This recent quarantine has many persons playing superhero from home, filling the role of full-time employee while dabbling in the areas of domestication, education, culinary arts, and parenthood. But how does a hero get all of his energy? Through fitness, of course. Nestlé Jamaica has decided to join the fight against COVID-19 by providing free online workout videos for its staff. As an added bonus, the company has made the videos accessible to everyone.
According to Nestlé’s human resource business partner, David Heath, “Since people are being urged to stay indoors and practise social distancing and gyms have suspended operations to help suppress the spread of the coronavirus, we have opened our workout sessions for free as people are seeking ways to maintain their exercise regimen during the COVID-19 crisis”.
With the pandemic putting many on edge and the heightened uncertainty surrounding jobs, businesses, and loved ones looming over everyone’s minds, Nestlé Jamaica believes that taking care of the community by helping to alleviate some of the mental pressures is just what we need. “Exercise releases endorphins that create a sense of euphoria. This, as a result, reduces stress, improves mood, while at the same time [helping] you to sleep,” Heath said.
Priding itself on being innovative and a game-changer, the organisation teamed up with TrainFit Club to create a virtual workout just for you. Comprising some of the best trainers on the island, TrainFit Club, Heath revealed, has the unique skill of fusing fun with science. The club uses a wide variety of music, from early soca to current hits, to keep things interesting, and the routines, he said, are never the same.
Each live online workout session lasts for 45 minutes, and the sessions take place twice per week, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, to give the body enough time for rest and recovery. “These beginning to intermediate fitness sessions consist of a cardiovascular dance exercise, light strength workout, ending with floor work and a cool-down stretch that can easily be done at home without equipment. The sessions not only promote good heart health but also help build muscle strength, coordination, and a healthy life,” he shared.
So far, the comments online have been overwhelmingly positive, with so many persons loving the virtual session experience. “We just want our employees to know we are thinking about their well-being, and we want to be a resource for them,” he said. And as for the wider public, Nestlé Jamaica is hopeful that other companies will continue to remain open to new and creative ways to promote their employees’ personal enrichment and well-being.
He also had this to say: “We want to encourage persons to stay active during these unsettling times, and we are here to support your wellness as we navigate this new territory together. Self-care is also more important than ever; exercise, sleep, nutrition, and stress management are keys to staying healthy”.
Here are the testimonials of two Nestlé Jamaica employees:
“I feel a sense of honour and privilege to be a part of a company that does not care solely about its bottom line but also about its employees’ physical and mental health. The significance of this is even more pronounced during this current global pandemic. The morning virtual fitness routines give me the added boost of energy I need to work from home and be more productive. Thank you, Nestlé and TrainFit Club, for coming together and making these virtual fitness programmes a reality.”
– Shawna-Kay Knight, trade marketing manager
“I found the concept intuitive as it gave an opportunity, working from home, to remain active. Not walking around the office or walking out on the road, this gave the platform to get a day’s activity in. I was able to get the family involved for an early-morning workout from the comfort of my home.”
– Andrew Otto, category development manager
So be sure to tune in to the virtual session at 6:15 a.m. on TrainFit Club’s Instagram page. If you are unable to do so, the workout videos are saved to TrainFit Club’s story, so you can check them within 24 hours. You can also have access to the videos later on via YouTube on TrainFit Club’s channel. Follow @trainfitclubja on Instagram for further details, and just work it out!
Story by Kryta Anderson
krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com
