Heart association recognizes companies’ fitness efforts

At Costen Floors, if you walk around the outside of the building three times, you've walked a mile. Employees are encouraged to put in those laps regularly.

That's part of the reason Costen Floors was added to the list of local companies designated this year as Start! Fit-Friendly Companies by the American Heart Association.

Donna Johnson, scheduling coordinator at Costen Floors, said the company also replaced some of the junk options in the snack machine with healthier offerings. And during meetings, employees are taking more stretch breaks so they can get up and move around.

"We're just trying to make everyone more aware," said Johnson, who says she was fairly sedentary until she began daily walks. She recently was presented the heart association's Lifestyle Change award for the Richmond area.

"We try to get together for walks outside," she said. "Usually, two or three of us go at a time."

About 40 employees work out of the western Henrico County building, located behind the Westpark Shopping Center off Broad Street. It's a two-story building, but there's no elevator.

"So it's good because we're forced to use the stairs," Johnson said with a laugh.

Little changes such as the ones at Costen Floors can make a difference in the health of individuals. That's why the American Heart Association began recognizing companies that are encouraging more active lifestyles and better eating habits.

Nationally, this year, the heart association lauded more than 1,200 companies -- employing a total of more than 2 million people -- for their wellness initiatives. The programs generally lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing the number of people with problems related to smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

In Richmond, 24 companies were recognized this year as Start! Fit-Friendly workplaces. Another newcomer to the list was SnagAJob.com, a suburban Richmond-based placement company for hourly workers. Located in the Innsbrook corporate park, SnagAJob runs an "adrenaline" program whereby it partially pays for employees to work with a personal trainer who comes to the building three times a week.

SnagAJob also pays up to $35 a month toward an individual gym membership for its employees, said Betsy Kersey, manager of human resources.

Healthy snacks and lunch items are offered on site, as are showers for those who want to take a lunchtime jog around Innsbrook. SnagAJob is building a gym that will include weights and cardiovascular equipment.

"We also encourage our employees to take part in the events like the Heart Walk and in other walks and runs," Kersey said.

Maria Howard is a group exercise instructor for the YMCA of Greater Richmond. Her column runs on alternate Sundays in Flair.