June Employee Wellness Opportunities

Monday, June 5, 2023, 9:00am

TO: Sonoma State Employees
FR: Wellness Program, Payroll and Benefits

Hydration Campaign
Join us in making hydration a priority! Water is essential to our health and well-being by regulating our body temperature, ridding the body of waste through the kidney filtration system, protecting the spinal cord, and lubricating and cushioning the joints.

Hydration needs vary depending on many factors; however, a good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should aim to consume 75 ounces of water or more each day. Please consult with your physician to determine your individual needs.

  • Free water bottle: The first 100 people to stop by the front desk on the 2nd floor of Salazar Hall will receive a free water bottle to help with their hydration journey! One water bottle per person; first-come, first-served! 
  • Raffle drawing: Enter to win a prize by sharing any tips and/or tricks you have found successful to help you make hydration a priority!
    • Please email your tips and tricks to employeewellness@sonoma.edu
    • Last day to enter is June 30, 2023
    • A winner and a summary of the results will be shared in our July wellness email!

For more information on hydration, check out United Healthcare’s Hydration and Healthier Beverages podcast. 

Yoga Classes
Lunchtime yoga classes are open to all experience levels and are a great opportunity to meet employees from other units, while also taking a break to stretch and enjoy a midday reset!

  • Mondays and Thursdays (12:05 - 12:55pm, Ives 80): Meditative Yoga with Jeanne Janae 
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays (12:05 - 12:55pm, Ives 80): Yoga Flow with Kim Purdy

Mindfulness and Self-Care Classes
Please join our expanded 45-minute virtual Mindfulness and Self Care classes with Dr. Andy Wallace, SSU Philosophy professor (pre-registration required). Each class begins with a short description of mindfulness followed by a 30-40 minute mindfulness-based exercise and concludes with a poem.

“The benefits of mindfulness stem, I believe, from the role that it plays in the human caregiving system. Kindness, compassion, and love are the system’s core emotions, and unconditional acceptance of self and other is its raison d’etre. When we meditate mindfully we activate or elicit those emotions and learn to care authentically for ourselves in the same loving spirit as we authentically care for others.” - Dr. Andy Wallace (bio)
If you attended these classes in the spring, please be sure to re-register using the new summer 2023 registration link!

Wellness Webinars
We are excited to share this month’s Wellness Webinar line-up offered by Kaiser Permanente. These webinars are open to all employees, regardless of your health plan election. Pre-registration is required, with the webinar remaining available on-demand for six months after the live stream.

Fighting Cancer with Kaiser Permanente
Learn about simple lifestyle changes that can help prevent cancer, emotional well-being during and after cancer, and what research tells us about the future of cancer treatment.
June 10, 2023 (10am - Noon)
Register

Fit and Healthy Behind the Wheel
Spending a lot of time on the road? Learn ways for meal prep, body mechanics, stress reduction, and sleep strategies.
June 21, 2023 (Noon - 1pm)
Register

Health Talk: Back Pain
Learn about the causes of back pain and when to see a doctor, understand the biopsychosocial model of persistent back pain, discuss treatment options, and review exercises and self-care for back pain.
June 22, 2023 (12:30 - 1:30pm)
Register

Additional information regarding our SSU Employee Wellness programs can be found here: https://hr.sonoma.edu/payroll/employee-wellness