Brocade’s senior director of compensation and benefits Leanne Bernhardt participates at the company’s fitness center.

Last May, so many employees at Brocade Communications Systems Inc. rode their bikes to work that the company had to clear out storage space in a garage and implement a “bike valet.”

It was all part of a series of wellness challenges and contests designed to get workers — or Brocadians, as they’re called — amped up about becoming healthier.

San Jose-based Brocade’s one-year-old employee-wellness effort, dubbed WellFit, is heavy on such challenges. Workers can even set up their own fitness competitions with others using their mobile phones. That’s no surprise for a company in the ultra-competitive networking space. Brocade, with approximately 4,600 employees worldwide, including 2,500 in the Bay Area, posted fourth-quarter revenue of $550 million in November.

Other WellFit elements include a fully loaded gym, diet-friendly cafeteria and a website to track fitness progress. And that’s just for starters.

The young effort is already showing signs of paying off, said Leanne Bernhardt, senior director of compensation and benefits. Here Bernhardt talks about the program. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did WellFit get its start?

A: We kicked off WellFit in December 2010. The impetus was the feedback we received through the annual workplace assessment survey. Employees stated they wanted to achieve greater work-life integration. At that point, we put together a WellFit council made up of employees and executives. They focused from the ground up on what our strategy would be, what problems we wanted to solve, and our mission. They developed a brand and icon, which has become very prominent. We even have a WellFit charter and rules and responsibilities for council members. In 2012, our goal is to tackle five key areas: physical health and wellness, emotional health, financial health, sustainable health and family health.

Q: What are some key parts of the program?

A: In San Jose, we have a full fitness center in our beautiful new campus, managed by MediFit, and it has a robust fitness calendar. You can sign up for body toning, yoga, Pilates, boot camps, even Tabata training, a kind of interval-training system.

Throughout the year, we do special events focused on health and wellness – some are focused on losing weight, or just overall wellness. We also integrate other aspects of wellness. Last year, we did a stress-awareness month, bike challenges, and financial fitness seminars. It’s to give people some health tips they can put into place and raise awareness.

Q: What does the program cost to run?

A: Just over $100 per employee per year, including the management of our fitness center. That’s likely to grow as we expand our wellness strategy. Our greatest cost is the running of the fitness center. It’s not an extraordinary amount of money. In fact, we’ve had a lot of luck with things as simple as giving out T-shirts and stress balls and other awards.

Q: What’s been your return on investment?

A: We just announced that for U.S. employees, there will be no benefits cost increases during the open enrollment period for 2012, which is really notable. It’s difficult to determine what exactly helped us to achieve that, but we do know that a healthier environment keeps the claims down, which ties into saving money. We then pass that down to employees.

Q: You’ve also targeted workers’ families. Why is that a focus?

A: When you look at the cost to business as it relates to benefits, your dependent health-care costs are what drive those more so than your employees. To reach family members, one thing we did was a family-fun fitness challenge, where you gained points by exercising with a family member. We also just finished a kids’ healthy-living calendar. Employees’ kids were invited to submit a piece of artwork that depicts some kind of healthy activity – eating healthy or playing sports, for instance. The idea is to get family members talking about what it means to be healthy and how you can be healthy.

A: In our cafeteria in San Jose, we recently implemented something called “Healthy 600.” You go in and have your choice between a couple of sides and a main dish. And no matter what you pick, it will only go up to 600 calories. It’s an interesting way to eat healthy and mix and match selections.

Q: How many employees participate?

A: The number of WellFit members currently exceeds 600, or just under 15 percent of our population, a great achievement in our first year. “Membership” is just a way to handle who is taking advantage of all aspects of the program. Actual participation in health and wellness activities and contests is hard to measure. Those participating in events or the fitness center is probably around 50 percent.

Q: A lot of WellFit activities seem to involve challenges.

A: We see spikes in gym usage or overall exercise when we do have challenges. But it makes sense because we’re a very competitive company. When we first launched WellFit, we had an executive challenge. Our executives challenged groups of people at Brocade to see how many hours of exercise they could achieve — teams of 12 against the executive staff of 12. That got people into it.

