Living Well Program at UCSF Brings Free Wellness Activities, Expo to Campus

UCSF offers Farmers' Markets at the Parnassus and Mission Bay campuses.

Over the years, UCSF has demonstrated its commitment to supporting wellness efforts by making it easier for members of the community to make wellness a priority in their daily lives.

In 2008, UCSF introduced the Farmers’ Market and the Walking Program as part of a campuswide wellness initiative. In 2009, the Living Well at UCSF website  was launched, giving the UCSF community a convenient one-stop resource for all things related to health and wellness at UCSF.

As part of the continuing support for campus wellness initiatives, Chancellor Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, Mark Laret, chief executive officer of UCSF Medical Center, and the newly formed Campus Wellness Work Group, are excited to announce the expansion of Living Well at UCSF.

In addition to the UCSF Farmers’ Market, the UCSF Walking Program, and the website, Living Well at UCSF is now offering a variety of free wellness programs, resources, and activities around campus providing an array of opportunities for all faculty, staff, students and trainees to improve their health and well being.

Offering comprehensive wellness programs serves UCSF’s mission of advancing health worldwide™ by fostering and promoting a healthy and balanced environment for everyone who works, studies, teaches and seeks care on campus and at the medical center and empowering people to leader healthier, more productive lives.

These UCSF-sponsored wellness programs and activities are designed to help participants manage stress, feel better, and improve their quality of life – both on campus and off.

Events and activities will continue through December on a first-come, first-served basis.  They include:

  • Monday, Dec. 13, 6:30 a.m.: The Amazing 15 Minute, No Equipment Workout: Post workout fuel is included. Participants will receive an Odwalla energy bar! Join us for this quick workout and prepare to sweat a little! Read more here.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 14: Body Flow, 1 to 2 p.m.: Move through a sequence of yoga, pilates, and tai chi postures. Read more here.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 16: Chocolate and Jazz at Mission Bay, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: We have just the thing to get you in the holiday spirit—a healthy dose of delicious chocolate and festive jazz. Read more here.

More events can be found on the UCSF calendar by searching under “wellness” or by visiting Living Well at UCSF.

Living Well at UCSF Expo Coming in January

To kick off this exciting new round of wellness programs, UCSF is hosting a Wellness Expo on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, dedicating an entire day to health and wellness resources and activities around campus.
The Wellness Expo will commence with an opening statement from Chancellor Desmond-Hellmann, an avid bike rider and sports enthusiast, who will speak about the importance of improving health, well being and quality of life here at UCSF. CEO Laret will provide closing remarks encouraging the UCSF campus community to make wellness a priority in their daily lives and challenging everyone to improve the collective health of the community in this new decade.

The entire UCSF community is invited and encouraged to attend the Wellness Expo, which will take place on Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Millberry Union on the Parnassus campus. The expo will feature a variety of free health assessments, lectures, “Smart Choice” food specials, a labyrinth, a Farmers’ Market, cooking demonstrations, a Wii fitness competition, plus a chance to win free wellness goodies, and much more.

Mini wellness expo events will also be held at other UCSF locations, including Executive Park, Laurel Heights, Mission Center Building, San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), China Basin and Mount Zion. Dates and times will be announced on the Living Well at UCSF website.

Wellness Programs Coming in 2011

The UCSF wellness initiative will continue to grow in the new year. Currently, several programs are in the planning stages, such as:

  • Seated massage – various campus locations
  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
  • On-Site Yoga at Mount Zion, Mission Center Building, Laurel Heights and SFGH
  • Laughter yoga
  • UC Walk Day
  • Climbing training
  • Smoking cessation – including iPhone app
  • Lunchtime nutrition sessions
  • UCSF’s Biggest Winner competition
  • ALIVE!, an online program to increase physical activity and the intake of fruits and vegetables

For more information about UCSF’s commitment to the health and well being of its students, faculty, and employees, and the free programs being offered, visit the Living Well at UCSF website. http://livingwell.ucsf.edu.

Photo by Susan Merrell

 

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