Winter Wellness 2025 - February 10 - 21

The Seven Domains of Wellness

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Supporting your evolving wellness journey

No matter the time of year or the weather, the pursuit of a healthy, balanced lifestyle remains a priority. At Western, we are committed to supporting our faculty and staff in their wellness journey. Achieving balance takes time and patience, but we’re confident that you’ll find your groove. Whether you're looking to stay active, reduce stress, or develop healthier habits, there’s something for everyone.

Our Winter Wellness Program has been carefully designed to help you thrive throughout the season, even as the days get colder! Built on the foundation of the seven domains of wellness, this year's offerings include physical activities, workshops, webinars, and much more. These resources are here to help you reach your wellness goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Check out the Winter Wellness poster for a complete overview of what’s available this year!

Scheduled activities

Monday, February 10

Rise & Shine Yoga
6:30 to 7:00 a.m. - Virtualspiritual_sm.jpgphysical
Set the tone for your day by joining rise and shine yoga! This moving meditation is a choreography of breath and movement to help focus the mind on the present moment and improve mobility as well as enhance concentration. Ease yourself into the workday with a little self-care.
Register here and then join via Zoom - Meeting ID: 949 4763 5845 Passcode: R&SYoga

Circuit Training - Living Well @ Westernphysical
12:10 to 12:50 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Join Emily Downs, activity instructor for circuit training and a body weight workout.
Register here

Tuesday, February 11

Yoga with Tracy - Living Well @ Westernspiritual_sm.jpgphysical
12:10 to 12:50 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
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.
Register here

Zen Meditation Break - Living Well @ Westernspiritual_sm.jpg
2:00 to 2:20 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Meditation has shown to reduce anxiety and stress by helping you feel grounded and more present. In these sessions, you can expect a simple guided practice, led by a Western employee who is experienced in facilitating sessions that are accessible to beginners and experienced meditators alike. Chairs, yoga mats and cushions are available. You are welcome to bring your favourite yoga mat or cushion for a more comfortable experience.
Register here

Newcomers to Canada: Financial Essentials by Sun Life
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. - Virtualfinancial_sm.jpg
Moving to a new country is an exciting opportunity, but can also be a great challenge. There’s a lot to learn and adapt to. This presentation is designed to provide you with high-level financial essentials relevant to living in Canada. Join us to find out more about four key areas:

  • Banking and credit
  • Budgeting and debt management
  • Taxation and investment products
  • Financial protection

Learn more and register
Wellness Rewards Code for this session is CANADA1. Learn more about Wellness Rewards

Wednesday, February 12

Yoga with Melissa - Living Well @ Westernspiritual_sm.jpgphysical
12:10 to 12:50 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Join Melissa on Wednesdays for a 40-minute yoga practice. She will start with a brief meditation or embodiment practice, and from there, you'll move through a Hatha practice, which is a slow, intentional flow of yoga postures and ends with a delightful savasana. The goal is to leave the session feeling lighter, more grounded, and ready for the rest of the week. This is a great gift to give yourself to get over the mid-day and mid-week hump.
Register here

Gentle Mindful Movements  - Living Well @ Westernspiritual_sm.jpgphysical
2:45 to 3:00 p.m. - Virtual
Join Emily Downs, wellness instructor for a virtual 15-minute wellness break. The break will be either a chair yoga or a meditation break.
Register here

Thursday, February 13

Rise & Shine Yoga
6:30 to 7:00 a.m. - Virtualspiritual_sm.jpgphysical
Set the tone for your day by joining rise and shine yoga! This moving meditation is a choreography of breath and movement to help focus the mind on the present moment and improve mobility as well as enhance concentration. Ease yourself into the workday with a little self-care.
Register here and then join via Zoom - Meeting ID: 949 4763 5845 Passcode: R&SYoga

Navigating life in the modern family - Telus Healthcommunity_sm.jpgemotional
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. - Virtual
In the past, the definition of family seemed to fit into a neat little box; there was mom, dad, the kids, and the extended family. This traditional definition is no longer sufficient to describe this social institution, as the definition of a family is significantly broader today than it has been historically. This seminar explores today’s family life, which can often seem complicated and challenged by circumstances such as divorce, a feeling of lack of time, poor communication, and competition from electronic gadgets. Participants will have the opportunity to see that, despite these issues, it is possible to build a great family life.
Register now

