(Photo by Daniel Moody)

“G,” alongside Baptist Health executives Missy Lewis, Cathy Dickinson and Margot Vogel, helped establish the innovative BHealthy Initiative. This corporate wellness program has been applauded by employees and executives alike, and in 2016,

they will help expand the initiative to include nutrition counseling, mindfulness-based stress reduction and physical fitness programs.

FIT Arkansas: Workplace wellness is your team’s forte—what message do you most want to reach the masses?

G Dennis: If people are not physically healthy, mentally and emotionally healthy, spiritually aligned, or if people are not happy, they are less likely to be productive. Health is more than the absence of disease. We believe when employees are healthy, they enjoy life more and do their best work.

Who are your corporate wellness role models? Who do you take inspiration from?

McKesson Corporation is a leader and innovator in corporate wellness. They’ve incorporated a plethora of health and wellness benefits into their employee health plan that created a culture of well-being—like 100 percent coverage for preventive care, free biometric screenings and an online health assessment, free activity tracker linked to wellness program incentives and more.

We know you’re a supporter of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)—what is that?

[It’s] all about being present. People have very busy lives balancing the demands of work, family and their community. MBSR is a set of tools that helps you to find calm and peace in the midst of busy lives. This is achieved through various methods; however, the premise is bringing together mind and body in a way that promotes living presently moment to moment.

What are your go-to strategies for reducing stress or anxiety?

Meditation is key for me. It helps me stay centered and connected to myself in the ways that matter most. I also like to do physical things to reduce stress, such as play basketball, run and lift weights.

If you had to choose just one workout to do forever, what would it be?

I’d have to say play basketball. I love to compete!

State of Mind

Meditation or yoga? Meditation

Last great self-improvement read? “7 Spiritual Laws of Success” by Deepak Chopra

Motto? Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

Celebrity health/fitness “crush”? Jillian Michaels