Living Well @ Western

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Wellness Events Calendar

Visit the Western-wide Wellness Events Calendar for a list of activities across campus.

New to Living Well?

Please complete a release form to participate in our classes.

Stay up to date with programming. Email to join our mailing list and take advantage of early-bird registration and monthly calendars of our wellness events!

Rewards! Learn how to turn your health activities into Wellness Reward points toward prizes.

Living Well @ Western provides free wellness activities that span the seven domains of wellness, intended to maintain and improve employee well-being. Come join us!

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Special Activities

Winter Wellness 2023: February 13 - 24

Join us for two weeks of fun, interesting and challenging activities for all Western employees that span the seven domains of wellness. In addition to our growing list of Living Well activities listed below on this page, Winter Wellness activities include:

Visit the Western Winter Wellness webpage now for full details.

Ongoing Living Well Activities

NEW: 20-Minute Body Weight Workouts

Starting February 1, 2023, join Fitness instructor JJ Keck for 20-minute body weight workouts on Wednesdays!

There will be two 20-minute classes back-to-back. You can stay for one or both! The shorter classes will add flexibility for people to be able to attend. 

When: Wednesdays from 12:10 – 12:30 AND 12:30-12:50 pm until April 2023 
Where: Alumni Hall Room 15 (basement)

Book your spot online now and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points.

NEW: Zumba

Starting February 2, 2023 you can join Darlene Willie, Certified Zumba instructor on Thursdays for a lunch time Zumba class!  Open to all Western employees.

When: Thursdays from 12:10 – 12:50, until April 2023 *Note: there is no class on Feb 16 or 23, 2023.
Where: Alumni Hall Room 15 (basement)

Book your spot online now and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points.

Buti Yoga

Join fitness instructor Lisa Silvestro, for a 40-minute Buti Yoga class. Buti is a music-driven movement methodology that incorporates dynamic yoga asana with primal movement, cardio-dance bursts plus deep core conditioning.

When: Mondays from 12:10 – 12:50, until April 2023
Where: Alumni Hall Room 15 

Book your spot online now 

Yoga Tuesdays with Tracy

Join Tracy Ishmael in her weekly yoga class! 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. Please bring your own yoga mat.
When: Tuesdays until April from 12:10-12:50 p.m.
Where: Alumni Hall Room 15

Book your spot online now and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points. 

Core & Cardio Fitness Class

Join Michelle Phillips, certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor for a 40-minute core and cardio workout. Please wear active clothing, running shoes and bring your water bottle!
When: Fridays from 12:10 – 12:50
Where: Alumni Hall Room 15

Book your spot online now and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points.

Wellness Bingo - January 2023

There is still time to submit your Bingo card!

Challenge yourself to complete one square each day by completing an activity. When you complete the activity, check off the square. For every column or row completed, you will receive one ballot for our monthly draw. You will also receive up to 100 additional points for our Internal Rewards Wellness Program. Submit your notice of completion and the number of lines completed to livingwell@uwo.ca by February 3rd, 2023. Read more.

Don Wright Faculty of Music Fridays @ 12:30 Concert Series

When: Every Friday for 60 minutes
Where: von Kuster Hall, Music Building as well as via livestream

Wellness Walks

When: Every Thursday or Friday from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
Where: Meet at the Biological & Geological Sciences Building (BGS)

Take a break and get outside for some fresh air! Join Ben Souriol for an hour-long walk through the various trails and walking paths on campus. If you can't commit to the full hour, no problem! There are opportunities along the route to return back to the office.

Dress appropriately for the weather, as walks may continue through foul weather.  Participants are encouraged to email Ben - bsouriol@uwo.ca - to be placed on a mailing list to confirm day, as well as in the event of a cancellation or time change.  This is a great way to explore campus, connect with nature, meet new colleagues and improve your overall well-being.

Previously Recorded Activities

Introduction to Yoga

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

Recordings: May 3, 2022, January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, Chair Yoga (40 min.), Chair Yoga V1 (10 min.), Chair Yoga V2 (13 min.), Chair Yoga V3 (11 min.)

Mobility for Better Mentality

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

Recorded Sessions: May 10, 2022, February 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3.

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.

Recorded Sessions: 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 30, 2021.

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.

Recorded Sessions: January 24; January 31; February 7; February 14; February 28; March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28, April 4, 10-Minutes of Mindfulness.

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:  October 27, November 3, November 24, December 1, December 8, March 9.

Release, Restore, and Rest

Instructor Melissa Ostrowski will 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.

Recorded Sessions:  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.

Recorded Sessions: 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

FUN!ctional Fitness

Using her unique storytelling approach, instructor Ariana Crispin-Frei 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". 

Recorded Sessions: 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 with Instructor Jenny Goldberg 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!  

Recorded Sessions: February 5, February 12, February 19

10-Minute Wellness Break Videos

Previously Recorded Wellness Presentations and Activities

Art Workshops

Western Coffeehouse

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

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

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.  Watch Self-Compassion video.

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.

View Hygge video

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.  View Connecting with Environmental Wellness at Western video.

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. View Lifestyle Choices and Mental Health video.

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