Margee Miller came to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in late 2011 for health coaching, a visit that would lead her down a path of mindfulness and fitness.
Miller, who works in University of Iowa Libraries, met with health coach Erin Litton, who discussed physical fitness goals and stress-reduction ideas. This led to Miller’s participation in the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, which assists people who want to learn to use their own internal resources to respond more skillfully to stress, as well as medical and psychological conditions.
“Mindfulness has been a mainstay in handling stress and change in every dimension of my work at the UI and in my personal life,” says Miller, who supplemented the initial course by participating in a number of mindfulness follow-up groups. “I am very grateful for Erin’s support and guidance. Access to and participation in these courses has changed my life.”
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liveWELL health coach service
Recreational Services personal training
Mindfulness-based programs at the University of Iowa
Past health coach participants can do a “Health Coach Booster”
Miller didn’t have much of an interest in sports and personal fitness, doing very little in terms of regular exercise. But after cancer treatment in 2015, she realized how important it could be. Supported by the encouragement of her health care professionals and caring family members and friends, she finally accepted that it was time to step up. Miller contacted Litton again in the spring of 2017 seeking a Health Coach Booster session so they could discuss physical fitness ideas.
Litton helped Miller establish realistic goals for reducing stress and improving her nutrition and fitness. Miller also took a big step toward reaching those goals by enrolling in personal trainer services through Recreational Services. Litton directed Miller to another key member of her support team, personal trainer Alex Schwabe.
“The beginning was tough for me,” Miller says. “It was easy to sign up, but the first sessions were hard on my body and my brain.
But Miller turned a corner after a few sessions.
“My attitude changed, and my commitment became real,” she says. “I credit Alex. He did an excellent job with a very inexperienced exerciser. He guided, encouraged, and steadily challenged me every step along the way. By believing that I could do all that he had designed for our sessions, he helped me believe in myself. It was Alex’s patience, persistence, and his belief in me that opened my eyes to believe in myself and accept the challenges.”
Schwabe attributes Miller’s success to her willingness to try new things.
“Building trust between one another is key in making progress, and she believes in me to lead her down the right path. Her openness is what has made our relationship so successful,” Schwabe says. “As a personal trainer, I can only show her the door, and Margee has done a great job of bursting her way through.”
Miller stresses it is never too late to seek personal training.
“I said at one time that I was sorry that I did not start taking personal fitness seriously 20 or 30 years earlier,” Miller says. “Alex said, ‘Don’t worry about that. What’s important is that you are here now.’”
University of Iowa faculty and staff in regular, 50 percent or greater positions are able to work with a health coach at no cost. By meeting certain criteria, liveWELL will pay for a referral to personal training. Contact livewell@uiowa.edu or 319-353-2973 to get started with your health coach.