UMKC Classes

Bike Rides

• Kansas City biking information For trails, clubs and commuting information, as well as rides in the area, click here.

Eat for Life

Discover the benefits of this innovative approach to weight management.  This ten week program uses mind-body practices (meditations and yoga), the principles of mindful and intuitive eating, skills training, and group support to guide you in making lifestyle changes that will help you create a healthier relationship to your food, mind, and body. If you have a history of chronic dieting, have rigid “healthy” rules about eating, or find yourself eating when you’re stressed, bored, or unhappy, this may be the program for you.

• Online orientation starts the week of Jan. 23 and the class starts the week of Jan. 30 and runs through week of Apr. 11 (Except Spring Break).  Cost is $50 with a $25 rebate for participation in 9 of the 10 classes.

For more information, contact Rachel Ploskonka at PloskonkaR@missouri.edu or to enroll, click here.

Meditation

Lower your stress and relax for 20 minutes while listening to a CD recording by Dr. Lynn Rossy, Healthy for Life’s  Health Psychologist. All you need is a room and a CD player or computer to play the CD. If you are interested in facilitating one weekly session in your own building, email Laurie for simple details.

Million Step Pedometer Program

This is a non-stop program to address physical activity. Sign up any time and receive a pedometer and log book for $15.

Walk 1 million steps and receive your money back, certificate and T-shirt; prizes are being given out for each million up to 5 million. To enroll, e-mail Laurie Goldstein.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Helping employees manage stress effectively is a key goal of Healthy for Life, the Thomas E. Atkins Wellness Program. The wellness program offers eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction classes at minimal cost to benefit-eligible employees looking to manage today's busy lifestyles in a healthy way. For more information or to sign up, please contact Lynn Rossy, Ph.D. at RossyL@umsystem.edu. This 8–week class teaching meditation, yoga and other mind-body techniques for managing stress. For more information about MBSR, visit the Program section of this website. There is a $40 registration fee, $20 reimbursement if you attend eight of the nine classes.

Ride to Wellness Odometer Program

This is a non-stop program to address physical activity. Sign up any time and receive an odometer and log book for $20. Ride 500 miles and receive your money back, certificate and T-shirt; prizes are being given out for every 500 miles up to 2,500 miles. To enroll, mail a $20 check to Healthy for Life at 205 Heinkel Building, Columbia, MO 65211. We will mail your items through Campus Mail. Once you reach each 500-mile mark, mail or e-mail copies of your booklet to Healthy for Life.

Support Groups

• Alzheimer's Support Group
  Third Monday of month: 7-9 p.m.
  North Kansas City Hospital
  Support group for anyone dealing with someone who has Alzheimer's or Dimentia. Registration is not required. For more information, call (816) 691-1688.
• Bereavement Support Group
  Second Thursday of month: 10-11:30 a.m.
  St. Joseph Medical Center, Location: Health Sciences Library, Building D, SJMC campus
  Second Thursday of month: 6-7:30 p.m.
  St. Joseph Medical Center, Location: Abell-Lorenz Room, Building D, SJMC campus
  Support group for those dealing with grief. Registration is not required. For more information, call (816) 943-2782.
• Breast Cancer Support Group
  First Tuesday of month: 5-6:30 p.m.
  North Kansas City Hospital
  Support group for breast cancer survivors, newly diagnosed patients and family members. Registration is not required. For more information, call (816) 691-5197.
• Chron's or Colitis Support Group
  Fourth Tuesday of month: 7-8:30 p.m.
  North Kansas City Hospital
  Support group for those diagnosed with Chron's Disease or Colitis and their families. Registration is not required. For more information, call (816) 235-2031.
• Fibro & Friends Support Group
  First Tuesday of month: 5-6:30 p.m.
  North Kansas City Hospital
  Support group for those with Fibromyalgia. This group is open to all persons with auto-immune disorders, their friends and family. Registration IS required. For more information, call (816) 691-1688 or click here for registration page.
• Living with Diabetes Support Group
  First Thursday of even-numbered months: 5-6:30 p.m.
  North Kansas City Hospital
  Support group for patients and their families dealing with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Registration is not required. For more information, call (816) 691-1666.