A: No. Our CEO (Mike Klayko) came back to the next all-hands meeting and said, “We didn’t win, and I’m not happy about it, but it was a fun event.” He doesn’t like to lose.

Debbie Gissoni, President and CEO of Stillheart Institute, and Patty Purpur, Director of the Stanford Health Promotion Network (and a Stillheart Partner), were recently interviewed  by Sandy Dhuyvetter, host of TravelTalkRADIO. In the interview, they discuss the Stillheart Corporate Wellness Initiative, and how corporations can get involved to promote happiness, wellness, and healthy lifestyles for their employees.

Click here to listen to the interview!

Our new Transformational Video Series highlights inspirational stories of transformation. In our inagural video, Cassie Schindler, Founder of The Alternate Path, shares the story of how her health –and her life– were transformed. Her message is simple: “Be well!”

Slowing down and embracing the spaciousness of the un-scheduled moment has been an increasingly important and elusive goal over the last few years as I experience too-regular calendar overwhelm and a daily Sisyphean battle with my in-box.

Thomas Merton articulates the problem perfectly in a quote I’ve used here before and will no doubt come back to again:

“The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence.

More than that, it is cooperation with violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys her own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”

To begin to redress the violence I’ve been doing to my soul and restore the tender roots of my own inner wisdom, I’ve decided to begin this new year by re-claiming something I’d almost forgotten — the weekend.

No small thing as — slowly but definitely — the weekend seems to have migrated from rest-time to work-time in the popular imagination. Turning the tide appears to require a personal declaration of some kind, a stance against the cultural pressure to over-work. Therefore, I have ordered home delivery of Sunday’s New York Times and hereby publicly proclaim that I can no longer be relied upon to read email over the weekend.

Yes, you heard that correctly. I’m embarking upon a “occupy my life” campaign in 2012 that kicks off by fully occupying my weekends, so unless we have arranged otherwise, you can pretty-much figure I won’t read anything work-related after 5pm Friday until Monday morning. With the accumulation that’s sure to have piled up by then, you may not even get a response til Tuesday!

Even God didn’t work 7 days a week.

Our second Girl Power Event was a fantastic success. 100 girls from 10 clubs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley came to Stillheart Institute for a 2-day retreat. All the girls are members of the Clubs’ SMART girls program, which stands for Skills Mastery And Resistance Training, and were chosen to attend this retreat due to their high participation and attendance.

Highlights included a talk from their Executive Director, Dana Fraticelli; learning about the rain forest (in the midst of the rain!); meditation; art projects; Zumba class; time to swim; Q&A with Dr. Susan Anderson; movie night; a group discussion on the book all 10 clubs have been reading, The House on Mango Street; keynote speaker Teresa Alvarado from the Santa Clara Valley Water District; a nutrition talk with Chef Joni Sare; and a panel discussion and group activity with members of Oracle Women’s Leadership. And of course, a slumber party! Lots of learning and lots of fun took place as the girls spent time in this wonderful setting.

Thanks to our sponsors, Oracle, Genesys and Down Etc. We are looking forward to next year’s event and welcome your sponsorship.

Click here to see more photos of the event!

Joan Porter, Founder of Stillheart Institute, shares what integrity means to her. “Integrity is when you run thoughts or actions through your heart, as opposed to through your head.” What does integrity mean to you?

Traditionally, a change of season calls for a change of diet and lifestyle.

Spring has finally come, and with it new beginnings and new life. Birds are singing. Trees are blossoming. Bulbs are sprouting up. Spring foods such as mustard, dandelion, asparagus and strawberries are back in season. Spring is an exciting and delicious time as our fresh food options will increase for  the next six months.

During the winter season, in a northern climate, we sensibly eat warming foods. It is easy to overeat protein, fats, snack foods, sweets and treats to stay warm and feel secure during the dark, wet and cold season.  Physical activity diminishes.

