Day of Dance encourages healthy lifestyles for women
By Michelle L. Quinn Post-Tribune correspondent February 12, 2012 11:10PM
Scott M. Bort/ For the Post-Tribune Peggy Behn of Griffithdances the Cha-Cha Slide during the Franciscan Alliance's Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Your Health at the Radisson Hotel Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, in Merrillville, Ind.
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For monthly Spirit of Women events, log on to franciscanalliance.org/spiritofwomen or call (800) 931-3322
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Updated: March 14, 2012 8:07AM
MERRILLVILLE — Judy Butkovic and Lynette Newell were stumped Sunday morning as to what they were going to wear to the Northern Indiana Hospitals of Franciscan Alliance’s inaugural Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Your Health at the Radisson.
Anything went in terms of attire at the event, from cocktail dresses to street clothes to yoga pants and T-shirts. But the mother and daughter pair from Dyer and Munster, respectively, were sure glad they opted for workout garb as they indulged in a low-impact routine by Wendy Cunningham that still packed a wallop.
More than 700 women signed up to take part in the first of the health-care conglomerate’s two signature programs this year, said its coordinator Eva Tokarz.
Based on the packed dance floor and the groups of women sauntering in and out of the ballroom, at least that many showed up to embrace their inner movers and shakers, various degrees of sweat decorating their brows.
Day of Dance was conceived to help women engage in health and wellness through reaching their spirits, according to Tokarz.
“The one thing we all have in common is our spirit; spirits have no race, gender, and this is about being good to yourself,” Tokarz said. “And since February is National Heart Month, we’re able to teach women that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women as well as ways to combat that.
“Women are busy — they’re moms, executives. They wear a lot of hats.”
Dance routines, from Zumba and low-impact to salsa and ballroom, took up a good portion of the ballroom while Radisson chefs created healthy yet tasty dishes for the women to sample.
Back in the smaller ballrooms, health professionals were on hand to provide a plethora of screenings, including early heart-attack care, stroke screenings and peripheral arterial disease.
Butkovic and Newell did their screenings when they first arrived so they could spend the rest of their time shopping the vendors and getting in on the dance routines. They created their own little dance party several feet behind the dancers up front.
“We have packages,” Butkovic said of their choice to not join the group.
Newell said she and her mom were most impressed by the screenings and appreciated the “Report Card of Health” given once they completed their screenings. That way, they could discuss the results with their doctors.
“It’s really nice that they have the chefs here, too, and that they gave the recipes,” Butkovic said.
Day of Dance for Your Health was free-of-charge for attendees, Tokarz said.
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