Living Well @ Western

Earn rewards for participating in Living Well @ Western activities. Watch our video to learn about the internal wellness rewards program.

Important: To participate in our Living Well @ Western activity classes, all participants must complete a release form and send it to livingwell@uwo.ca.

Interested in staying up-to-date with programming changes? Send us an email to request being added to our mailing list.

Outdoor Yoga Promotional Poster

Location: Green space behind McIntosh Gallery
Time: 12:10-12:50PM
Dates: Tues, May 17; Tues, May 31; Tues, June 7; Tues, June 14; Mon, June 20; Tues, June 28
Instructor: Tracy
Notes: Please bring your own yoga mat and water. Sunscreen is advisable. Please observe physical distancing. Check the calendar for cancellations or updates. 

Virtual Activities

Introduction to Yoga

This 40-minute activity class focuses on breath control, mindfulness, and adopting specific postures to promote relaxation and improve the health of the mind, body, and spirit. Namaste.

Mobility for Better Mentality (Tuesday)

The class combines multiple methods of stretching and movement patterns to increase flexibility, stability, and improve pain management.

 

Previously Recorded Sessions: February 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3

When:Tuesdays from 12:10-12:50PM

Instructor: Michelle

Zoom Link: 898-8946-6598; passcode: mobility 

Previously Recorded Activities

Yoga with Cassie

This activity class focuses on breath control, mindfulness, and adopting specific postures to promote relaxation and improve the health of the mind, body, and spirit. Namaste.

Additional Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing:  October 26, November 2, November 9, November 16, November 23, November 30, December 7, January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 22, March 1, March 8 , March 15, March 22, March 29, April 13, April 20, April 27, May 3, May 10, May 17, May 31, June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28. July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 9, August 16, August 23

Guided Meditation with Dr. J

Dr. Tanaz Javan will guide you through a set of techniques intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Take a well-deserved break to focus on your emotional and spiritual well-being.

 

Zumba!

This high-energy aerobic fitness class features movements inspired by various styles of Latin American dance. You are guaranteed to have fun while improving coordination, balance, strength, and heart health.

Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing:  October 27, November 3, November 24, December 1, December 8, March 9

Release, Restore, and Rest

We’ll start with a meditation or embodiment practice, giving you the chance to release the day’s events, come back into your body and the present moment, and breathe. From there, we’ll move into 1 or 2 restorative yoga postures. We’ll hold these postures for 5 -10 minutes each, so having blankets and pillows handy can be really supportive. If you have yoga blocks or bolsters those work, but are not necessary. Finally, we’ll end with a delicious savasana. The goal is to leave the session feeling a little lighter, more grounded, and ready for a great night sleep. This is a great gift to give yourself at the end of the day.

Instructor: Melissa Ostrowski

Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing:  June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, August 3, August 17

Yoga with Melissa

This activity class focuses on improving posture, balance, coordination, strength and breath control by practicing a series of physical postures. Use the power of positive thinking to develop harmony in the body, mind, and environment. Namaste. 

Additional Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing:  October 29, November 5,  November 12, November 26, December 3, December 10, January 21, January 28, February 4, February 11, February 18, February 25, March 4, March 18, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 24, July 8, July 15, July 22, August 5, August 12, August 19 

Art Workshops

Grab your supplies and join us for guided lessons that will tap into your artistic side! View the poster for more details. 

Watercolour Painting

Figure Drawing

Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing: November 17, 2020 (landscape painting), February 18, 2021 (abstract techniques)

Western Coffeehouse

Take a break, grab a warm beverage and enjoy music performed by talented Western students. 

hayden_coffeehouse

Previously Recorded Session: November 25th (Darty), December 9th (Janelle), December 23rd (Rachael), February 11 (Hayden)

FUN!ctional Fitness

Using her unique storytelling approach, Ariana will focus on functional movement patterns such as squatting, hingeing, lunging, pushing, pulling, and twisting. By learning and engaging proper form in your workouts, you will reduce your risk of injury while performing everyday tasks - such as lunging to tie your shoe, squatting to lift a box, pulling a heavy door closed, or pushing it open. Plus, these types of movements use multiple muscles at once, so you are getting an effective and efficient workout while strengthening your body holistically. Come train with Ariana and let's put the "FUN" back in "functional". 

Instructor: Ariana Crispin-Frei

Additional Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing: February 3, February 10, February 17, February 24, March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21 

Pilates

This low-impact form of exercise aims to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility. Pilates moves tend to target the core, but manages to engage muscles throughout the entire body!  