The equation of excess calories plus less exercise, with stress and insecurity equals winter weight gain, moodiness and sluggishness. Spring invites us to shift into a lighter, brighter diet and lifestyle.

I want to clarify the difference between a Cleanse, a Fast and a Detoxification program. They share similarities, but are also distinct.

Each aims to improve health by supporting the body to discharge and clear stored cellular waste and provide tissues with restorative nutrients. A starting place for each is to minimize or eliminate eating non-nutritive substances, such as refined sugars, flour and alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, artificial sweeteners, and hormone enhanced commercial meats and dairy products. Common food stressors such as gluten, dairy, soy and corn are removed from the diet for a period of days, weeks or months.  The basis of the regenerative diet is seasonal, organic, unprocessed and local (S.O.U.L.) plant foods. Optimal hydration is also essential. I suggest we drink one half of cup of water or other unsweetened beverage for each hour of waking time (eg. 8 cups of fluid within 16 hours).

A Cleanse is an intentional diet and lifestyle. It starts with drinking healthy fluids throughout the day, Soft drinks, alcohol, tap water and non-organic juices and caffeine drinks are gradually reduced or eliminated. The diet foundation is whole, fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, with clean fats and lean proteins. Refined, allergenic and genetically modified foods are excluded during a Cleanse. Protein and fats are best organic, and eaten in measured amounts. A cleansing meal could consist of one serving of protein (3 oz. animal, 6 oz. vegetable protein), 1–2 servings of good fats (1 T of olive oil, 2 T seeds, nuts or avocado is a serving) and 3 servings of whole vegetables and or fruits (1/2 cup per serving chopped vegetable, or 1 cup of leafy greens is a serving). Hence, a large salad with spring mix (it’s spring!), tomatoes, avocado, grated carrots, beets, parsley and either garbanzo beans, salmon, or a hard boiled egg, would be an excellent cleansing meal.

A cleansing diet can be augmented with a variety of nutritional supplements which may include a protein powder, fiber product, enzymes, algae and friendly flora. All of these are available in the Bauman Nutrition’s Vital Scoop, in a safe and well balanced combination. A cleansing diet with proper fluid, fiber and phytonutrients (colorful fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices) is safe and effective when people modify their diet gradually rather than make a sudden, radical shift. As a person gets acclimated to eating more produce, he or she can increase the proportion of raw to cooked foods. A cleanse increases the amount of alkaline forming minerals, especially potassium, magnesium and trace elements that balance the blood pH, cool inflammation, and nourish organs, glands, and body tissues.

If following a cleansing diet  causes to a person becoming dizzy, disoriented, tired or unstable, shift to a eating a balancing diet, with equal calories from proteins and fats to carbohydrates.  A cleansing program can be typically maintained for several weeks without supervision. A cleanse is an excellent preparation for a fast or detoxification program.

A Fast is an abstinence from solid foods. It is an intentional purification for health and/or spiritual reasons. One might fast for one day to a week or more. It is a traditional therapy for people who suffer from food and chemical sensitivity, chronic illness and digestive disturbance. In its most restrictive form, a fasting person drinks only water and is confined to bed rest. I don’t advocate this as it deprives the body of needed calories, nutrients and physical activity.

To insure a successful Fast, begin with a gradual Cleanse.  I suggest two days of cleansing for each day fasting, both at the beginning and end of a Fast. A three and a half day Fast would have a weeklong cleanse before and after to insure that the body is not be shocked by a sudden change in calories and nutrients. This mitigates the common side effects and withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult for people to function while fasting. These include fatigue, headaches, back pain and emotional release. There are many kinds of Fasts, such as the Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet, a Fruit or Vegetable Juice Fast, or an Integrative Fast, which is what I suggest for the Vitality Fasting Retreat. During my program, solid food is eschewed in favor of a choice of beverages that include purified water, teas, fresh fruit and vegetable juices and mineral broth. In addition, we provide Vital Scoop smoothies for those who have blood sugar issues.

