Wellness & Health At Macalester -WHAM
News & Event Updates
WHAM Lunch & Learn
Alcohol Use Screening and Interventions
Have you wondered what life might be like with less alcohol? Want to try another approach to lowering your blood pressure or reducing your risk for cancer? You’re in good company.
On Wednesday, November 19 WHAM will host Dr. Paul Anderson, MD, MPH, Regional Medical Director for HealthPartners and a Lifestyle Medicine practitioner for a virtual Lunch & Learn exploring effective alcohol use screening and interventions. In this informative session, you’ll learn the crucial role of moderating alcohol use in preventing common chronic diseases and improving overall longevity. Dr. Anderson will cover evidence-based approaches that promote wellbeing and reduce health risks.
This session will also serve as a kick-off for our next Mindful Drinking Group Coaching series led by our health and well-being coach, Kelly Fang. To learn more and register, visit the Mindful Drinking Group Coaching Form.
Register to join us for the Lunch & Learn on Zoom at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19.
New Mindful Drinking Group Coaching Series
Have you wondered what life might be like without alcohol? Want to try another approach to lowering your blood pressure or reducing your risk for cancer? You’re in good company. This group will be made up of a supportive community of your peers that focuses on creating awareness around your drinking habits.
At its core, coaching is about helping you identify and work towards your vision of your best life. Our health and well-being coach, Kelly, will partner with you to adopt a new mindset, attitude, and behaviors to help you achieve your vision. Peer support and accountability will enhance your success.
To learn more and register, visit the Mindful Drinking Group Coaching Form.
Time is running out. Don’t miss out on your reward.
If you have HealthPartners insurance through Macalester, be sure to take your health assessment and complete at least two eligible well-being activities by October 31 or you’ll miss out on earning your $150 reward card. If your spouse is on our plan, they can earn one too!
HealthPartners Living Well and WHAM have activity options to support both your emotional well-being and physical health, but some activities take weeks to complete. Sign in to healthpartners.com/wellbeing to wrap up your activities before it’s too late.
The Annual Mac Fest 5K Run/Walk
The Wellness 5K took place on Saturday, October 11 during Family Fest weekend. This was a great opportunity for staff and faculty to model healthy behavior and self-care for their students, each other and the Mac community. It was also a great event for the teams participating in our Make a Move Challenge.
A big thanks to Leah Seidenkranz, Kiernan Bartlett, Steve Murry and members of our WHAM Committee for putting on a great event. And thank you to President Rivera for getting the 5K started.
Staff and faculty: Don’t forget to record your completion of the 5K at healthpartners.com/wellbeing. Find the 5K activity and mark yourself “Done.” You’ll be one step closer to earning your $150 well-being reward.
Fall Session 2 Classes for Staff and Faculty
WHAM is excited to introduce our new Mindfulness instructor, Patrice Koelsch. This class is open to everyone, whether you are new to mindfulness or if you would like to revitalize or deepen your meditation practice. Each session offers time away from your busy day to rejuvenate, through guided meditations and the exploration of mindfulness and compassion practices. We’re also excited to bring back Tai Chi with Ruthanne Kurth-Schai on a new day and time: Wednesdays from 1:15 to 2:00.
Registration is open from Monday, October 13 to Wednesday, October 22 at 4 p.m. For class dates, descriptions, and to register, visit our WHAM Classes page.
Ready to Rise to the Challenge?
Join the Make a Move Team Challenge with Wellbeats. This is a fun and friendly challenge to “compete” with your colleagues against other divisions at Macalester. You’ll earn 1 point for every minute of activity. You can complete Wellbeats classes on nutrition, mindfulness, and fitness, or log your own activities.
Gather your colleagues and sign up starting September 8! The 4-week challenge begins Monday, September 22 and ends Friday, October 17. Plus WHAM is giving away 3 Fitbits! All registered participants will be entered to win. Visit our Wellbeing Activities page to learn more.
Visit the Weekly Farmers Market
WHAM is pleased to welcome back Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm out of Waverly, Minnesota to bring you fresh, local, and nutritious produce delivered right to campus. Add a weekly reminder to your calendar for Thursdays between 2 to 6 p.m. The market is located on Macalester Street near Visitor Parking Lot 1. Cash or credit cards are accepted.
Untiedt’s offers a variety of seasonal produce such as fresh strawberries, asparagus, delicious bi-color sweet corn, cabbage, eggplant, bell peppers, sweet onions, garlic, zucchini, cucumbers, green and wax beans, young potatoes, tomatoes, Black Diamond and personal-size watermelon, Tuscan cantaloupe and small Sugar Cube cantaloupe! Inna and Oksana will be there to greet you with a smile.
FIND YOUR INNER PEACE WITH A NEW LIVING WELL ACTIVITY!
Calming yourself improves your mental and physical wellbeing. A new activity, Create Your Calm, is now available virtually and on-demand through WHAM and HealthPartners Living Well. This 2-week activity includes 4-7 classes each week of mindfulness, breathing and medication-style classes to help you pause, breathe and create calm. All classes are beginner level and under 30 minutes.
Visit our Well-being Activities page to learn more, or get started today. Visit healthpartners.com/signin/livingwell and sign into your online account. Select “Get Started” on the activity, Create Your Calm.
Stay active from anywhere!
Whether you work from home or go into work, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day that you suddenly realize, it’s been hours since you last got up. Wellbeats is a free online resource with programs for all interests and ability levels. Check it out and get moving more, whether you’re working at home, on campus or on the go.
Try the Give Me a Work Break Program (Four Weeks). Manage stress and increase productivity during the work day with these short exercises and stretches. Wellbeats member, Jess, said “This felt great! A quick five minutes made such a difference.” Download the HealthPartners mobile app or sign in to healthpartners.com/wellbeing to explore all Wellbeats has to offer. For more work-break ideas, visit our Well-being Activities page.
Connect with our health coach to reach your goals
It’s time to team up. A professional health coach can be the missing link between setting goals and meeting them. Talk one-on-one with our certified health coach, Kelly Fang, about what’s important to you. Whether that’s back pain, nutrition, sleep, stress management, exercise or something else – Kelly will work with you to address your unique needs.
If you’re on Macalester’s benefits plan, take your health assessment to get started at healthpartners.com/wellbeing or use the Living Well button on the myHP app. Then contact Kelly to set up a time. In-person, walking and video appointments are free and open to all staff, faculty, spouses and domestic partners, regardless of your benefits plan. To learn more, visit our Health Coaching page.