“After Work Stress Relievers”

By: Philippine Resources August 17, 2021

By: John-Eric S. Taburada

CAGDIANAO, Dinagat Islands -- Stress is a word that many people are not a friend of. In fact, never-ending problems or worries arise because of constant stress, dubbing it as the number one enemy of our existence.

In the world of the Blue Zone, we can find that most centenarians enjoy their prime years avoiding stress. Their healthy lifestyles take care of their physique and mental stability.

In our work environment, stress disrupts people from doing their best. The long tiring jobs drain them physically and mentally. Some may get involved to join drinking buddies to relieve stress -- only to find out that their health suffers as a consequence.

Some may even spend more overtime to get their jobs done, only worsening their physical conditions as they already are overworking. It is unproductive and unsafe.

Continuous stressful work for longer periods will cause fatigue, resulting in eye strain, back pains, and other maladies.

Many companies have created many ways to get their workers to embrace a healthy lifestyle, and Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC) is one of them.

At the heart of the campsite lies a large room stuffed with weights and training equipment, the humble FITNESS GYM.

CMC Fitness Gym’s history goes back a decade ago. It was a suggestion from a local Fire Brigade to build an indoor venue for the CMC workers to exercise for health reasons and at the same time, to boost up their morale.

There was no fitness equipment at that time yet, so some workers improvised a bench press made from used campsite lumber, and dumbbells and the barbell weights were made from junk humungous dump truck metal gears.

Currently, some employees go out from the campsite and hit the road for a bicycle ride, a hike, or even jogging a few kilometers and back. Some may play at a half-courted basketball ground.

In the past, the company had a program called “Shape-up CMC,” which introduced the exercise regimens like Zumba (which gradually dissolved), but nothing can beat the camaraderie inside the Fitness Gym (still going active and improving).

Inside the gym, you can already sweat out what you can do running by using the thread mill. The thread mill can be digitally programmed according to your needs like setting up how many minutes you want to run or walk. You can also program a steeper incline to increase difficulty and challenge yourself more. You can try other training equipment for the muscle that you preferred to get toned.

Exercising outside the camp premises could mean a higher possibility of injury (e.g. dog bites, sweltering heat of the sun, dust, sprains, knee tendonitis, dangerous slippery roads and the like). Inside the gym, you may encounter minor injuries, too, but thanks to the constant presence of the CMC work-out buddies, you are guarded.

These work-out buddies are employees from different departments who love to sweat their stresses out.

It may sound strange, but the more they sweat, the more that they are having fun. In the scientific world, this is called… feeling good brain chemicals -- endorphins, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are released to create a cocktail of enjoyable sensational experiences.  

Although the repetitive physical movements and weight resistance is tiring, the mood is converted into something positive through a healthy transformation of body cells, muscles, and brain tissues.  

After the workout, you will feel exhausted but that exhaustion will give you a better sleeping cycle. Once you have a good night's sleep, in the morning the feeling of soreness prevails but it’s a signal that your body is transforming into a better and healthier one.

“When I started in the field of fitness, I thought I needed to be healthy and physically strong under the influence of a best friend, I saw in him the dedication and motivation that pushed me to start going to the fitness gym and work out. And there I proved to myself that my decision was right from the advice of my close friend to enter the field of fitness, it also led to my diet discipline to eat healthy and nutritious foods that help me become strong, have a healthy body and mind. Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” – Junelan P. Petilo (CMC ERT Coordinator / Safety Inspector)

Hitting the fitness gym can also help build new friends inside the company that works at other departments. The CMC work-out buddies are also encouraging other co-employees to join them especially those that are too dependent on Medical Care benefits and living a sedentary lifestyle.

You cannot be healthy by just wishing about it: you have to take action; do it and live by it.  

Most of the CMC work-out buddies’ interests and conversations are focused on the well-being of every individual. You can enjoy physical stimulation through working out while having social stimulation as well.
 

“Am happy that I belong to a company that consider its employees’ health as a fundamental key to achieving goals, believing that a person’s well-being is second to none in terms of productivity. In-house fitness facility is convenient and time saving, of course, the camaraderie and friendship is priceless. Taking care of one’s self is a no brainer as Jim Rohn famously quoted ‘Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live’.” – Mcdodd Baylon (CMC Ship Loading Supervisor)


CMC also improved its employees’ health and wellness by catering them a healthy meal from nutritious recipes provided by their very own Dr. Alvin Pura (CMC Company Head Physician).  
 

This healthy lifestyle is crucial to the success of the company, as Papa Bear (John-Eric S. Taburada) always says: “I don’t want to be a liability to the company, and a great start would be, engaging in constructive habits -- starting with my HEALTH.”


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