Sexual Wellness Faircommunity_sm.jpgemotionalphysical
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - UCC Atrium
The GBSV Education Team, in collaboration with campus and community partners, are hosting the third annual Sexual Wellness Fair on February 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the UCC. There will be games to play, prizes to win, and lots of pleasure-filled information to learn.
Read more about the Sexual Wellness Fair

Zumba - Living Well @ Western
12:10 to 12:50 - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15physical
Join Darlene Willie, Certified Zumba instructor for a lunchtime Zumba class!
Register here

Wellness Walk
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Biological & Geological Sciences (BGS)physicalenvironmental_sm.jpg
Western employees are invited to join in a wellness walk across campus including some of our beautiful nature trails. Some days walks are moved to Fridays. Email Ben Souriol to get updates on the wellness walk schedule.

Friday, February 14

Pilates - Living Well @ Westernphysical
12:10 to 12:50 - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Join Michelle Moses for Pilates - a form of exercise that involves simple, repetitive exercises that increase muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and postural stability. Participants can self-guide the intensity of their exercise.
Register here

Monday February 17 - Family Day & Random Acts of Kindness Day

It's Family Day - we hope you enjoy!  It is also Random Acts of Kindness Day. We invite you to take part in our Living Well Random Acts of Kindness Challenge throughout the month of February. Helping others benefits those around us and positively impacts our own mental health. Acts of kindness reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being. 

The challenge: Complete as many random acts of kindness as possible throughout the month of February. Your acts do not need to be grand - focus on spontaneous, simple gestures.  We've got more information and a calendar that you can use to log and track your acts of kindness. Submit your calendar to livingwell@western by noon on February 28, 2025 for your chance to be entered into a draw!

Tuesday, February 18

Lighten Up Your Day - Telus Healthcommunity_sm.jpgemotionaloccupational
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. - Virtual
Injecting humour both at work and into your personal life is just what the doctor ordered. Laughing does not just feel good, it also has a positive effect on your health by helping to relieve stress, tension, and anxiety and by increasing your heart rate and blood circulation. Humour also offers far-reaching psychological benefits. Finding the lighter side of a difficult situation can instantly dispel negativity and better enable you to overcome challenging problems and conflicts. This seminar will highlight the benefits of adding humour into participants’ lives and discuss appropriate ways of incorporating it into the workplace. 
Register now

Yoga with Tracy - Living Well @ Westernspiritual_sm.jpgphysical
12:10 to 12:50 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
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!
Register here

Zen Meditation Break - Living Well @ Westernspiritual_sm.jpg
12:10 to 12:20 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Meditation has shown to reduce anxiety and stress by helping you feel grounded and more present. In these sessions, you can expect a simple guided practice, led by a Western employee who is experienced in facilitating sessions that are accessible to beginners and experienced meditators alike. Chairs, yoga mats and cushions are available; you are welcome to bring your favourite yoga mat or cushion for a more comfortable experience.
Register here

Wednesday, February 19

How to start saving today – Sun Life
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.  - Virtualfinancial_sm.jpg
Topics include: credit essentials, budgeting and debt management, cost of housing and saving essentials.  Wellness Reward Code: SAVE19 
Registration info

Yoga with Melissa - Living Well @ Western spiritual_sm.jpgphysical
12:10 to 12:50 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Join Melissa on Wednesdays for a 40-minute yoga practice. She will start with a brief meditation or embodiment practice, and from there, you'll move through a Hatha practice, which is a slow, intentional flow of yoga postures and ends with a delightful savasana. The goal is to leave the session feeling lighter, more grounded, and ready for the rest of the week. This is a great gift to give yourself to get over the mid-day and mid-week hump.
Register here

Gentle, Mindful Movements - Living Well @ Western spiritual_sm.jpgphysical
2:45 to 3:00 p.m. - Virtual
Join Emily Downs, wellness instructor for a virtual 15-minute wellness break. The break will be either chair yoga, or a meditation break.

