Show CM oo CN oo' CN ly since last summer when die company spruced up the first four floors of the stairwell and encouraged people to climb as part of a national program to promote cardiovascular health The company uses the first four floors and the top floor of die building and leases the other levels so it limited die first stage of the project to those bottom floors But those levels look snazzy: No more fluorescent light and drab industrial gray concrete The company added soft lighting and new carpet Each landing glows with a new color — bright lilac sunshine yellow pale lavender azure rose — and rewards climbers with paintings by nationally known artist Ernie Barnes: runners breaking through die finish line kids bouncing on an old mattress die North Carolina Central University band marching through Durham heads back- brass high die crowd dancing and cheering The redecorated stairway reminds employees that it One firm’s workers are climbing By SUSAN KINZIE Raleigh News & Observer Next to the elevator at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co a little sign reads: “Elevators at rest Stairs are best!”' In otherwords: Don’t just stand there Americans have gotten more and more sedentary and offices usually don’t help plunking people down in front of computers for right-hodays But at North’ Carolina Mutual part of die Durham NC office is now designed to help people strengthen their hearts People often run (or walk puffing) to other floors in the building — especial ' ur ii flj xa ID ID C J W A S N A G OEVO R £ V) L L M N G I I I A B G NS I T-- HIE H K T A N LAW OS D T I A L I C R L X B N ST B I G MSCC 0 0 W I W E Y B A L L T G J B QA QW GO N L I K K N E N J A G M N B J GWA H R D H Y Y HR U G M Q0 D N JUMP G Y G F I I E L D H KG OR 1 N I B M T T P 0 NE L I PL N Z Q N I N B G' 0 I KEG F I 0 SI IS K E A N G R 0 t lemy K H P E K S C K E Y H A S Fitness Academy Club—' 981 S Main i 1655 North 200 East ' Logan Utah 84321 435-753-75- 01 8- 0 E D O- - T3 2D 1 01 C' (— : us I (D I -- E S the elevator complaining of sore knees or high heels that &: pinch or lungs that seem to forget how to work after a ao flight or two But more and more people haye been choosing the stairs Before the changes a little electronic eye recorded about 1 500 stair uses in a month But in the first month after the stairwell makeover that jumped to more than 3000 Goff said get in F T N RG 0W 0 ’ ing Sure lots of people still take C T Z H A H C W L L A B T F I I 1 C U D G H JR te - A N P X X B C IN C E R K ' “What it comes down to is — do we all have 60 minutes to work out?” asked Jamy Albo an exercise physiologist who works with UNC ' Hospitals employees ” “Probably not But Albo says something & definitely much better than nothing And two sessions of exercise a day — zipping around fast enough to make breathing harder — helps nearly as much as one bout according to the American Council oii Exercise That’s why experts such as Albo urge people to sneak in ' activity here and there: Park farther from the office and walk the rest of the way Lug the milk bananas and peanut butter around the store instead F A N S D Z Z E L T 0 G:0 ID 0 L H exercise cart And take the stairs With help from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the firm became the first company in the United States to launch the Stairwell Initiative using a $20000 CDC grant and $10000 in company money to change the office environment to encourage employees to think about fitness So far the Stairwell Initiative seems to be work- S L E T T S Q Q L N T I A B Z P (D EWE ERF WT 0 R A G K KE L ‘ ! GZ es for better health” LaVeme Robinson used to take the stairs occasionally but the redecorating inspired her to use them more often “I know when I get here and see the little ballerina lady I’m almost home” she said pointing to a painting of a gymnast swirling a long ribbon just before the floor where she works Of course just taking a flight or two now and then isn’t going to whip people into shape The surgeon general recommends 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week to strengthen muscles and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease But most of strolling through with a people don’t have that kind of time or willpower — not when there are clients to meet kids to drive to gymnastics videos to watch a million things that seem more important or way more fun than Woods occupational health’ nurse for North Carolina Mutual “You can put oh proper shoes and use die stairwell G H C S ten-ni- - 12-sto- ry I doesn’t take a membership at a swanky health club expen- sive gizmos or a huge chunk of time to get stronger “You don’t need to have a running suit or running or earphones” said Betty North Login Utah 84341 : 435-753-75- 00 r |