Instructor: Jenny Goldberg

Additional Recorded Sessions Available for Viewing: February 5, February 12, February 19

Previously Recorded Wellness Presentations

These presentations were offered and recorded during past wellness events. Enjoy!

Self-Compassion

Workshop delivered by Kelsey Sick and Vanessa Coulbeck, graduate students working under Dr. Eva Pila at the Body Image and Health Lab within the school of Kinesiology at Western.

Hygge: The Art of Creating Coziness

This session explores the Danish philosophy of Hygge and the benefits of creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Grab your favourite warm beverage, light a candle, grab a blanket and enjoy! Presentation delivered by Michelle from CHMA. 

Interested in learning more? Visit the Huron Hygge for more information and opportunities.

Connecting with Environmental Wellness at Western

Jessica Cordes and Evan Green (Office of Sustainability) review past accomplishments, current and future initiatives and examine the various ways that employees can improve their environmental well-being and get involved at Western. 

Lifestyle Choices and Mental Health

Dr. Peter Lemon, Director of the Exercise Nutrition Research Laboratory at Western University highlights the connection between nutrition, physical activity and mental health,while providing practical tips to improve your well-being.

safeTALK and ASIST: Program Overview

safeTalk and ASIST are two standardized training programs developed by LivingWorks and offered at Western by Western University staff. The full safeTALK s a 3-hour suicide alertness training program that introduces participants to the subject and helps you to recognize individuals needing assistance. ASIST is suicide intervention skills training that takes place over two consecutive days with a minimum of 14 hours. Join Western staff members Rebecca Smith and Leslie Gloor Duncan, for our 30-minute introduction to safeTALK and ASIST. Western hopes to be able to resume offering safeTALK and ASIST programs in the summer of 2021. In the meantime, this video will provide an introduction to the programs, and to other online resources that are available.

10-Minute Wellness Break Videos

10-Minute Chair Yoga with Tracy

10-Minute Meditation with Sabrina

10-Minute Meditation with Tanaz

10-Minute Standing Yoga

10-Minute Yoga with Cassie

10-Minute Yoga with Melissa

10-Minute Stretch break with Adam

iCalendar Download Instructions

To import an activity class calendar in Outlook:

  1. Click File tab.
  2. Select Open & Export from left column.
  3. Select Import/Export
  4. Choose Import an iCalendar (.ics) or vCalendar file (.vcs)
  5. Find and select the .ics file that you downloaded (files located at bottom of class description)

Wellness Champions Network

Are you passionate about health and wellness? Do you believe in a holistic approach and understand the importance of developing a sound body, mind and spirit? Have great ideas on how to engage your colleagues? Sign up to be a wellness champion (accessible version) for your department and help us spread wellness across campus.

Living Well E-Newsletter

This regular publication features articles related to a number of unique wellness topics. Every issue includes the most recent activity class schedule, upcoming wellness opportunities, a recipe of the month, and a list of supports and resources available to employees. Each issue is available in two versions: image-based and text-based (accessible version). 

Volume 1, Issue 3 (accessible version) - Return to Work Anxiety: How do we manage it?; The Great Architect: Re-Wiring the Brain; Mini Workouts: When Time Isn't on your Side

Volume 1, Issue 2 (accessible version) - Canadian Health Hero; Beating the Winter Blues; Good Sleep for Good Health

Volume 1, Issue 1 (accessible version) - Stop Shoulding on Yourself; Self-Compassion: Treat Yourself Kindly; Creating Lifelong Habits; The Pareto Principle

Additional Sources and Resources

Western Campus Recreation

Looking for ways to stay active while staying at home and working on social distancing? Sports and Recreation wants our Mustangs to be able to stay active, so our Western Campus Recreation Fitness is going LIVE on Instagram @Western_Rec with daily classes.

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Your Employee (and family) Assistance Plan is called LifeWorks. Visit the LifeWorks EAP web page for details on all the services, supports and resources available to you and your family. Services include counselling which is available by phone, videoconference, secure email and chat.

Lift by LifeWorks

Learn how to access custom developed training sessions created by the world’s best trainers. Lift by LifeWorks provides a full suite of fitness offerings without ever stepping outside your house. 

ACTIVE - CMHA

The London-Middlesex chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers a number of free workshops and events every month. Choose from activities like mindfulness, mood walks and wellness talks.

Fitness Blender YouTube Channel 

Gain access to over 600 full length workout videos for free.  There is something for everyone – from beginner to workout warrior. Most of these workouts require little to no equipment and can be done from the office or home.    

The Happiness Lab Podcast 

Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale – the most popular class in the university's 300-year history – Dr. Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share inspiring stories. There are 21 episodes to choose from, including bonus episodes related to the Coronavirus.

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