In addition to limiting the food intake, a fast is a time to turn away from the stressors of everyday life to get in touch with nature, self and spirit. For many, fasting alone is much harder than being in a group retreat setting. For anyone with existing medical problem and taking pharmaceutical drugs, it is important to consult with a qualified health practitioner prior to fasting. I suggest a 3 day Fast for beginners. This allows them to experience the health and lucidity that fasting brings. In addition to drinking alkaline rich beverages, our guests also learn how to administer an enema to facilitate colon cleansing. A major difference between a Fast and a Cleanse is that fasting with daily enemas allow the gastrointestinal system to empty.

When this happens, fasters experience clarity and expanded awareness. As the colon empties, the mind clears. After fasting, eating is wonderful. Supervised fasting is a great way to overcome food addictions that stem from a longing to be full and fulfilled. After fasting, being empty is not so scary.

A Detoxification program is more focused and therapeutic than either a Cleanse or Fast. The intent in this case is to eliminate specific harmful compounds from the body. Many people and companies advertise a four to six-week Detox Program, with a list of benefits, most of which cannot be verified. This type of program is truly a Cleanse if the format is to clean up the diet, eliminate intoxicating foods and beverage, and add supplemental herbs and nutrients.  Detoxification requires professional assessment; individualize program development and careful monitoring. I have worked with numerous people who have become ill when they were improperly guided in what they were told was a Detox program. For a detoxification program to show measurable success, it often takes many months. One doesn’t clear pathogen, such as mercury, cadmium or lead, or microbes, such as a bacteria, yeast or parasite, or overcome an addiction to cocaine, heroin or alcohol in a predictable or limited time frame. For some people, depending on the their health status, following a balancing or building diet is preferable to cleansing while going through the withdrawal from a toxic drug or heavy metal.

It’s never a one size fits all approach to detoxification or recovery from injury or illness.

Detoxification may take place in a clinical out-patient setting or be included as a part of a sup ervised program with a skilled health professional. Close monitoring is essential as symptoms will arise requiring a specific, immediate therapeutic response. When people are in the midst of detoxification, they often become agitated and emotionally unstable. I suggest natural health educators work with naturopathic or functional medical doctors to insure safety and professional oversight. Do not attempt a do it yourself Detoxification program by following instructions from a book or from the back of a product package.

Let’s return to our theme of springing forward!

After a winter of hibernation, we  can spring forward by committing to a gentle Cleanse. Start by increasing your fluids, fiber, phytonutrients and physical activity. Invite a friend to join you or better yet, join me at the May 10-13th Bauman College Vitality Fasting Retreat at Stillheart Institute, in Woodside, CA. Experience what it feels like to be clear, clean and refreshed after a Fast. You’ll look and feel years younger after enjoying a delightful long weekend retreat.

The feeling of fear is often much bigger than the things we think we are afraid of. You know that old saying that it’s the fear itself we fear. We have become master distractors from what we really feel, intellectualizing and labeling and sweeping under the carpet those big dark scary things inside ourselves. Those things that we are certain will be judged, punished, out of control or just too big to handle.

The trick is to let go and surrender. It may feel foreign and uncomfortable and like you are travelling into unknown territory. But it is a path to freedom and understanding that you are so much bigger and expansive. Brene Brown talks about 4 things: The courage to be imperfect, the compassion to be kind to yourself first, the experience of connection as a result of authenticity, and fully embracing vulnerability. For what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.

Debbie Gisonni, President and CEO of Stillheart Institute, shares what generosity means to her. “True generosity is present when you give unconditionally, willingly, and from the heart…” What does generosity mean to you? How do you give others your “best self”?

This year, Oracle Women’s Leadership is sponsoring Girl Power Day at Stillheart. In this video, Lise Edwards, Managing Sr. Director of Oracle Women’s Leadership, talks about Oracle’s commitment to supporting women leaders, and to creating a “pay it forward” culture. Girl Power Day provides Oracle with the opportunity to influence young girls in a positive way.

Join Oracle in supporting Girl Power Day 2012 at Stillheart!