Athletic
jobs ease stress, enhance daily lifestyle
By Akiko Sugimori
On-line Forty-Niner
 Daily
life can be complicated enough without a
job to make it difficult. Luckily, some
jobs lend themselves to healthy lifestyles,
typically due to low stress, healthy surroundings
and the chance to help others.
According to the job research Web site monster.com,
there are jobs that give new meaning to
the word healthy. These jobs tend to be
in the field of physical education.
One healthy job is activity specialists.
With a focus on staying mentally and physically
fit, activity specialists work with others
to maintain an active and positive attitude
toward life in settings such as hotels,
nursing homes and other facilities.
“We position ourselves to be in more positive
atmosphere mentally, and we bring physical
activities to others. In a sense, it reminds
us that we need to be active,” Joanie Conley,
department of recreation and leisure studies
director said.
Personal trainers work with individuals
to help people lose weight and get in shape.
The nature of trainers’ work requires them
to work out with clients, thereby benefiting
from the extra exercise.
Running coaches are also often runners themselves,
and stay fit as they lead others in an endeavor
about both team dynamics and individual
goals.
Exercising yoga can be physically demanding
but is also a meditative practice. Yoga
instructors often adhere to eastern philosophies
emphasizing balance and contentment.
Mikki Michele, yoga instructor at Cal State
Long Beach said, “I don’t look at what I
do as a job, my job is part of what I do.
Teaching is a demanding profession but practicing
yoga is very healthy.”
“Besides teaching in the classes, I work
out everyday such as running, swimming,
bicycling, stretching, and also I eat protein
supplements and follow nutrition guidelines,”
said Grant M. Hill, associate professor
of kinesiology and physical education.
“I do have some stress as a faculty member
with teacher evaluations or preparation
for exams. But my daily exercise helps to
reduce these stresses. It is healthy to
expose these new ideas and activities with
students,” Hill said.
Other healthy jobs include chiropractors
and nutritionists. Chiropractors focus on
the whole body toward health. The profession
is concerned with diet, exercise and other
issues related to well-being. Nutritionists
work with patients and other clients at
clinics, corporations and hospitals to craft
proper diets.
On the other hand, no matter what the job
is, stress can be unavoidable. Monster.com’s
research also suggests the most stressful
occupations. First is an air traffic controller.
They are required quick decision-making,
with thousands of lives depending on their
shoulder.
Second is a firefighter. As Sept. 11 proved,
being a firefighter is an exceptionally
dangerous job, even under typical circumstances,
firefighters risk their lives. Third is
a police officer, who is placed in extremely
dangerous situation, emergencies and unknown
circumstances.
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