.The Wave - Press

Article in Today's Dietitian Magazine, January 2008.
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FLOW: Exercising Body and Mind at Work

Nowadays, it can be difficult to find time to exercise throughout the workday. FLOW, a software program designed to allow workers with computer access to add physical activity to their day, addresses this difficulty. This new tool is helpful for anyone sitting at a desk for long hours.

FLOW provides seven five-minute video exercises to be performed while sitting at a desk and has a "virtual coach" to help users stay on track, as well as a nutrition center and access to inspiring affirmations in the midst of a stressful workday.

Preset exercise intervals (15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, two hours) pop up on user's screens throughout the workday inviting them to do "sit exercises." Users can engage in as many five-minute exercise sessions as they choose throughout the day. The exercises cover the major muscle groups, including chest, abdominal, biceps/triceps, shoulders, back, legs and full body stretching.

FLOW can also help dieters maintain their motivation to eat properly with daily reminders designed to fuel self-confidence and determination.

This tool has been developed for the business world to address the severe consequences that modern day office work (eg, sitting at a computer for extended hours) is having in employee's health. The lack of physical activity during the day is leading to the development of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, muscular-skeletal problems, repetitive movement injuries, depression and anxiety.

Article in Health Magazine, January/February 2008.
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No-sweat workouts

Attention cube-dwellers: The new Flow DVD ($29.95; www.thewavecorporation.com) offers seven 5-minute videos with moves for your shoulders, core, chest, arms and legs that you can do while computer-bound. Videos can be programmed to pop up automatically throughout your workday at 15-minute, 30-minute, 1-hour or 2-hour intervals.

Article in Weight Watchers Magazine, January/February 2008.
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To get a quickie workout at work

Download this new exercise software to your computer. It allows you to preset seven 5-minute video exercises to pop up on your screen every 15, 30 or 60 minutes (Flow, $30, thewavecorporation).

Article on the Occupational Hazards website on January 10, 2008.
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Get in Shape … at Your Desk

Employees can become healthier, more productive and more alert by exercising throughout the workday – all while remaining at their desks.

For many busy office-bound employees, sitting all day can cause a host of problems: back pain, muscle tightness, headaches, musculoskeletal problems, weight gain, depression, tension and decreased motivation. Because time constraints can prevent workers from engaging in regular exercise, fitness guru Kathy Kaehler proposed that employees engage in office workouts to combat many of those ailments.

For instance, hitting the stairs, running in place, doing lunges or pushups or taking brisk walks around the building are ways for office employees to get their heart rates up. Even if workers feel too desk-bound during the day to get up and move, they can still stretch, strengthen their muscles and engage in short cardiovascular sessions right in their chairs. Employees can place their hands on their desks and walk backwards to get in position for a round of desk pushups, try a set of punching exercises or even “run” in place while remaining in their chairs.

“… An office workout is crucial since many Americans work long hours sitting at desks with very limited physical activity,” Kaehler pointed out.

According to Kaehler, a workplace exercise program like FLOW, fitness software that combines five-minute video exercises, a nutrition center, a virtual coach and automated desktop reminders, can encourage employees to shed their sedentary office lifestyles and begin getting in shape. The program’s exercises target various body parts, including the chest, biceps and triceps, shoulders, abdominal muscles, the back, legs and buttocks.

FLOW creator Renee Nasajon stated that such a workplace exercise program “facilitates the circulation of blood, elevates the oxygenation of your brain, releases tension from your muscles, gives you a greater capacity for concentration, creates a better mood and decreases cravings for sweets, caffeine and tobacco.”

A FLOW pilot study shows that employees who exercised at their desks lowered their blood pressure, felt more energetic and alert, experienced less tension and increased their physical activity outside working hours. Employers hoping to see those results in their own workers might encourage staff to step up the activity level in the office – desks or no desks.

The following article appeared on self.com on December, 2007.
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Fitness Flash

Business firm Talk about on-the-job training! Upload Flow software (TheWaveCorporation.com; $30) to your PC, and every 15 or 30 minutes, hour or two hours (your pick), a 5-minute sculpting or stretching session pops up on screen.

