UF and UF Health employees will have the opportunity to relax and de-stress through a new wellness classes.
Through June, UF employees will be able to participate in new events for UF’s monthly Wellness Wednesdays. Employees can try meditating, learn how to track their sleep schedules and participate in National Bike to Work Day.
The events are part of the UF-UF Health Shands Wellness Committee’s Quarterly Spotlight, said Angie Brown, the assistant director for communications and wellness.
The topic for the next three months is “Thrive,” she said. It will focus on emotional wellness, including stress, depression, sleep, hygiene, positive psychology and happiness.
“The program supports the health and well-being of UF and UF Health employees in an effort to build a strong academic community for all,” said Kim Holton, the wellness coordinator at UF.
To make sure employees had as many resources as students, UF formed a joint employee wellness committee in Fall 2013, Brown said.
“Since that time, it has developed programming both independently as well as in conjunction with UF Health, GatorCare and other campus organizations,” Brown said.
Holton said in addition to Wellness Wednesday, the program offers free weekly classes including Pilates, yoga and Zumba.
There are also Fall and Spring walking challenges, health screenings and an annual Windows to Wellness, in which employees learn healthy cooking, receive health checks and learn how to deskercise.
Dorota Haman, UF’s agricultural and biological engineering chair, said she has participated in the committee’s yoga classes and body scan meditation, which reduces stress.
“I really like this program, and I wish I would have more time to participate,” Haman said. “This is a great way to deal with stress.”
