The lights dimmed and the music built to a crescendo as five women jogged to the theater stage at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster. Dressed in workout gear, they led nearly 250 women in chair Zumba, a seated version of the popular high-energy dance fitness program.
It was the kickoff to a day of self-care for women attending the Empowering Women’s Retreat on April 26. Hosted by Powers Health, the annual free event was designed to support women in prioritizing care for their mind and body.
“I think this is a great reminder that taking care of your health is incredibly important,” said Jennifer Pejka, one of the first to arrive at the event. “As women, we often put others first because we want to take care of those we are closest to. This event is a good opportunity to take care of ourselves and learn about healthy practices.”
After the morning Zumba session, women funneled into breakout sessions to learn how small changes make a big impact and about perimenopause and menopause. Attendees regrouped for brunch and to hear tips about healthy sleep habits. The day ended with breakout sessions featuring a cooking demonstration and talk about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and a hands-on creative session about constructing positivity.
Between sessions, women took advantage of free health screenings from medical professionals on site, as well as chair massages and a photo booth.
Carolyn Rueter, community outreach specialist for Powers Health, said the presentations and breakout sessions were an interactive way to help attendees learn more about their health status and steps they can take to put themselves in an even better situation moving forward.
“We've got a variety of exhibitors and screenings,” Rueter said. “We have diabetes risk screenings, our sleep center is here, we have free audiology screenings and we have other therapy services.”
Retreat attendee Sarah Ticich said she participated in the screenings and learned more about sleep apnea.
“We went through skin cancer screens, posture checks, density checks and hand strength checks,” Ticich said.
Exhibitors packed the main floor and lower level of the facility. Ticich loved how personable the professionals were, as well as their ability to cover a wide range of topics that many women encounter.
“Just from talking to these people for a couple of minutes, it’s helped give me a different perspective on my health,” Ticich said. “I think when we go to the doctor, we don't always get that one-on-one time to actually have a conversation. It’s great to have an opportunity to go straight to a source.”
Marie Rokicki was also a fan of the exhibitors. While it can be difficult to discuss health concerns, Rokicki was confident in speaking about these topics and getting to learn from the exhibitors up close.
“Hands-on is definitely the best way to get that experience,” Rokicki said. “I can turn to the experts here, whether that’s to learn about new things or help out with something I might have.”
Powers Health is excited to host this event every year, because it brings women in Northwest Indiana together to learn from the healthcare providers, participate in screenings and discuss health matters with peers.
“This event is only possible because of our staff, the outreach team and our wonderful committee, who also work for our healthcare system,” Rueter said. “We have people volunteering their time to be here today. This of event is so important for the women in our community. Between all of these different topics, the screenings and the information available here, we're happy to provide it all for free to our community.“
For more information on Powers Health, you can visit www.powershealth.org.