Thursday, February 20

Pension Awareness Day - Take the Quiz
financial_sm.jpgTo help raise awareness of the importance of saving for retirement, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is launching its third annual Pension Awareness Day  campaign. To test your knowledge and learn more about the Western Pension Plans, we've created a quiz.  Once you’ve completed, send a note to to be entered into a draw. Complete the quiz by noon on February 27, 2025 to be entered into a draw!
Take the quiz (coming soon)

Rise & Shine Yoga
6:30 to 7:00 a.m. - Virtualphysical
Set the tone for your day by joining rise and shine yoga!  This moving meditation is a choreography of breath and movement to help focus the mind on the present moment and improve mobility as well as enhance concentration. Ease yourself into the workday with a little self-care.
Register here 

Zumba - Living Well @ Western
12:10 to 12:50 - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15physical
Join Darlene Willie, Certified Zumba instructor for a lunchtime Zumba class!
Register here

Wellness Walk
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Biological & Geological Sciences (BGS)physicalenvironmental_sm.jpg
Western employees are invited to join in a wellness walk across campus including some of our beautiful nature trails.  Some days walks are moved to Fridays. Email Ben Souriol to get updates on the wellness walk schedule. 

Friday, February 21

Pilates - Living Well @ Westernphysical
12:10 to 12:50 p.m. - Arts & Humanities Building, 2B15
Join Michelle Moses for Pilates - a form of exercise that involves simple, repetitive exercises that increase muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and postural stability. Participants can self-guide the intensity of their exercise.
Register here

February is Black History Month

Western acknowledges and celebrates Black History Month, encouraging the campus and London communities to listen, learn and participate in events. At Western, we’re highlighting alumni voices and fostering spaces for the Black community to thrive, ensuring Black stories, experiences and legacies are at the forefront of our programming.
Learn about activities planned for Black History Month at Western

At your own pace

Check out some other on-campus and community resources when thinking about your wellness!

Physicalphysical

  • Track Walking and Skating at Thompson Arena
    • Track Walking - During the winter months, Western employees can access the walking track in Thompson arena. It's a good way to get your walk in, even when the weather is not cooperating! No sign-up is required. The track is available to student/staff/faculty from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
    • Skating is open to employees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 to 2 p.m.  Skaters are required to bring their own skates, and CSA helmets are mandatory.

      Check out the Western Campus Rec Schedule/Hours

  • Be your own tour guide! See our PDF self-guided walking tour of our beautiful campus!
  • Occupational Health, Safety & Well-being: In Workplace Health there is a full-time Occupational Health Nurse and Occupational Health Physician available for medical treatment of occupational and non-occupational illness/injuries, and general health concerns.
  • Give the gift of life. To learn more about how you, and your team can arrange a group trip (by bus, free of charge) to donate blood, please email livingwell@uwo.ca
  • Visit the Living Well @ Western webpage to learn about the free wellness programming and internal Wellness Rewards program available to all staff and faculty. While there, sign up for our Living Well @ Western email list to receive a monthly calendar of activities, learn of special events and stay up to date on the Internal Wellness Rewards prize winners!

Financial

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Spiritualspiritual

  • A multi-faith space is available for students, staff, and faculty to book in Middlesex College, 15C. Book online here.
  • Western Chaplains maintain a list of places of worship off-campus in our community. You can see the list here.
  • Mindfulness practice resources: Learning Development & Success has recorded guided meditations, a 31-day calendar of mindful learning, and some prompts to assist you to begin mindful journaling. 

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Occupationaloccupational

  • Western’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion office has released The EDIDA Strategic Plan. Check out and download the plan.  There are also toolkits available on such topics as anti-racism, enhancing department climate and diversity and inclusion. These and much more can be found on Western’s EDI webpage.
  • Did you know that  Telus Health, your Employee (and family) Assistance Program offers career counselling and care now programs related to work?
  • Are you familiar with Western’s Disconnecting from Work policy?
  • Western Continuing Studies provides opportunities for everyone to keep learning at Western University. Check out the offerings today!
  • Check out the Staff & Leader Development pages for workshop and learning opportunities!

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Stay up to date on the various events happening on campus by visiting the main Western Events Calendar

Emotionalemotional

  • Explore some of the Mental Health resources we have on campus and complete the Mental Health module on OWL. After successful completion of the module, participants receive a certificate confirming their participation.
  • Sign up for your Telus Health account. Telus Health is your confidential provider of our Employee (and family) Assistance Program (EAP). Services are available to all Western employees and to immediate family members. Help is available by phone anytime, or by video or online chat. In-person counselling is also available - masks are required. You are also encouraged to register to access the Telus Health website and app. There you can take advantage of tools, podcasts, and other resources.
  • Based on the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, Healthy Minds is a program that looks to adopt the Standard in a practical way for our campus community.

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