Posts by Amanda Allegra, MS
OPI Surf Club: Catching the Waves of the California Coast
Fortunately, the Optimum Performance Institute, is located only a few miles from the beautiful beaches of Southern California. With warm, sunny weather and ample interest among our current group of participants, OPI has recently launched its first ever surf club. Several staff members have been assisting participants with riding the waves each week. For some,…
Read MoreOPI Participates in 12th Annual Victory for Victims 5K Walk/Run
Nearly 30 staff members from the Optimum Performance Institute recently participated in the 12th annual Victory for Victims 5K Walk/Run. Hosted by Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s CATS program, this fun event was held at Lake Balboa Park in Encino, California. All proceeds benefited CATS, the Center for Assault Treatment Services, which is a program on…
Read MoreEaster – Just Like At Home
Spring in southern California means sunshine, beach walks, and, of course, Easter. To celebrate this annual occasion, the extracurricular activities department will be filling large Easter baskets to be delivered to each OPI apartment. There will also be an Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday for all participants who want to join in the fun.…
Read MoreMore Clubs. More Fun. More Happiness.
What a year it was for the extracurricular department here at OPI. We have continued to expand our passion to help our participants build their self esteem, confidence and happiness as we have grown our department. We grew our OPI Clubs from six activity groups to thirteen, offering more opportunities for the participants to explore…
Read MorePlaytime … It’s Not Just For Kids Anymore!
The importance of play is seriously underrated among adults in our society. But regularly engaging in an activity that you are passionate about can actually help increase your motivation, happiness and balance, as well as opening your mind up to greater creativity. “Play is just as important as diet, hygiene or sleep; in fact, research…
Read MoreLife in the Stands — OPI Participants Visit Dodger Stadium
For over 50 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers have attracted millions of baseball fans and visitors from all around the world to their home in Elysian Park. As Major League Baseball’s third oldest ballpark, Dodger Stadium is a distinctive venue and a must-see for those in the LA area. On Saturday, July 27, OPI’s Department…
Read MoreExtracurricular Cooking Class Gets a Makeover
OPI’s Cooking Class is a requirement set by the Extracurricular Activities department to help participants develop important life skills. Recently, we decided to revamp this program into a 12-week series split into two 6-week sessions: Cooking Class 101 and Cooking Class 102. The objective of Cooking Class 101 is to provide a structured environment that…
Read More“May Madness” Motivates Participants with a Magic Mountain Incentive Trip
What to do when some OPI participants were regularly missing their scheduled appointments? The Extracurricular Activities Department decided that a month-long incentive would be the best way to motivate more consistent follow-through and attendance. The department’s “May Madness” promotion dangled the enticing lure of a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in June for those…
Read MoreNew Meditation Club at OPI Explores Relaxation, Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Techniques
Within the past few months, OPI Living Program participants have started a Meditation Club, as one of the many activities available through the Department of Extracurricular Activities. Each week, participants gather to meditate and explore various practices, such as listening to guided meditations by psychotherapists like Belleruth Naparstek and Mary Maddox. Other meditative exercises attempted…
Read MoreExtra Curricular Activities Department Spreads the Seasonal Delight of Gift Giving with Participants
No matter what your faith is, we are in the thick of the winter holiday season, a season of giving. In spirit of this joyous time of year, the Extra Curricular Activities Department at OPI decided to spread the delight of gift giving to all program participants. Whether participants celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another…
Read MoreMeaningful Art Activity Inspires OPI Participants to Channel Emotions and Positive Creativity
Here at the Optimum Performance Institute within the Department of Extracurricular Activities we have an official Art Club and lately the Art Club has really been making an effort to get participants to express themselves through fun and engaging creative means. In recent months, OPI Living program participants who join activities with the Art Club…
Read MoreWorld Mental Health Day – Share a Smile!
During Mental Health Awareness Week, the Optimum Performance Institute honored World Mental Health Day, on October 10, 2012, by giving delicious smiley face cookies attached with a positive quote to all OPI Living program participants and office staff. The quote shared was, “Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day.”…
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