Meet Cindy Salmon
WIN for Alaska, Inc. Wellness Consultant
 Cindy is a Registered Dietitian and fitness trainer whose mission is to help clients make healthy choices. As a lifelong Alaskan with more than 15 years working in office administration, she understands the challenges of work and life stressors. Cindy received a Food & Nutrition Science Degree from Northern Arizona University, and completed her dietetics internship at University of Alaska Anchorage.
Continuing education over the last 10 years has included sports nutrition, fitness/wellness, diabetes, eating disorders, behavior change, celiac disease, kidney disease, and cardiovascular health. Her favorite activities include skijoring, alpine skiing, rollerblading, biking, watching it snow, and having a good laugh.
I chose wellness consulting as my second career for several reasons.
First, the most important lesson my father ever taught me: chronic disease robs families of their loved ones.
Secondly, my first career as an administrator provided experience with on the job stress. In those days, I often felt ill by the end of my workday from the scenario of too much to do with too little time. Fortunately, I had support from positive people who walked with me while I found the simple truth: negative stress can be offset by positive self-care.
Recess
I started making time to take “recess” for walking, swimming, rollerblading, or biking before work or at lunchtime. Physical activity released the stress so I ate healthier and felt better. Solutions to difficult problems often came to me while I was at recess. My communications improved. My staff’s performance was positively affected, and I had energy at the end of the day. What a great investment!
In time, the high levels of stress were replaced with new energy and motivation to help others find wellness. I followed what I call my "path with heart." I rolled up my sleeves and went back to school. One degree, many internships, and thousands of clients later, I find the key to achieving and maintaining health depends on our ability to integrate healthful habits into our workplaces and homes. Healthy living is about the little things we do every day. It’s important to remember that no one is ever too old to take daily recess.
Staying Active
In the winter, my favorite fitness routine is to “run my dogs” by skijoring with them. They make the perfect personal trainers as they never think it’s too cold outside to go skijoring. Summertime is all about variety – walking, biking, rollerblading, and this summer’s new activity of modified Tai Chi with WIN on Thursdays at the West Ridge lawn during the lunch hour.
If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope to see you there soon! |
WIN for Alaska, Inc.