Get Moving
Your body in motion plays a key role in your overall wellness. Staying active improves immunity, strengthens your heart and bones, and boosts mood – and that’s just for starters.
Your body in motion plays a key role in your overall wellness. Staying active improves immunity, strengthens your heart and bones, and boosts mood – and that’s just for starters.
Boost Your Fitness with an At-home Class
Get a great workout – and have fun doing it – with dance, yoga or another online fitness class in the comfort of your own home.
WeightWatchers guides me to choose healthy options. And since I’ve lost weight, I don’t have pain in my knees anymore and I feel more energetic —which means I can enjoy more time with my kids!
– Tykar W., 1199SEIU Member, Mount Sinai
WeightWatchers guides me to choose healthy options. And since I’ve lost weight, I don’t have pain in my knees anymore and I feel more energetic —which means I can enjoy more time with my kids!
– Tykar W., 1199SEIU Member, Mount Sinai
Have you started yet?
Take the next step toward better health and reach your goals with WeightWatchers. Learn More!
A Message from Manisha Kulshreshtha, MD
The concept of healthy living begins with mental health, and incorporating habits that improve health and wellness into your daily life. Making slight adjustments to a healthy diet, incorporating exercise into your weekly routine and promoting mental health will deliver amazing outcomes to you, our healthcare heroes and, in turn, your patients.
Opportunities to make these adjustments come in big and small sizes, such as joining a gym, beginning group exercise classes online or in-person, stretching on your own or walking more each day. More exercise is best supported by eating more healthy foods as part of your regular meals. These small changes can add up to big differences in your body’s health over time and strengthen the positive transformation in your mind and body. Improving your body’s health improves your mental health, and improved mental health encourages you to improve your body’s health.
These healthy habits are best supported and reinforced in partnership with your primary care physician. Building a strong relationship with your primary care doctor means seeing him or her when you’re feeling good, not just when you’re sick, including an annual health assessment to ensure you receive the necessary screenings and care to keep your mind and body healthy.
Know Your Fitness Numbers
Numbers you should know to take control of your heart health
Preventive screenings help you detect a chronic condition or illness in its early stages so you can learn how to manage it and stay healthy.
Schedule Your Screenings for the Year
These screenings are also an excellent way to check how well you are managing an already diagnosed condition. To get screened, visit your doctor or go to an 1199SEIU health fair at your worksite.
Your Benefit Fund’s Chief Medical Officer recommends that you follow these screening guidelines.
| Screening | Beginning at age | How often? |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Exam | All ages | At least every year |
| Eye Exam | Age 40+ | Every 2 to 4 years |
| Blood Pressure Screening | Age 18+ | At least every year |
|
Cholesterol*
|
Age 18+
If your initial test results were abnormal, or if you’re at higher risk of heart disease
|
Every 5 years As directed per your doctor |
|
Glucose/Blood Sugar Screening for Diabetes*
|
Age 45+ | With every annual checkup |
|
Bone Density (osteoporosis screening)
|
Women: age 65+, as well as younger postmenopausal women who have risk factors or who have had a fracture as an adult
Men: 65+
|
Women: Once, then as directed per your doctor
Men: Discuss with your doctor
|
Cancer Screenings †
| Age 45+ |
Colonoscopy every 10 years or Fecal occult blood test every year or Cologuard every 3 years
Ask your doctor which test is best for you.
|
|
| Cervical Cancer: PAP test |
Women age 21–65
|
Every 3 years
|
| Cervical Cancer: HPV and PAP test | Women age 30–65 | Every 5 years, or just Pap test every 3 years (If an HPV test is positive, screenings should be annual)†† |
| Breast Cancer: Clinical Breast Exam |
Women age 20+
|
At your regular checkup |
| Breast Cancer: Mammography | Women age 40+ | Every year |
| Prostate Cancer | Men: Discuss with your doctor | Discuss with your doctor |
| Lung Cancer | Current/former smokers within the past 15 years, age 50 to 80, who smoked 1 pack/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years. | Annual |
* Talk to your doctor if you smoke; are overweight; have high blood pressure, diabetes or a history of gestational diabetes; have a family history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke; or are at risk for coronary artery disease.
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Cancer Society; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Resistance Band and Yoga/Pilates Workout
Consult your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.
Browse the Wellness section of the Benefits Channel video library for tips, low-impact workouts and more.
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Chair Yoga
What Can You Do to Improve Your Physical Health?
Start with healthy habits and achievable goals – then work up from there!
Statistics
73% Percentage of U.S. workplaces that offer wellness programs.
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
60% Percentage improvement that high-intensity exercise has on cardiovascular disease risk.
Source: PLOS Medicine
33% Percentage that regular exercise reduces the risk of all-cause mortality in adults who are active for 150 minutes per week.
Source: CDC
76% Percentage of regular exercisers who reported better sleep quality.
Source: Sleep Foundation
69 million: The number of gym members in the U.S.
58% Percentage that physical activity and moderate weight loss decrease Type 2 diabetes risk.
Source: CDC
Fitness Classes
-
Retirees: Standing Yoga
Tuesday, December 24, at 1:00 pm
This class connects the body, breath, and mind. It uses standing postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve overall health.
Meeting ID: 842 7889 6267
-
Retirees: Latin Cardio Dance
Friday, December 27, at 11:00 am
An exhilarating cardio class set to Latin music that uses easy-to-follow choreography to keep you moving and grooving while toning your body and burning fat.
Meeting ID: 861 3295 5230
-
Retirees: Latin Cardio Dance
Friday, January 3, at 11:00 am
An exhilarating cardio class set to Latin music that uses easy-to-follow choreography to keep you moving and grooving while toning your body and burning fat.
Meeting ID: 861 3295 5230
-
Retirees: Tai Chi
Monday, January 6, at 11:00 am
Experience a gentle breath and movement meditation to help you feel more open, limber and calm.
Meeting ID: 848 6128 3210
Resources
Access free or reduced-cost community services and programs close to where you live or work with findhelp.org. Search for support in your community, including housing assistance, emotional well-being resources, child care, legal help and more.
Visit findhelp.1199SEIUBenefits.org to get started.
Programs at Your Worksite
As an 1199SEIU member, you may have access to programs where you work to help you live a healthy lifestyle.
The information contained in this site is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. See terms of use.
**$25 shop credit + shipping on us offer terms: You must purchase a WW membership plan between 6/1/23 and 7/31/23 to get a $25 WW Shop Credit that can be used at the WW Shop at WW.com/shop. You will receive the credit via email within 5 to 7 days of signup. Available only where membership plans are offered through your employer or health plan, and in participating areas only. One per member. Credit must be redeemed by 8/31/23. Some products may be excluded. Free shipping is applicable on standard ground shipping to a single continental U.S. delivery address only. Offer not available to current members. Non-transferable. Offer is subject to change without notice.
