4 ways that Move Arizona can improve your health
![A scenic desert landscape at sunset with two people hiking along a winding trail, surrounded by cacti and rugged terrain. In the lower right corner, a Move Arizona 25 logo features stylized text with desert-themed illustrations, including a saguaro cactus and flowers. The text below the logo reads 'February 26 - April 22, 2025.'](https://cdn.uanews.arizona.edu/s3fs-public/styles/az_large/public/2025-02/move-az-banner.jpg.webp?VersionId=Iv2fpV.2eN5RTUSBer8Rfaq2qb9tjz33&itok=Qo3ATHSF)
From scenic hikes to cleaning your house, Move Arizona is designed to get participants to engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.
Move Arizona will get kicked off on Feb. 26, encouraging participants to engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.
During the eight weeks it runs, activities such as vacuuming, biking, swimming, desk exercises, walking around the block, or doing jumping jacks all count and help participants move closer to achieving their best health.
But Move Arizona supports more than just physical fitness, which is one of eight dimensions of wellness. It also supports mental health, social health and occupational health. The remaining four dimensions are spiritual, financial, intellectual and environmental.
Keep reading to learn more about the four dimensions of wellness supported by Move Arizona.
Physical health
There is a phenomenon that occurs when you spend too much time sitting around – whether working at a desk, playing video games or binge-watching the latest Netflix series. It's called "dead butt syndrome."
Cindy Davis, employee health and wellness promotion specialist in Life & Work Connections and a registered dietitian, admits it's not life-threatening. But she says it can affect how you fit into and look in your pants.
![Cindy Davis, Employee Health and Wellness Promotion Specialist, Life & Work Connections](https://cdn.uanews.arizona.edu/s3fs-public/styles/az_small/public/images/Cindy-Davis.jpg.webp?VersionId=AlicSuSkN29WDrSiQa1c7GubE2oUzYZf&itok=DRGqipct)
Cindy Davis, Employee Health and Wellness Promotion Specialist, Life & Work Connections
"Whatever place you're starting from in terms of physical activity, increasing your daily movement, whether in five-, 10- or 30-minute increments, has an immediate impact on your health," she says.
Along with improving cardiovascular health, increased physical activity helps build muscle and strength, stability and balance, which are essential for being and staying healthy.
"More physical activity means your body is better able to prevent or mitigate different health conditions and diseases, including weight loss, if that's a goal, reducing high blood pressure, preventing different types of cancer, arthritis, and more," Davis explains.
For Jenny Rea, assistant professor in the Human Services program in the College of Applied Science and Technology, being physically active means being present for as long as possible to be around for what's important.
"I hope that others feel better about themselves and that they can improve or continue to improve their health to live long, healthy lives – being there for their children, grandchildren, family, and friends," she said.
Mental health
It turns out your brain cannot do pushups. But, it turns out that using your body to do some actual pushups can also help your mental health. When you're physically active, your body releases endorphins, which help you be more alert, give you energy and boost your mood. And those chemicals are the one-two punch that also enables you to combat stress, depression and anxiety.
And there's no better way to subdue mental spirals than working physically hard to clear your mind and make you tired enough to sleep (which also benefits your mental health).
Social health
How we work – and where we work – have changed since the pandemic. Many teams now operate in hybrid or fully remote environments, connecting through screens, email, phone calls and text messages.
But we also need social connection, which is vital for individuals and teams.
Move Arizona provides an outlet for movement, and it offers a unique opportunity for connection as well. It's not a coincidence that when participants join Move Arizona teams, they often center around a small team, unit or department.
"Moving more for our health is obviously a motivator," says Stephanie Tammen, manager of instructional design at the University Center for Assessment, Teaching and Technology. "But it's also an opportunity to spend time and have conversations with colleagues outside of Zoom meetings and emails."
Elena Chabolla, associate director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs Administration, agrees. "It's a way for us to share time with one another while we get some fresh air and exercise at the same time."
Occupational health
Occupational health may sound like a buzzword, yet it focuses on a crucial aspect of the workplace: employees' overall physical, mental and social well-being. When employees experience a sense of well-being – individually and within their work environment – they tend to perform at their best.
"Rounding up the troops for group walks really went a long way to building morale," says Angela Federico, legal assistant in the Office of the General Counsel. "It felt great as a leader to bring that to the office."
A Move Arizona team of colleagues can help create a feeling of unity, mainly as they try to meet their goals as a team and individually. This can mean developing leadership skills or creating greater trust and purpose among colleagues.
"I set up a Teams group and would send out a 'Stair Walkers' alert, and we would walk the nine floors of stairs in the HSIB (Health Sciences Innovation Building)," says Gawain Douglas, director of campus communications and publications in University of Arizona Health Sciences. "We all got to know each other better and built friendships that have lasted throughout the year. It was a great opportunity to step up and lead the group and encourage daily movement."
When you participate in Move Arizona, you will most definitely experience the benefits of increased movement for your physical and mental health. But when you move together with your Move Arizona team, you'll also experience better social and occupational health.
"I want others to feel empowered and know that when we move our bodies, we can gain so much: confidence, encouragement, happiness, and just the overall benefit of feeling better, losing weight and being healthier," Rea said.
If you want to join a Move Arizona Team but don't know where to start, contact Cindy Davis.
Move Arizona runs from Feb. 26 to April 22. Find more information, including how to track your minutes, on the Move Arizona website.