Falls Healing Arts offers new wellness program

Getting in shape, managing weight, eating healthy and avoiding major illness are four key ingredients for a long, productive and rewarding life. With the costs of health-care skyrocketing and the overall health of the nation plummeting, Falls Healing Arts in Sheboygan Falls is ready to assist those in need of a total body renovation. Drawing on a recent partnership with Synergy Team Workout, Falls Healing Arts has developed a Total Body Wellness program, designed to improve overall body weight, nutrition, health and fitness. The program utilizes the chiropractic and nutritional services of Falls Healing Arts, as well as the fitness programs of Synergy Team Workout, which recently relocated to the Falls Healing Arts building. “This really came about when Synergy moved into our building last summer,” said Joni Stefanczyk of Falls Healing Arts. “When they came in, a fitness element was added to what we already offer. “After that, we started to brainstorm about putting together a program that would incorporate all of the services we have here.” The Total Body Wellness program will be unveiled, during an introductory informational program Saturday, Jan. 23, at Falls Healing Arts. The event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include information sessions on the musculoskeletal system (9:45-10 a.m.); nutrition (10-10:15 a.m.); fitness (10:15-10:30 a.m.); as well as equipment demonstrations, chair massages and healthy snacks (10:30-11 a.m.). The morning program will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the program will be repeated in the afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dr. Craig Stefanczyk and Dr. Amy Hietala of Falls Healing Arts, as well as Synergy Team Workout owners Colleen Carney and Jeff Armstrong will conduct the informational sessions and demonstrations. Three to five candidates are being sought to take part in the first-ever Total Body Wellness program session, which runs for three months. The program is designed for people who are striving to improve all facets of their health. Those confronting problems such as weight gain, elevated blood sugar, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, strength loss and high cholesterol are encouraged to apply for the program. “This is a program for people who do not feel they are as healthy as they should be,” Mary Ann Waldbauer of Falls Healing Arts said. “It is for people who are not currently working out or eating right. “We are looking for people who are looking to improve their overall health and who are seriously committed to following a strict schedule and routine for three months,” she said. Program participants will be asked to document their daily food intake and workout schedules, while attending weekly chiropractic appointments, nutritional consultations, personal training sessions, weigh-ins and occasional lectures on relevant health topics. “We are using this first group as kind of test market for the program,” Waldbauer said. “The participants will journal daily and workout six days a week, while we document their weight, glucose and cholesterol levels throughout the three-month time frame.” According to Stefanczyk, a group of three to five participants is a perfect number for gathering initial feedback and evaluating the program. “We wanted to have a small enough group, so that they are able to do many of the elements of the program together,” she said. “They will attend lectures and take part in fitness classes as a group, which is something we think is important. “By doing things together, they can encourage each other and maybe push each other to do their best. There are other things that they will do on their own too, like personal nutrition and evaluation and additional fitness training.” Prospective participants can apply by filling out a medical and fitness questionnaire, during the Jan. 23 informational program. “The only requirement for applying to the program is filling out the questionnaire,” Stefanczyk said. “We intend to select the group of candidates soon after, if not on the day of the program.” The first lecture, titled “Natural Options in Health Care,” is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 27, with the program officially getting under way Monday, Feb. 1. “We will start by putting each participant through a nutritional cleansing, through the use of supplements and medical food,” Waldbauer said. “The process involves cleansing the body of all the bad bacteria that has been built up. “From there, we will move through the program by incorporating healthy food and a fitness routine, to fit each individual,” she said. “We are hoping this will help each individual to make a lasting lifestyle change.” As the program develops, Waldbauer said the goal is to market it to area businesses, as a way to reduce medical and health-care costs. “We are at a point now where everyone, including business owners, must look at where health care is going,” she said. “We are striving to put together a program that will help reduce the number of sick days, injuries and major medical problems, through healthy eating, exercise and awareness. “By doing that, it is our hope that we can reduce the amount of medications people take.” Program costs will be held to a minimum. “The cost will be drastically reduced in comparison to what it would actually cost to take part in all of these services, classes and programs,” Stefanczyk said. She is eagerly awaiting the kickoff of the program. “This is something unique that addresses key health care issues on everyone’s mind these days,” she said. “Our goal is to make an impact and improve people’s health and wellness for the long term.” Falls Healing Arts is located at 275 North Main St. in Sheboygan Falls. For more information on the Total Body Wellness program, call Falls Healing Arts at 467-8690.