1. We change lives through Total Wellness
IWF’s wellness curriculum and comprehensive health and fitness programs can and will positively impact the lives of disadvantaged elementary school students in Washington, DC.

2. We are role models for a healthy, active lifestyle.
We live, eat and breathe a balanced lifestyle. As Wellness Coaches we are role models to our students, teachers, and communities for how to live a more active and healthy life.  We define wellness as the state of social, emotional, mental, and physical health.

3. We motivate and inspire.
Our classes are so much more than exercise. Each hour we have with a student is spent motivating and inspiring them to achieve their full potential.

4. We promote the power of positive attitude.Anything is possible with a positive attitude. Adoption of a positive outlook enhances your mood, health and mind, improves self-esteem, and fosters healthy behaviors for a happy and fulfilled lifestyle.

5. We give ‘Vitamin L.’
There’s one vitamin you can’t find on a plate. It’s love. The heart and soul of our organization is the community where we live. Our people are fueled by love for our mission and health and wellness. We strive to serve others and share a healthy serving of ‘Vitamin L’ with our neighbors.

6. We adapt and we succeed.
We keep open minds. And, we know the old adage rings true, “the only constant is change.” We keep our programs fresh with the latest exercises and techniques. Each school has unique organizational or spatial realities. Our program is fluid but our commitment is unwavering.

7. We let the creativity and fun flow.
We want the biggest dreams, most creative thoughts and craziest ideas. We encourage experimentation on all levels of the organization – especially in the classroom.

8. We connect to the school and the home.
IWF’s success depends upon making the connection between students, teachers and parents/guardians. Our programs consider the student and what she learns in school and how she lives at home.

9. We want results.
We are results-oriented and seek positive outcomes. We continuously assess and monitor students through an ongoing survey process to make sure our programs are working, and to understand where changes must be made.

10. It’s all about the kids!
Our mission is 100% about kids. We know that the best way to connect to our audience is to channel our inner-kid. This organization is run by adults who know how to experience things with the enthusiasm and energy of kids.

Trigger Point has generously donated 40 of their GRIDs (orange colored roller above) to our WellKIDS Program this semester as well as created an entire SMRT-CORE KIDS Program for us to implement within our schools.

Trigger Point sent their Master Instructor, Kolleen Riddick, to Washington DC to teach us about SMRT-CORE KIDS and using the GRIDs with youth.

Trigger Point has created a series of microcycles of exercises/movements for the students to go through using the GRIDs to prepare their bodies for our WellKIDS Class during the warm-up.

Below you can see our WellKIDS Coaches trying out the, ‘calf rocker’ exercise!

We will pilot the Trigger Point SMRT-CORE KIDS Program in Ross Elementary School this semester and look to bring the Trigger Point products and programming into more DC Public Schools in the Fall!

A big THANK YOU to the entire Trigger Point Team of Cassidy, Anna, Kolleen, and Jamie for helping make a difference in the community!

With the expansion of our schools in 2012 we also needed to increase our number of talented local coaches to deliver our WellKIDS Program.

During the Orientation the WellKIDS Coaches got an in-depth understanding of the our philosophy and program.

To give you a behind the scenes look, here are three areas that we covered with our WellKIDS coaches:

1. Yoga and Meditation with Sarah Waxman

2. Trigger Point Performance Therapy’s SMRT-Core KIDS Program with Kolleen Riddick

3. Classroom Management by Adam Bloom

Wanted to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the real heroes of our program — DC, Maryland, and Viriginia’s very own, local health and fitness professionals getting into the community!

Here our your 2012 Spring WellKIDS Coaches:

Kathleen Neeson
David Delewski
Michelle Perna
John Schwikert
Jake Berube
Ypsi Castillo
Salina Duggan
Nikki Matters
Mekail Grant
Claire Kirby
Shakaya McFarland
Ayanna Wells

This semester we are delivering our FREE WellKIDS After School Program to 8 disadvantaged schools in the District of Columbia.

The addition of some new schools will bring our total number of elementary student participants to approximately 250.

We’d like to thank all of our schools for welcoming us into their communities to work with their students, teachers, and parents!

Bancroft Elementary School
CentroNia
EW Stokes Public Charter School
Francis-Stevens Educational Campus
HD Cooke Elementary School
Ross Elementary School
Seaton Elementary School
Smothers Elementary School

WHEN: Thursday December 1, 2011
Teachers: 3:45-4:30pm
Parents: 4:30-6:00pm

WHERE: Seaton Elementary School Gym

Our WellKIDS® Coaches work with students at Seaton Elementary every Tuesday and Thursday as part of an After-School Program funded by United Way of DC/General Mills.

Join us for a fun event promoting fitness, health and wellness for your children and students. Demonstrations and interactive sessions with:
• Belly and break dancing
• Cooking healthy – plus diabetes education
• Fitness workouts
• Yoga & Zumba

Don’t Miss!
> COUPONS for discounts at local stores
> RAFFLE for cash prizes of $50
> FOOD for energy and health

RSVP Ayanna Wells at Infinity Wellness Foundation
Call: (571) 277-8216 Email: awells@infinitywellness.org

It was a beautiful Fall morning for exercising and bringing awareness to childhood obesity for DC’s inner youth!

A big THANK YOU to the 250+ racers from the Holton Arms School and Bethesda, MD community for showing us your support!

We are thrilled to have their leadership, expertise, passion, and experience (both being mothers of triplets!).

Jody Miller will be serving as Vice President and Joann Mirgon as Director.

Learn more about these talented and dedicated professionals as well as the rest of our Board of Directors here

Proceeds from the 2011 Run for Wellness will benefit two organizations whose goal is to improve the wellbeing of those in the D.C. Metropolitan Area. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will be donated to D.C. based Infinity Wellness Foundation and the balance will be donated to The National Capital Area Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Visit http://www.holton-arms.edu/RunForWellness to register for the event. Don’t forget to print and turn in your Liability Waiver! If you have questions or would like to donate your time as a race day volunteer contact Nikki Reynolds at wellness@holton-arms.edu or 301-365-6094.

Twelve new local fitness and wellness professionals have committed to bringing their knowledge and passion to DC public schools this semester through our award-winning WellKIDS Program.

They will be educating, inspiring and motivating more than 200 inner-city students.

A BIG ‘Welcome Aboard’ goes out to:

Ayanna Wells
Brendan Herbert
Kathleen Neeson
Salina Duggan
Samantha Bastine
Ypsi Castillo
David Delewski
Laura Burckett-Picker
Olufunke Adeleye
Kayla Monks
Katrina Romain
Maria Serafini
Peter Barnes

The United Way of the National Capital Area and the General Mills Foundation in partnership with the Mayor’s Commission on Food and Nutrition under the Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Office of Wellness and Nutrition Services has recommended grant awards – one being Infinity Wellness Foundation & Seaton Elementary School.

The purpose of this grant is to improve school physical activity and education programs.

Infinity Wellness plans to deliver an integrated three part program at Seaton this year:

1. WELLKIDS After School Program to give students a TOTAL Wellness Experience

2. Train The Teacher Program to engage and educate teachers of the school

3. Parent Events to connect lessons from the school to home

Congratulations to Lisa Kirkpatrick the After School Coordinator at Seaton and the entire Seaton Community – we look forward to an incredible year!