Southern Seven offers heart smart class for women

By Dixie Terry

Southern Seven Health Department has received continued funding to implement the Heart Smart for Women program.

"The focus is to help women learn the problem-solvinq and behavior skills that will enable them to adopt and maintain a regular-physical activity and healthy eating pattern for a lifetime." said Cherie Wright, of Jonesboro, Community Health/Wellness Coordinator.

Wright and Allison Hasler, Goreville, a Health Educator with Southern Seven Health Department, will each be teaching the classes in six locations beginning in January. Each class will continue for twelve weeks.

Wright will teach the classes at Cairo, Anna and Mounds with Hassler holding sessions at Vienna, Goreville and Metropolis.

The program has been offered previously, but "this time we're bringing the classes to the communities; rather than have the women come to one location as was done previously" said Wright.

The current grants came from the Illinois Office of Public Health, the Office of Women's Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health.

Wright said, "For those women having a hard time sticking to an exercise or healthy eating program in the past, and are looking for a new way to help them become active and eat healthier, then this program is for them."

The Heart Smart for Women program consists of a 12-week step-by-step plan designed to help make physical activity a part of the daily lifestyle. Said Wright, "The program emphasizes activities that can be added to the daily routine, lets each person create their own activity plan, helps the woman solve problems and overcome obstacles, and qives tips for adopting a healthy eating pattern. The program will also offer a cholesterol/lipid screening at three times. Also offered for those attending regularly will be door prizes, such as yoga mats, resistance bands, pedometers and other giveaways, plus a 'big giveaway' to be announced later," said Wright.

The class will also offer the option of receiving a general credit from Shawnee Community College. Said Hasler of the weekly one-hour class, "It's for all ages, any woman over 18, an intervention and very personalized session, where the women will learn life-style changes."

Wright added that she hopes the participating women will continue the life-style change, following the 12-week sessions. Classes will be held at the following locations: Cairo-Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center on Wednesday 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., January 23-April 9. Anna - Anna Housing Community Center on Tuesdays 10-11 a.m., Jan. 22-April 8. Mounds - Diversified Rehab on Tuesdays, 5-6 p.m., Jan. 22-April 8. Vienna, Carnegie Public Library, Tuesdays from 9-10 a.m., Jan. 29-April 15. Metropolis, Southern Seven Health Department on Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m., Jan. 30-April 16. Goreville, Busby Freewill Baptist Church on Thursdays, 5-6 p.m., Jan. 31-April 17. For additional information or to enroll, call Wright at the Jonesboro office at 833-8561 or Hasler at the Vienna office at 658-5011.