Mar 13, 2023
These days, just about everyone is focused on ways to stay healthy. It has been proven, time and again, that good physical health leads to good mental health and improved immunity. Funeral directors come face to face with mortality every day and are often reminded how unhealthy habits can lead to a premature death. As a result, many funeral directors are deeply focused on maintaining their health and tracking fitness goals over time. This got us thinking about some of the different methods funeral directors use to stay in shape.
Here at ASD, we make health and fitness a central part of our workplace culture. All of our employees are given a free membership to a Planet Fitness gym and free, unlimited access to the Headspace meditation app. We also make workout equipment available to staff who work in-house and participate regularly in athletic competitions. Leading by example is so important -and that is why you will always find one of ASD’s Family-Member Owners taking part in these annual races and competitions.
Clockwise from the left: ASD Family-Member Owners, Kevin Czachor, Kathy Kelley and Marty Czachor Jr at the 2022 Spartan Race; work out equipment available to employees working in the office; photos shared by ASD staff of them enjoying their free gym memberships.
To celebrate the start of a brand-new year and to spread positive encouragement to everyone in the profession who is focused on maintaining their physical health, we are launching a new series with helpful fitness tips for funeral professionals, by funeral professionals. From personal stories that will inspire you on your fitness journey to practical tips you can apply to your own regimen to ideas for encouraging your entire funeral home staff to stay healthy, ASD’s Health and Fitness Series will help keep you motivated. Most of the tips and stories we share will come from funeral directors like you, but we’re also pulling back the curtain at ASD to show you a few of our own secrets for staying healthy.
This is Part 3 of a multi-part blog series.
Got a health or fitness tip for us to share? Email Jessica Farren at jess@myasd.com to be included in our blog and social media series.
ASD Health Tip #7: Find Sports and Activities You Are Passionate About
One of the most important aspects to adopting a healthy fitness routine is finding activities and sports that you find enjoyable and fulfilling. For instance, you may find it difficult to spend more than 20 minutes on a stair climber looking at a wall, but taking part in a scenic hike to an outlook might help you to dig a little deeper. Figuring out ways to make exercise less of a drag and more of a fun activity can make a huge difference. Just ask Zack Young, Operations Manager at Detroit Cremation Society. When Zack isn’t assisting families, he enjoys spending time sparring in the boxing ring.
“Boxing has been a big part of my life for the entirety of my existence, it is a generational sport that started with my Great-Grandfather boxing in the Navy, was passed down to my father, and then to myself and my brother,” Zack shared. “Boxing has helped me maintain my health goals by giving me an entertaining source of exercise. It is easy to find comfort and enjoyment in relaxing activities but having a source of exercise that creates enjoyment has been my one trick of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”
ASD Health Tip #8: Make Fitness A Part of Your Workplace Culture
Great things can happen when workplace teams support one another in their fitness goals. Our friends at David C Brown Funeral Home in Belleville, MI have adopted an awesome routine. The funeral home shared, “Our two directors, Shelly Brown-Chudzinski is an avid walker, and Jacqueline Dalzell is an avid runner, running many times in the morning before coming into work. Our Administrative Assistant, Tonya Dyer is very involved in cardio drumming. The ladies also practice eating small portions and high protein diets. Positivity is practiced in the workplace as well. We celebrate birthdays and support each other in life events. All great stress busters.”
The ASD Team out on a recent run
Our philosophy here at ASD is similar – we love finding opportunities to spend time together while practicing healthful habits. Supporting one another in our goals has really made a big difference! Here is a photo from a recent ASD group run we enjoyed. You can find many of our staff out running together just about every week here at ASD.
ASD Health Tip #9: Invite Your Animal Friends
Our canine companions can really be man’s best friends when it comes to maintaining our physical health. Owning a dog often requires regular physical activity such as walking, running or playing with the dog, which can help increase overall physical activity levels. Dog ownership is also linked to lower levels of obesity, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and decreased levels of stress hormones.
Our friends at David C Brown Funeral Home in Belleville, MI understand how much our canine friends can help keep us motivated. Check out Funeral Director and avid runner, Jacqueline Dalzell, with her black shepherd, and Funeral Director, Shelly Brown-Chudzinski, out on a walk in the snow with her dog Snickers.
Be sure to check our blog next month for more health and fitness tips from funeral directors. Got a health or fitness tip for us to share? Email Jessica Farren at jess@myasd.com to be included in our blog and social media series.
Related Reading
Health and Fitness Tips for Funeral Directors: Part 1
Health and Fitness Tips for Funeral Directors: Part 2
6 Resources to Keep You From Breaking Down While Working as a Funeral Director
14 Funeral Directors With Olympic-Sized Athleticism
About The Author
Jess Farren (Fowler)
Jess Farren (Fowler) is a Public Relations Specialist and Staff Writer who has been a part of the ASD team since 2003. Jess manages ASD’s company blog and has been published in several funeral trade magazines. She has written articles on a variety of subjects including communication, business planning, technology, marketing and funeral trends. You can contact Jess directly at Jess@myASD.com