Weight Watchers

• Law School, Administrative Conference Room 1-201
  Thursdays, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  This is a 13-week course to address nutrition, physical activity and peer support. The enrollment fee is $156 for 13 weeks, join mid-session for prorated fee. New members are welcome any time! All faculty and staff who attend 12 of the 13 classes receive 25 percent reimbursement of enrollment fee. To enroll, get a current schedule or for more information, e-mail Laurie Goldstein.
• School of Dentistry, Room 250
  Wednesdays, 12-12:45 p.m.
  This is a 13-week course to address nutrition, physical activity and peer support. The enrollment fee is $156 for 13 weeks, join mid-session for prorated fee. New members are welcome any time! All faculty and staff who attend 12 of the 13 classes receive 25 percent reimbursement of enrollment fee. To enroll, get a current schedule or for more information, e-mail Laurie Goldstein.
• Online Program
  www.weightwatchers.com, anytime
  Healthy for Life recognizes that many employees won't be able to join at At-Work meeting, so the wellness program is extending its 25 percent rebate to all faculty and staff who enroll in a three-month Weight Watchers Online course for $65. Experience peer support from the comfort of your home or office. Miss no more than one week logging your weight and qualify for the rebate. Turn in your completed log to Melissa Willett, 205 Heinkel Building, Columbia, MO, 65211.
• Community Centers
  www.weightwatchers.com, Join anytime
  Healthy for Life extends its 25 percent rebate to faculty and staff who enroll in a three-month Weight Watchers at a local community center and miss no more than one meeting. Experience peer support at your convenience. If you enroll at a community center, please contact Melissa Willett to qualify for rebate. Turn in your completed log to Melissa, 205 Heinkel Building, Columbia, MO, 65211.

Wellness Ambassadors

This is an ongoing program that allows you to enroll anytime. Wellness Ambassadors are those people who are eager to help spread the wellness word to their colleagues, friends and family. They spend 5 minutes a week to forward an e-mail, mention an event or program during a staff meeting, encourage healthy behaviors, etc. Some Ambassadors spend more time promoting wellness by staffing a booth during a health fair, leading a class or coming up with great ideas for new programs. If this sounds like something you are interested in, please contact Wellness.

Workshops

Live Like Your Life Depends On It – Health Management Program
Healthy for Life and University of Missouri Extension have partnered to offer Stanford University’s successful six-week workshop for adults living with any chronic health condition.  This FREE program is confidential and highly interactive to support participants ability to manage their health while maintaining active and fulfilling lives.  The next session will be held in the Fall, 5:15-7:15 pm at the Health Science Campus at Hospital Hill (Dates T.B.A).  Light dinner provided.  Family and friends welcome.  Contact Laurie Goldstein at GoldsteinLJ@umsystem.edu for more information.

Yoga

Mindful Yoga for Every Body
Six Wednesday Classes for $18
March 16, 23, April 6, 13, 20 & 27
4747 Troost Building, Room 114
5:15-6:00 p.m.

Gentle body awareness and stretching exercises will help you cultivate mindfulness in daily life as well as strengthen the body.  Suitable for all levels of physical ability (and disability).  Street clothes are welcome.  The instructor has over thirty years experience in health and fitness and has taught mindfulness-based stress reduction courses throughout Kansas City.  Space is limited.  Register on a first-come basis, by mailing a check (payable to Lisa Pinsker) via campus mail to Laurie Goldstein, SRC Annex (at Hospital Hill), Room 115.  If you are interested in future classes, please contact Laurie with your time and campus preferences (Volker vs. Hospital Hill; lunchtime vs. after-work).