National Women’s Health and Fitness day was Sept. 24, and Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center celebrated all day long.
“As a medically based fitness facility, this day aligns perfectly with our mission. National Women’s Health & Fitness Day is all about celebrating the power of women prioritizing their health, fitness and well-being. At the HFC, we believe strength isn’t just measured by how much you can lift, it’s how you show up for yourself, your health, and for others. Creating space for women to celebrate that strength together felt like a natural fit,” Amanda Castillo, member experience manager said.
“In the past, we’ve kept the day simple with pink-themed workouts and fun rides, but this year I wanted to offer something bigger: a true, full-day experience of fitness, self-care and connection at the HFC. Planning started back in June, and after brainstorming a lot of ideas, I focused on activities that every woman could engage with, no matter what time they visited,” said Castillo.
The gym also encouraged everyone to wear pink all day long to show their support for this day and for all women.
The day kicked off with a 6:05 a.m. yoga class led by Castillo, where encouraging cards and electrolytes were passed out to each attendee.
There were eight different cards that had something uplifting written on them to help each woman remind themselves to choose themselves even when life gets crazy.
Some of the written messages were “Take one small action today just for you. Stretch, hydrate, rest or move.” Another card read, “Write down one thing that makes you feel amazing. Make time for it this week.”
At noon the gym hosted a power hour panel with Dr. Keitha Holland, Amanda Castillo and dietitian Ashley Robb.
At the panel they talked about women’s strength, hormones and health.
Robb talked about things that are important for women’s health such as, “Checking in with your body routinely. Women tend to push through a lot of things like fatigue or pain or mood changes thinking that that is normal, but these can be a sign that your body needs something. It could be rest, better nutrition or a different form of support. It’s important to pay attention and take your body seriously.”
It’s also important for women to know that their body’s health changes over time as they age.
“Your health needs change over time and that’s normal. What worked for you at 20 may not work for you at 30 or 40. It is okay to adjust how you eat, how you move and how you care for your body as it ages,” Robbs said.
Along with those two events the gym had a pink banner that they encouraged members of the gym to take pictures in front of all day long.
They also had a pledge wall that had three different prompts, “Strength means ___ to me, I feel the strongest when…, today I commit to….”
There were sticky notes close to these posters where anyone in the gym could write their answers for people to see.
Castillo talked about how important it is to celebrate women’s health everyday by saying, “Ladies your health is your power. Schedule that exam. Lift the weights. Nourish your body. And most importantly, lean on the women around you. When we show up together, we prove we’re truly stronger together.”
Visit Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center’s website at https://www.conwayregionalhfc.org/ to learn about their schedule, future events and how to get involved with your health!