SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Chamber will kick off their 5th annual Health and Wellness week this Sunday, Feb.3.
To assist in achieving new year’s resolutions to become more active, participating fitness facilities will open their doors to the community. They will host workshops, training sessions and inform the community of all the people and services available to help them reach their health goals.
Modeled after the infamous “restaurant week,” the chamber’s health and wellness council introduced Health and Wellness week in 2014 to allow local fitness and health-related businesses and nonprofits to promote their health and wellness services.
The overall objective is “to encourage local people to try something new,” said Tom Shimkus, the Saratoga County Chamber President. Aside from the will to help guide the towns’ people to a fitter life, the Chamber has their own personal goal, “to make sure, through their (health businesses) efforts that Saratoga becomes one of the healthiest places to live and work,” said Shimkus.
According to the University of Wisconsin Population Institute’s annual county health ranking, Saratoga county was ranked #5 of healthiest counties in NY state when the health and wellness council began. In the years since Saratoga began their health and wellness week, they have moved up the ranks, even taking the number one spot one year. Saratoga Springs conveniently possesses natural healthy lifestyle traits including access to free spring water, it’s lake and state parks.
President Shimkus has one bit of advice for those attending this year’s Health and Wellness week, “invite a friend or family member or co-worker it increases the likelihood that you’re actually going to do it—and you help someone else out too.”
