In my role as Wellness Ambassador, I have been excited to conceptualize and promote activities aimed at encouraging wellness at work. With prior experience as a fitness instructor, I am a great believer in the power of movement and the positive effects it has on both physical and mental wellbeing. Being able to share and encourage activities is a natural fit.
Team Medical Imaging and a team strength and stretch session during Move Arizona 2024.
Knowing how well our department works together as a team, participation in Move Arizona 2024 was an easy first choice. Team Medical Imaging formed our 1st Annual team consisting of nine U of A staff and one U of A undergraduate: Jen Fischahs (captain) Amy Jennings, Sarah Fermawi, John Moody, Tammie Anderson, Anita Foley, Ina Rios, Lexy Torres, Melissa Ruiz and Connor Fischahs (student). Everyone logged daily minutes of physical exercise February 28 - April 23. Our team finished ranking 53 of 135 teams for a total of 17600.19 active minutes tracked. It was great to see everyone successfully log steps and activities.
Another activity that I enjoyed participating in and sharing was Tuesday Yoga. Sponsored by the College of Medicine - Tucson to promote wellness, this lunchtime event was a popular one. Not only was the hour spent stretching and toning, but the experience allowed you to pause and re-center your day and work week. I shared this opportunity within the department and many colleagues were able to try yoga- some for the very first time. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, we enjoyed our last Tuesday class on June 4th. I have since searched for a simple Chair/Wall Yoga guide to reference going forward. My goal is to pause for this activity once weekly and I hope to offer some quick moves during meetings with staff on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Wellness Ambassadors Jen Fischahs and Virginia Ellis are pictured in the College of Medicine Social Hall before class, 2nd and 3rd from left. Our amazing Yoga instructor, Christine (who also instructs as Yoga Oasis) is pictured center taking the selfie. Not pictured: Wellness Ambassador, Cara Deery.
Note: During the April 16th Wellness Ambassadors Business Meeting, I was coincidentally seated with two colleagues who, as staff of College of Medicine – Tucson, also enjoyed attending the Tuesday Yoga class (pictured left).
A future concept I aim to develop is a Litter-Lifters walk. I was recently inspired to carry extra grocery bags with me after noticing an uptick in rubbish along the path to work. This seemed to be emphasized following the beginning of summer monsoon rains. While walking from the parking lot to Tower 4, I started to pick up small papers, discarded water bottles, snack wrappers and pieces of palm fronds. I was surprised to fill 3 bags in 3 mornings. When the weather cools down, I hope to encourage participants to walk outdoors with the added benefit of beautifying our Campus.
In perusing a recent wellness post, I realize how lucky we are to have the support of our Department Chair and leadership team. Our culture is the product of policies and practices that have been put in place to promote physical, mental and emotional health while at work. My goal as Wellness Ambassador is to add to the positive teamwork environment that we already enjoy.
Many thanks to the team at Arizona Life & Work Connections for leading us all to healthier and happier workdays!