Healthy for Life: T.E. Atkins UM Wellness Program

UMSL Classes

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. 

Summer 2013:

•  Online Orientation: May 31
•  Online Class: June 7-Aug. 9 
•  Cost: $50 for faculty, staff and family members ($25 refunded with full participation); $180 for community members
•  Watch informational videos and email csdk89@mail.missouri.edu  to enroll.

Fall 2013:

•  Online Orientation: Sept. 27
•  Online Class: Oct. 4-Dec. 6 
•  Cost: $50 for faculty, staff and family members ($25 refunded with full participation); $180 for community members
•  Watch informational videos and email RossyL@umsystem.edu  to enroll.

Meditation

Wednesdays, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
MSC, Room 225

University Health, Wellness and Counseling Services has been offering free weekly Mindfulness Meditation sessions for two years now. Although the group is open to the entire University community, most of the group members are campus staff.  They would like to invite new members to join them in what they have found to be a wonderful antidote to the stress in their lives. It’s a great way to take an emotional vacation in the middle of a hectic week! The half-hour weekly sessions include a brief introduction, a 20-minute guided mindfulness meditation, followed by brief discussion. This group is designed for beginning, as well as experienced meditators. New members are welcome at any time during the semester. If you are new to mindfulness meditation, please call Sharon Biegen or Jamie Linsin at University Health, Wellness and Counseling Services, 516-5711 to arrange for introductory instructions.

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 given for every million steps. To enroll, e-mail Healthy for Life. 

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 employees looking to manage today's busy lifestyles in a healthy way. 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 with full participation.

Physical Activity

• St. Louis Run/Walk listings is a not-for-profit organization encourages running, walking and fitness for persons of all ages and abilities. The club organizes events and posts a lengthy list of runs/walks in the St. Louis area.
• The St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of athletic and outdoor options for adults from hiking to aerobic kickboxing to beginning caving. Check the calendars on this site to find latest happenings.

Ride to Wellness Odometer Program

This is a 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 given out for every 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 miles, mail or e-mail copies of your booklet to Healthy for Life.

Stay Strong Stay Healthy

• Stay Strong Stay Healthy is a University of Missouri Extension program for middle-aged and older adults who want to improve their quality of life and stay active. Class size is small with 10 to 20 participants. Enrollment is on first-come basis. For more information, contact University of Missouri Extension at (636) 970-3000. For more information about Stay Strong Stay Healthy or its upcoming classes, visit its website at http://missourifamilies.org/sssh/index.htm.

Tai Chi

Monday-Friday (except Wednesday), 12-12:30 p.m.
JC Penney Building

Tai Chi Qigong (pronounced “tie jee chee kung”) practice is a blending of meditation, breathing, and slow fluid movements all incorporated into a 30-minute set with an emphasis on the breathing. This practice is suitable for people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness levels. The movements can easily be modified to accommodate an individual’s physical/medical conditions. Tai Chi Qigong is good for improving balance, flexibility, lung function, and muscle strength in addition to being a wonderful relaxation technique. The instructor (Linda Gatson) guides participants through the practice with both verbal and visual cues.  Participation is on a drop-in basis and new members are welcome at any time throughout the year.  No previous experience or special clothing is needed. This practice is open to all UMSL faculty, staff, and students and is free of charge.  During nice weather, some practices may also be held outdoors by Bugg Lake. To receive a weekly email with practice dates, times, and locations please contact Linda Gatson at gatsonl@umsl.edu or (314) 516-5091

Walking Groups

North Campus
Monday-Friday, 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

During the warm months, meet at the Wayne Goode statue by the Millennium Student Center Lakes. During inclement weather or cooler months, meet on the third floor of the Millennium Student Center and walk laps with the group. There’s no need to register, just show up. It’s a great way to meet people and get your day started on a positive note. If you have questions, please contact Wellness Ambassadors Faith Lucas at 516-5090 or Rachel Sommerer at 516-6551. *Note: this group does not meet on holidays.

South Campus
Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Meet in Marillac Hall to walk with a group three days a week, regardless of weather. There’s no need to register, just show up. It’s a great way to meet people and get your day started on a positive note. If you have questions, please contact Wellness Ambassadors Diane Herbst at 516-5791 or Mary Brown at 516-6016. *Note: this group does not meet on holidays.

Weight Watchers

• Millennium Student Center, Room 225
  Tuesdays 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
  This course addresses nutrition, physical activity and peer support. The discounted enrollment fee is $39.95 per month if you use the portal. If you choose not to enroll via the portal, the cost is $42.95 per month.  To access the portal, visit https://wellness.weightwatchers.com and use ID 46814 and passcode WW446814.

• Online Program
  www.weightwatchers.com, Join anytime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             If If you are a Coventry member, you are eligible for a discounted rate to enroll in Weight Watchers online. Get registration details now. For $55, you can access recipes, tracking tools and chat boards for three months. That’s less than $5 per week! 

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

Taking care of ourselves during the workday helps us be more productive and have more energy for our work and our lives beyond work.  Participants learn how to balance being engaged with taking time for quick recovery techniques throughout the day in order to meet the challenges of a busy workplace.  Design your own plan for improvement and find ways of structuring your workplace to create a culture of health and wellness.  Understand and overcome the barriers to greater personal and professional success. Contact Lynn Rossy, Ph.D., Health Psychologist for Healthy for Life, for more details and to schedule a workshop for your area.