UK Healthzone are organising the first Suffolk Business Netwalking event on Wednesday, 7th July 2010 at 12 noon.

What is Netwalking?

Netwalking it a combination of networking with other business people while getting some exercise, fresh air, and enjoying the beautiful Suffolk countryside.

Who can take part?

Anyone can take part, but you need to be able to walk approximately 1 mile, at a slow to moderate pace.  While there are clear paths, sensible shoes are advised.  Unfortunately this particular route is unsuitable for wheelchairs however we are hoping to find other routes which are suitable for all.

What's in it for me?

You get to meet other business people in a less formal setting, while getting your minimum suggested 30 minutes of exercise per day.  You also get to explore some beautiful countryside, and enjoy a picnic at the end of the walk.

What does it cost?

The event is free, however we do ask participants to bring something to share in the picnic afterwards - preferably something healthy!

Where is it?

The meeting point is the Orwell Country Park car park.  To access the car park there is a long driveway which is accessible by turning off Nacton Road near to the A14 roundabout here (marked "A"): Google Maps - just after you cross the bridge over the A14, turn right and follow the road down to the Orwell Country Park car park (marked "B")

How can I book?

Please visit our Events section to book.  While not compulsory, we do like to have an idea of numbers to ensure we have enough leaders, and also to ensure that nobody is running late who might be attending the event.  You can book at http://www.ukhealthzone.co.uk/seminar-7.

There are some times in life when you sit and think "why on earth did I say 'yes' to that?" and this is most definitely one of them!

Nicky (Business Development Manager) and I are both going on holiday this year - for me it will be the first "proper" holiday of my adult life - and we both want to lose some weight and get a bit fitter.

So, the discussion wandered onto the materials that are available from the British Heart Foundation and I fished out some training plans that I had printed from the website a while ago.  It was one of those moments where you can see the direction that the conversation is travelling, and you start thinking "why did I say that?!"

Within minutes we had challenged each other to do the 5k run for beginners training plan for six weeks, which will also help us with our fitness for our Aspire Channel Swim which starts in September.

So, starting next week we're going to be jogging in our local country park, starting off 3 days a week at 10 minutes per day, increasing to 4 days a week at 25 minutes in the last week.

We will be using SportyPal to monitor our progress over the weeks so you can keep up to date with how we're doing!

Suffolk Healthzone speak to Town 102 on health and wellbeing in the workforce

In response to a news story that was broadcast on our local radio station, Town 102, Suffolk Healthzone were asked to provide an interview on the alternatives to anti-depressants when employees are under stress at work.

Below you can listen to one of the several snippets which were broadcast throughout the day.

Full interview

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Snippet of interview

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UK Healthzone staff like to think that we practice what we preach, and are having a great time this week cycling to work as part of Team Great Britain's "Bike Week".

I was the first to arrive this morning in the glorious sunshine, with a very slight (but most welcome!) cooling breeze!  I only live about a mile away so it's not a long commute, but having been quite unwell recently it's a real challenge for me to commit to cycling every day this week. I am hoping that it will help me to build my stamina, improve my fitness and maybe even lose a bit of weight in the process!

UK Healthzone is offering all it's staff the option to work flexible hours to accommodate doing exercise before work - for example, I generally start work at 9.30 which gives me time to get everything sorted out at home, water the garden (I am just discovering the joys of growing my own food!) and get to the gym, pool or even go for a walk or cycle before coming in to work.  We find that having this flexibility means that staff have instantly reduced stress levels because there is not that crazy rush in the morning, a battle through the rush hour traffic, and it also of course means we can do some kind of exercise and be heatlhy!

Of course, it is important to have some level of monitoring to ensure that this open system is not abused, however we run an open and trusting office and each person has their own responsibility to ensure that they work their hours in whatever way suits them.

I'm off to find some breakfast cereal and to cool down a bit!

Here at UK Healthzone, we are dusting off our helmets and rummaging in the cupboards to find our bike locks!  Starting from Monday, 21st June those who are able will be donning the trouser clips and cycling to work, as part of our promotions for Team Green Britain's Bike Week.

There are lots of events being run nationally, why not check out the website and register to find out what is going on in your area?  If you are based at Basepoint Business Centre in Ipswich, drop in to register your interest and collect your free bike reflectors (and maybe even a balloon if you're lucky!).