The following article appeared on themiamihurricane.com on November 29, 2007.
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After five minutes of fist pumps, bicep curls and lateral raises, the music shuts off. The computer screen returns to normal and you resume writing the research paper for class. Technology is revolutionizing the fitness industry as computer screens and televisions are replacing personal trainers, and game controllers are replacing weights.

Dr. Renée Nasajón, a clinical psychologist, is the founder and president of FLOW, a fitness and wellness software program designed for people who spend a lot of time at their desks.

"Sitting down all day is just not normal," said Nasajón, who completed her training and post-doctoral degrees at University of Miami. "Technology has taken advantage of people's tendency to be lazy."

FLOW incorporates fitness into the workroom by utilizing five-minute pop-up videos, with each corresponding to a different muscle group. Nasajón cites studies saying short bouts of exercise have a positive effect in some cognitive functions, including memory, attention and concentration.

"I created FLOW because I needed it myself," she said. "When I was at the hospital I was moving all day, but once I opened my private practice, I had a more sedentary job and started gaining weight."

The videos use cardiovascular and strength training exercises that can be performed while sitting at a desk. The program is set to automatically pop up on the screen during the day. It offers nutritional information as well as inspirational messages with the fitness videos.

"FLOW is a reminder of the fact that our body has a need to move," Nasajón said. "It is a tool to counterbalance the effects of sedentary lifestyle..."

The following article appeared on U.dailynews.com on July 9, 2007.
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Get Fit As You Work

Workaholics have a new way to fit quick workouts into their busy schedules. Dr. Renee Nasajon, a licensed clinical psychologist, has created FLOW, a software exercise program designed to accommodate computer-bound office slaves. The program features several five-minute workouts that can help you tone that tummy, lift flabby areas and get a cardiovascular workout just by sitting at your desk. At pre-set intervals, small windows pop up to remind you to “sit-exercise”. All exercises are designed to be performed in the sitting position. The system also features daily weight-management reminders as well as positive stress-management affirmations. The suggested retail price is $29.95. Available for purchase at www.thewavecorporation.com.

The following article appeared on Miami’s Channel 10 News’ website in June 2006.
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Exercise Body, Mind At Desk For Better Workday

MIAMI -- A Miami psychologist has come up with a software program to encourage exercising body and mind at work. If you work at a desk all day and if you've been feeling tense or gained a few pounds, this program is for you. Solana Folchi, 34, is like many people who spend most of their day sitting behind a desk. Workers like Folchi motivated Miami psychologist Renee Nasajon to come up with a software program she calls FLOW.

It's a combination of exercises, nutrition information and inspirational messages. "The exercises are designed to cover all areas of the body; shoulders, chest, back, biceps and triceps, abdominals, believe it or not, buttocks and legs," said Dr. Nasajon. "And finally, we have stretches." Once the software is installed, different exercises pop up on screen every hour for five minutes. Workers are encouraged to add hand weights to increase intensity. According to Dr. Nasajon, the movement and motivational messages also help to exercise the mind. Dr. Nasajon said, "What this program does, it facilitates the circulation of blood, it elevates the oxygenation of your brain, release of tension from your muscles, greater capacity of concentration, better mood." Research shows a sedentary lifestyle and lack of movement throughout the day can lead to health problems. Those conditions include back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, headaches and weight gain. When work just won't wait, the software progam allows users to skip the exercises. But your virtual coach makes sure you can't skip too often by popping up on screen to encourage you to get moving. Folchi says she has seen changes in her mind and body since starting FLOW. And she suggests work is a much more pleasant experience. "It changed my outside and my inside," said Folchi. "Also, it has an inspiration part which I love. It gives me strength and peace of mind. Now if I don't do it, I feel like something is missing during the day." Dr. Nasajon believes workers will be more productive if they take these small breaks throughout the day. The FLOW program costs just under $40. To find out more, visit www.thewavecorporation.com.