungs and circulatory system stay healthy and give you more energy. These include walking, gardening, golfing, dancing and in-line skating.
  • Flexibility activities help you to move easily by keeping your muscles relaxed and your joints mobile. Flexibility activities include gentle reaching, bending, and stretching of all your muscle groups. This is found in yard work or house work, curling and Tai Chi.
  • Strength activities help your muscles and bones stay strong. They also improve your posture and help to prevent injuries or osteoporosis. Carrying groceries or children, lifting weights, hiking with a backpack or climbing stairs are effective ways of building your strength.
Why active living at work?
  • 15 million Canadians spend half of their waking hours at work
  • 85% of Canadians value physical activity
  • Canadians need help in making active choices easy choices
  • Stress-related illness is on the increase and a majority recognize that physical activity will reduce stress
  • The environments in which people live, learn, work and play have a significant impact on health
  • Enabling physical activity can make a difference
Benefits of active living at work
  • Improved fitness and health
  • Improved productivity and morale
  • Improved job satisfaction and team spirit
  • Reduced stress and back injuries
  • Reduced absenteeism and turnover
  • Reduced worker's compensation costs
  • Reduced claims against group benefit plans
Evidence suggests a return on investment for business
  • Dr. Roy Shephard for the Canadian government found corporate wellness programs returned $1.95 - $3.75 per employee per dollar spent.
  • Municipal employees in Toronto: missed 3.5 fewer days in first six months of “Metro Fit” program
  • BC Hydro employees enrolled in the fitness program had a turnover rate of 3.5% compared to company average of 10.3%
  • Canadian Life Assurance Company found that turnover rate for fitness program participants was 32.4% lower than average over seven years.
Typical worksite active living initiatives that have been successful

Modest investments have helped some businesses make active choices easy choices for their employees. For example,

  • Access to bike racks, showers and change areas
  • Lifestyle health and wellness newsletters that provide information on community resources
  • Company recreational events such as lunchtime walking programs, activity days, support for summer active campaigns/activities, ski days, golf days and team sports
  • Flex time to allow employees to participate in physical activity
  • Shared or subsidized programs in cooperation with community or private fitness centres.
Other Resources on the Web:

Public Health Agency of Canada
Active Living at Work
Information

National Quality Institute
Information

Walk This Way
Physical Activity Resource Centre
Online Workshops

Alberta Centre for Active Living
Information on physical activity initiatives @ work