Mindful Movement: How Writers Can Reduce Body Stress and Boost Wellness During the Workday
July 12, 2024, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm ET
Freelance Life, Personal, ProductivityAs writers, we tend to sit at our desks for hours on end. Unfortunately, this can take a toll on our physical and mental health, from aches and pains to stress and overwhelm. If you are looking for ways to bring more ease and peace to your workday, join us for this much-needed discussion. We’ll explore ways to prevent tension in the neck and back, the importance of taking breaks to boost focus and performance and how to build strategies into the workday to do so; and simple self-care practices to implement throughout the day like breathing exercises, meditation, mindful eating, spending time outside in nature, and desk stretches.
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Mindful Movement: How Writers Can Reduce Body Stress and Boost Wellness During the Workday
Bara Vaida is an experienced journalist who reported on business, consumer, wellness, and policy issues before joining the Institute in August 2023. As the director of training, Vaida is developing and expanding the Institute’s professional development portfolio and training strategy; creating unique learning opportunities for journalists; and producing timely resources for journalists, including the Institute’s afternoon newsletter, The Latest.
Prior to joining the Institute in 2023, she was a freelance journalist for more than a decade focusing on health care topics and wrote a number of stories for NPR and AARP on how movement can help with wellness. Bara is also a 500-hour, Yoga Alliance-certified yoga instructor, with specialized training in meditation, stress-reduction, and therapeutics and loves teaching fellow journalists how to use these skills to help manage the innate stresses of the journalism business.
Leigh Baker is a national board-certified health and wellness coach with a master’s degree in public health from East Carolina University, with a dual concentration in health behavior and health administration. She received her coach training through Duke Integrative Medicine and has been coaching professionally for the last five years and has been working in the health and wellness field for over 12 years.
Stemming from her experience working in both the non-profit and private sector of the health care system and seeking out additional ways to support individuals in improving their health, Leigh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the health and wellness field. She has a diverse background in the health and wellness field, ranging from conducting research studies on the efficacy of health coaching interventions to leading women’s wellness retreats and working one-on-one with individuals to support their health journey.
In addition to her work in health and wellness coaching, Leigh is also a co-owner of a custom furniture business alongside her husband. Together, they operate a storefront offering hand-crafted, custom furniture, natural home products, and home accents. With a passion for holistic living, Leigh oversees business operations while also incorporating wellness workshops into their offerings, creating a unique space that promotes both physical and emotional well-being.
Through her combined expertise in public health, health and wellness coaching and entrepreneurship, Leigh is committed to supporting individuals on their journey towards a balanced and fulfilling life, with their health in mind.
Sandi Schwartz is an award-winning environmental author and freelance journalist with over 20 years of experience effectively and creatively communicating to diverse audiences in the areas of sustainability, home and garden, nature, and wellness. Her bylines include Yahoo!, MSN, Dwell, Success, Verywell, mindbodygreen, BobVila.com, Family Handyman, TechTarget, Earth911, and many more publications. Her book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, focuses on the mental health benefits of nature and has been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, National Geographic, Yahoo!, Good Housekeeping, Library Journal, Authority Magazine, and more. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including ASJA’s Arlene Book Award: Books That Make a Difference. Previously, she held positions at the National Academies; United States Environmental Protection Agency; and Cadmus, an environmental consulting firm where she worked on EPA’s ENERGY STAR and indoor air quality programs.
Sandi is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), ACES: The Society for Editing, Editorial Freelancers Association, and GardenComm: Garden Communicators International. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at The George Washington University, a Master of Arts in Government with an Environmental Focus at Johns Hopkins University, and a Specialization Certificate in Foundations of Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She splits time between Florida and New Jersey with her family.