Download the manuals & exercise videos for free
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What is the program?Nutrition and Exercise for Wellness and Recovery (NEW-R) helps people with mental illnesses gain new knowledge and skills for healthier eating and physical activity. Participants examine their eating and exercise habits to identify what they’d most like to change, and set achievable goals each week to make these changes. NEW-R can help participants lose weight through nutritious meal planning, reduced portion sizes, and increased daily exercise. Peer support and intentionality are used to help participants stay on-track.
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Who can use it? |
NEW-R is safe for most participants. However, people with cardiovascular conditions (such as past heart attack or angina) should get a doctor’s permission before participating. Additionally, pregnant women or individuals with a history of anorexia or bulimia also should have a doctor’s approval before joining a NEW-R class. Individuals who have trouble walking due to back, knee, or hip ailments can participate in the exercises, as long as they are seated.
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How does it work? |
NEW-R is a two-month class that meets for 90 minutes each week. Because participants should have control over their meal planning and ability to exercise, the class is best offered in community-based settings. It can be taught in mental health or social service agencies, peer-run programs, community health clinics, or anywhere in the community where people can gather comfortably and privately.
NEW-R is taught using a leader manual (42 pages) and a participant manual (70 pages). Both are written at a grade school level. They can be downloaded for free and should be printed and bound for use. Each session is comprised of didactic teaching of nutritional and other health content, followed by active learning in which participants practice skills and make plans to apply the information in their own lives. This format allows the program to be highly individualized to each person's needs, strengths, interests, and personal situation. The exercise segments of NEW-R classes use 8 free exercise videos. Each was designed by occupational therapists, and features OT students and people in recovery. Video sessions average 20-25 minutes, and include dancing, yoga, upper and lower body strength, kickboxing, core work, cardio, and a mixed workout. The videos are offered from the lightest to the heaviest exertion needed to complete the exercises. All exercises are demonstrated by students who are standing and sitting, to teach people who do not exercise regularly how to safely participate while building their strength and endurance.
The leader manual offers examples of alternatives to the exercise videos, in the event that a program lacks sufficient space or Internet access to use the videos. Such alternatives include starting a walking club or joining a local fitness center, which often offer discounts to programs or people on limited budgets. NEW-R is led by two co-facilitators. Ideally, at least one of the co-facilitators is a peer. NEW-R classes work best when attended by 10-12 people. If the room is too crowded, participating in the exercises can be challenging.
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What resources are needed? |
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What experience is needed? |
While specialized training is not necessary to run a NEW-R class, it is advisable for at least one of the teachers to have experience leading health education groups. Helpful preparation also includes:
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Podcast length: 6 minutes
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A free webinar on how to implement NEW-R (52 minutes)
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