Madison Challenge information for businesses

Welcome to the 2012 Madison Challenge. The combined efforts of all our volunteers created a fun and competitive way to help make our communiity healthier as well as increase our mental, physical and spiritual strength.

Please click any of the images around the box to learn more about each community member

Hello, my name is Andrea Van Ostenbridge and I am a USPA Certified Authentic Pilates Instructor with Pilates Barn in Madison. I have been passionate about physical fitness for many years and this is why I have teamed up with the Madison Challenge.

I am a strong believer in healthy living and encompassing physical, mental and spiritual health for myself and my family. The Madison Challenge covers all of these areas for individuals of all ages, and is a wonderful venue to start people off on the right "healthy foot" for 2012. I am excited about this Challenge for myself as I am hoping to find more time to volunteer in the community, as well as continue to stay active and create healthier habits in mine and my family’s lives.

Hi, my name is Dianne Berg. I am the Director of the Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health, and for over twenty years I have practiced massage and Polarity therapy. My brand name is “heart in hands”----which gives you a good idea of how I take care of others.

I am involved in the Madison Challenge not only to inspire others, but also to take better care of myself!

My biggest challenge for points will be to overcome my aversion to exercise and schedule---and do---some physical activity every day. I know it is good on many levels!

Hello, my name is Dr. John Mastrobattisto and I am the inventor and chairman of the Madison Challenge. Through my experience helping patients feel better at Shoreline Chiropractic in Madison, I have noticed that the more activities someone will do on their own, the better results they get.

The main reason I became involved with the Madison Challenge was to inspire more people to use self-care activities to positively affect their overall health and well being through the spirit of friendly competition and teamwork. The results have been amazing and we look forward to helping you to get and stay healthy. The most challenging area for me is to earn points by getting 8 hours of sleep per night. My goal for this session is to make it a lasting habit to get more sleep. Wish me luck!

Hi, my name is Dr. Susan O’Malley, owner and Medical Director of Sonas Med Spa. At Sonas we are dedicated to helping women (and men) maintain their beauty without surgery.

Before opening my med spa ten years ago, I was an Emergency Room physician and saw firsthand the consequences of poor lifestyle choices.

I joined the Challenge for two reasons. The first was to bring awareness to others about the importance of healthy skin. The second was to challenge myself. I’m hoping that the “point system” will make exercise more appealing to me! This is more important than ever as I turn sixty. (the exercise, not the points!)

My name is Kim Chorney and I am a Financial Advisor with Madison Investment Center. I absolutely believe in the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle for myself and my family.

I became involved with the Madison Challenge to hopefully introduce others to the MANY benefits of making healthy choices on a daily basis. I also love that this is a health and wellness program that can be done as a family, teaching children at a young age the positive effects of exercise, eating well, and thinking of others. I know the most challenging area for me to earn points will be in the category of nourishing my mind. My goal is to actually take time for me and read a book, something I thoroughly enjoy but that gets put on the back burner. I welcome your suggestions!

Hi, I'm Ed Pellegrino and I am a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Madison. I have been a shoreline resident for the past 20 years. Living on the shoreline makes it easier to lead a healthy lifestyle with so many outdoor activities available to us and the Madison Challenge is a program that helps keep us motivated. My goal in the Madison Challenge this year is to get more people to participate and for me personally to earn points in new areas such a reading. I would like to challenge my fellow realtors, in my office and all the other offices, to join this year for a friendly winter competition. It will be a good tune up for this years Pitching for Charity. The Madison Challenge is a fun and simple way to stay active through the cold winter months. The challenge is not just about staying physically fit but also staying mentally fit. Challenge yourself and others to get fit in 2012.

Hi! My name is Terri Laggis, I am a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist as well as a Holistic Stress Management Instructor, and I am the owner of Wisteria Healing Arts in Madison. This is my first year on the Madison Challenge committee and I became involved because the mission of the Madison Challenge to "actively support a better quality of life by promoting and enjoying healthy attitudes, habits and lifestyles" is one in which I wholeheartedly believe. The deepest and most long-lasting healing comes from addressing all levels: body, mind, emotion, and spirit and being actively and mindfully involved in one's health is the key to good health and well being. For me the most challenging areas will be to get 8 hours of sleep on a consistent basis and drinking enough water. I am looking forward to taking on the challenge. Good Luck to all and Be Well!

Hi, my name is Laurel Valli and I am the owner of Valli Energy Healing which is a local wellness center offering therapeutic massage, craniosacral therapy, ayurveda facials and other energy healing modalities.

I am pleased to be a member of the Madison Challenge because I believe it is a wonderful way to heighten awareness to your personal health and well-being. The challenge scorecard categories are simple and quick steps to incorporate in your daily routine with a long lasting benefit.

The most challenging area for me to earn consistent points in the Madison Challenge is in the category of spending more time outdoors, especially during the winter months. Peace and blessings!

"Hi my name is Lori Richardson. I was invited to join the Madison Challenge committee by my colleague, John Mastrobattisto. As a life long resident of Madison, I am thrilled that the residents can have a fun way to incorporate healthier habits into their daily lives! My 25 years of experience as a Chiropractor and my most recent endeavor as owner/instructor of Pilates Barn, has reinforced the basic tenants for healthy living: exercise, positive mental attitude, proper rest, reduced traumas to the body and nutrition. As a working mother of 4, my biggest challenge has always been to eat natural foods. As a society we have become detached to the food we eat via the allure and convenience of fast and processed foods, popular diets and guerrilla marketing strategies claiming products to be healthy. My goal for this session (and beyond!) is to continue to strive to eat simple, natural foods. Wishing you all a healthier 2012!"

Hi, my name is Kathy Dann and I am the Community Relations Director at The Hearth at Tuxis Pond, the shoreline’s premier senior living community. One thing I have learned in my job is that you are never too old to exercise.

Our residents participate in a wide array of exercise classes from gentle yoga, to core strengthening and even zumba! Age should not be a deterrent to staying healthy and fit.

I am looking forward to being part of the Madison Challenge because I want to keep off the 20 pounds I lost in the past year. It took a lot of perseverance and hard work, and I know that the Challenge will help me maintain my weight while keeping my whole body healthy. Good luck to all of us!

Hi, my name is Jane Ash and I am the children’s Librarian at the Scranton Library. I believe in being strong in body, spirit and mind. Reading every day is very important to all of us. It keeps our minds active and engaged in the world around us.

We are pleased that the Madison Challenge has a reading component. The Scranton Library also believes firmly in community involvement. The Madison Challenge is a great way to be connected to the Madison community.

Hi, my name is Linda Zimmerman. I am the owner of Better Health Workouts, and as a certified fitness professional I provide sound, personalized workout sessions encouraging women to work toward improving strength, flexibility and stamina.

I am thrilled to be part of The Madison Challenge as it is a wonderful way to take baby steps toward improving one's mental and physical health. I will work very hard on getting eight hours of sleep each night and putting the computer away in order to read more books and create more art. Have fun, move more and feel good!

Hi, I am Jerry Koch the Web Designer who created the Madison Challenge site, and Chief Technology Officer of WebNow1. WebNow1's core expertise is a synthesis of Web Site Design, Marketing, and Computer Technology. We provide Internet, e-commerce, programming and networking services dedicated to businesses a competitive edge.

I was excited at the opportunity to share my passion for fitness and technology at the same time. It has been a lot of fun to create this site which is the culmination of the health and professional tallents from our area. I look forward to the future success of all the partcipants in the challenge. Focus on the moment and focus on the prize.