The Head Office team at UK Healthzone have today signed up for one of the toughest challenges yet - the Aspire Channel Swim.

Over a 12 week period, the team will have to cover a distance of 22 miles, the equivalent of crossing the channel, in a local swimming pool.

We will be swimming at David Lloyd Leisure or Crown Pools in Ipswich, Suffolk and would really appreciate the support of our friends, family, clients and business contacts to help us reach our ambitious target of £2500, which would fund a made to measure lightweight wheelchair, allowing someone with a spinal injury to lead a more active and independant life .

Aspire is a charity which works with people with spinal cord injury to create opportunity, choice and independence.  This includes assisting with adapted housing for people leaving hospital if houses aren’t yet accessible, specialist computer equipment, independent living officers who provide direct support and advice for people recently injured and the Human Needs Fund which people can apply to for funding for specialist equipment. Aspire ensures that everyone with a spinal cord injury has the opportunity to live an independent and fulfilled life.

Aspire receives no statutory funding, so every penny raised through the Aspire Channel Swim will help them to continue their vital work.

Some of the ways in which your donation could go to help those with spinal injuries includes:

• £100 will buy the duvet and pillows for one of our adapted houses
• £350 will buy SmartNav technology for a PC to enable someone with a high level spinal injury to use a computer
• £700 will buy a laptop and an accessible bed table for a child in hospital so they can continue to study and stay connected to friends whilst recovering
• £1,000 will provide a rise and fall hob or sink in one of our adapted houses
• £2,500 will buy a made to measure light weight wheelchair

You can find our sponsorship page here http://www.justgiving.com/UKHealthzoneAspireSwim2010 - don't worry, we'll keep reminding you reguarly and will be updating you with our progress regularly over the 12 week period!

UK Healthzone are managing a health and wellbeing day at the Basepoint Business Centre, Ipswich, on 16th June 2010 from 2pm.

The day will kick off with a talk from Lina Hogg of Picasso HR, talking about the importance of health and wellbeing in the business environment.  There will be lots of events during the day including:

• 5 a side football
• Yoga or Tai-Chi taster sessions
• David Lloyd Leisure passes
• Healthy food options
• Age progression software - what will you look like in 20 years?
• Health Manager online tool demonstration
• Healthy Ambitions Suffolk Business Awards information
• Men's health awareness campaign - testicular cancer awareness

UK Healthzone are currently planning the events and publicity for the Bike to Basepoint week, which will take place between 21-26 June 2010 as part of Team Green Britain Bike Week.

We will be encouraging business owners and employees to cycle to work, and will be running various events during the week to facilitate more people getting interested in cycling.

If you would like further information please don't hesitate to get in touch, we will be adding a press release tomorrow.

As part of my commitment to improving my health and raising money for a charity close to my heart, I decided to plan a a 200 mile Coast to Coast walk across England in aid of The Fisherrmen's Mission in July 2009.

I have always been a keen walker from a young age owing to having a Mountain Leader as a father with a keen passion for hill walking and mountaineering, and completed the Coast to Coast walk when I was 13 with my family – this time will be more challenging as I camped the whole way – and carried everything with me for the duration of the walk.

This walk is no bimble in the park. It's a two-week walk across England, starting on the West Coast at St Bee's Head, crossing through some of the most spectacular scenery in the United Kingdom, to finish on the East Coast at Robin Hood's Bay.

I decided in 2008 when I had a change in job that I wanted to focus on my fitness, and needed a challenge. I’d been thinking about the Coast to Coast for a while, and decided in September to set myself a goal of completing the walk and raising money for a deserving charity at the same time.

I am also involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Woodbridge Open Group which has allowed me to pass on my passion to other young people undertaking their Gold award, while clocking up the miles in preparation for the walk, and my own Mountain Leaders training.

I chose the Fishermen’s Mission because they carry out the most dangerous job in the world, risking their lives daily to feed us.  Sponsorship raised from this walk will enable the Fishermen’s Mission to provide emergency and welfare support to our fishermen and their families around the coast, where and when they need it the most.

If I reach my target of £2,500 sponsorship, this will equate to approximately £12.50 per mile walked – a very strong incentive when the achy feet have to get up and walk on a cold, wet morning!