12 Week Recovery Program
What started out as a new pilot program for survivors of domestic abuse has turned out to be one of our most popular and unique programs of 2011. Our program began in March 2011 and started as an exercise therapy group and has now expanded into a support group for survivors. The most beautiful element of the program is that we are addressing the health issues related to domestic abuse. The programs director, Heidi Markow developed the program out of her own love for exercise and has found that exercise has helped her with her own recovery after the murder of her sister. Heidi believes that conventional counseling is beneficial but also knows that exercise releases your “feel good” endorphins and has been a successful element in our twelve week recovery program. The program aims to heal the “whole person” and its goal is to bring each participant back to the day where it all started and work forward from that point.
This is not your typical exercise program, Heidi has developed a one of a kind curriculum that includes empowerment seminars before each class. Each week is designed to introduce a new theme which encourages each participant to “never let good enough be good enough”. To never let good enough be good enough encourages each participant to always stretch higher, in turn always growing…when we stretch we grow. The beauty of the program is that it assists women in regaining their physical strength, poise, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth.
Currently, we are the first domestic violence organization to design a program geared towards recovery. And the only domestic violence organization offering this unique recovery program for survivors of domestic abuse. It is our hope in the future to inspire other domestic violence agencies across the country to incorporate our recovery, exercise therapy and complete wellness program into their shelter program.
We welcome our fellow domestic violence organizations to refer survivors to our program. Please click the 12 women, 12 week link on our website to sign up for our September, 2011 classes.
Wellness begins with knowledge
The psychological effects of exercising has been compared to those of an antidepressant.
The health effects of domestic violence are staggering. In addition to the immediate trauma and injuries caused by abuse, domestic violence contributes to a number of chronic health problems in women. Medical studies link long-term effects of domestic violence with a myriad of health problems including obesity, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, eating disorders and substance abuse.
The Beginning Over Foundation has an old answer for Physical and mental health issues: Physical exercise is an underutilized method to reduce depression and anxiety. Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders. Domestic abuse should be treated as a “disease” and first handled with remedies to increase one’s self worth and self-esteem. Too often, women are prescribed anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications which only puts a band-aid on the larger issue.
Our Exercise Therapy program can fill the gap for women survivors who can’t receive traditional therapies because of cost or lack of access. At the Beginning Over Foundation’s Wellness Center women receive free personal training, nutrition classes, body fat measurements and weight management programs helping them become more engaged in their own treatment and well being.
Our vision is to have an informative and empowering program, where everyone can be comfortable. A place to develop understanding and supportive friendships, with other people who know the roller-coaster of emotions abuse can cause. Our desire to support victims of abuse comes directly from our hearts, with no strings attached. We are determined to provide another resource to those who come here looking for it
Our goal is to give survivors the tools they need to succeed and live a whole, happy and healthy life.
The impact of the program will ensure that each and every survivor of domestic abuse completely heals the “whole” person. Years of research shows that women who do not get the proper care after leaving an abusive relationship either enters into a new one or loses total self worth. Our program focuses on the woman and not the entire class of participants…for each woman will be on her own level. For the woman who is not ready for the exercise program, then we will access her needs and start her with counseling or another program. Each woman will have the opportunity to lose weight and get in the best physical shape while at the same time learning ways to empower themselves in other areas of their life.
This program is offered to any survivor of domestic abuse who is ready for the recovery process “after the abuse.” Our program begins in March 2011 and will continue for the next 12 weeks. A total of 48 women a year will be offered this program on a first sign up basis. All women will be contacted in the order of sign up.
The be considered for our program, please fill out the form below:
