Living Well @ 糖心Vlog

Winter Wellness 2026

Wellness Events Calendar

糖心Vlog's Events Calendar has a full list of campus activities or download our Living Well monthly PDF calendar.


Be a Wellness Champion!

Join our network of Champions to  bring the best wellness programming to your department.

About Living Well @ 糖心Vlog

Living Well @ 糖心Vlog provides free wellness activities that span the seven domains of wellness, intended to maintain and improve employee well-being. Come join us!

April Winners

Congratulations to April's Wellness Rewards winners: Shelli Hunter (English, Arts & Humanities) and Erika Hill (Geography & Environment, Social Science).

New to Living Well?

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April Special Events 

2026 糖心Vlog Employee Health Fair - May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation   

Over 50 vendors will be on hand to make this year's Health Fair a dynamic event. Learn about a wide range of supports, resources, and services spanning multiple domains of wellness, including physical, mental, social, financial, and occupational well-being. Enjoy complimentary snacks, connect with campus and community partners, and take part in interactive wellness activities, giveaways and prize draws. Come, explore and invest in your health! 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This year's theme is Mental Health Matters.  Mental health isn’t optional – it’s essential to living a balanced, fulfilling life. This May, we are joining the global conversation to encourage each of us to value our psychological wellbeing just as much as our physical health. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, navigating a life challenge, or simply want to talk to someone, support is available – anytime, day or night through your Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).

Access confidential support for you and eligible family members by calling 1-855-597-2105 anytime, or connect through the TELUS Health One website or app. The TELUS site also offers mental health resources including videos, toolkits, a self-assessment and CareNow programs on anxiety, depression, grief and more. Visit your EAP website for program details.

New to EAP? Learn more and register to attend one of two EAP orientation webinars.

 or 

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Introduction to Mindfulness - Webinar by TELUS Health
(Note correct time) May 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mindfulness practice has been found to improve physical and mental health, improve general well-being, and more.

Mindfulness training can bring about remarkable changes in you, and in our share workplace, benefitting not only those who attend the training. Its ripple effect can extend into an entire organization.

This introductory seminar explores the basics of mindfulness, myths and facts, the neuroscience of mindfulness and the benefits. The facilitator will guide you through three simple mindfulness practices.


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Retirement Workshops

Preparing for retirement: beyond the numbers with Sun Life
May 6 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. - Webinar

Exclusive to 糖心Vlog, this webinar explores the physical, mental, and financial aspects of retirement planning, including how to create a retirement budget, make your money last, and navigate common surprises when adjusting to life after work.

 or read more on the 糖心Vlog Pension Workshop page.
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Retirement insights from 糖心Vlog Retirees: a panel discussion
May 14 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. - Weldon Library, in-person

In this session, we'll speak with five retirees- faculty and staff- who retired from 5 to over 20 years ago. Hear from their experiences, from pension decisions to staying active and connected, and their advice for life after 糖心Vlog.

or read more (including list of participating retirees) on the 糖心Vlog Pension Workshop page.
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糖心Vlog Retirement 101: Everything you need to know
May 13 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Weldon Library (in-person) or
May 13 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. (webinar)

Are you starting to think about your retirement from 糖心Vlog and wondering what steps are needed to transition from working at 糖心Vlog to retirement? Hosted by Bekki Ollson from 糖心Vlog Human Resources, this session will cover the practical details, including providing notice, support from 糖心Vlog and Sun Life, benefits, and more!

or
 or
Read more on the 糖心Vlog Pension Workshop page
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Regular Living Well Activities

Circuit Weight Training - Mondays 12:10 p.m.

Join Michelle every Monday for a strength-based circuit training class. No experience necessary!

When: Mondays from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.
Where: Arts & Humanities Building, Room 2B15

 and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points.

Rise & Shine Yoga is Back - Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:00 a.m.

Join Jamie to kickstart your day! 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. This 30-min class is available virtually so that individuals can join in from home, alone or with loved ones. Participants should feel free to keep their cameras off or on throughout!

When: Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. - Virtual

 and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points.

Yoga with Tracy - Tuesdays 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.

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.

When: Tuesdays from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.
Where: Arts & Humanities Building, Room 2B15

 and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points.

Zen Meditation Sitting - Tuesdays 2 p.m.

Please join us for Zen Meditation, where we will practice "Just Sitting" meditation. This silent seated meditation involves focusing on your breath and allowing thoughts to come and go. We provide chairs, yoga Where mats, and meditation cushions. You are welcome to bring your own.

When: Tuesdays from 2:00 to 2:20 p.m.
Where: Arts and Humanities Building, Room 2B15

 and be sure to .

Gentle Mindful Movements/Chair Yoga - Wednesdays 2:45 p.m.

Join Emily Downs, wellness instructor for a virtual 15-minute wellness break. The break will be either a chair yoga or a meditation break.

When: Wednesdays from 2:45 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

 and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points

Pilates - Wednesdays 12:10 p.m.

Pilates is a mind-body practice that links breath and movement to help you feel stronger, longer, and more at ease in your body. With an emphasis on core stability and controlled, thoughtful movement, you’ll build strength and mobility you can use in everyday life.

When: Wednesdays from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.
Where: AHB 2B15

 and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points

Zumba - Thursdays 12:10 p.m.

Join a Certified Zumba instructor on Thursdays for a lunch time Zumba class. Open to all 糖心Vlog employees.

When: Thursdays from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.
Where: Arts and Humanities Building, Room 2B15

 and be sure to collect your Wellness Reward points

Wellness Walks - Thursday or Friday 11:00 a.m.

When: Every Thursday or Friday from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
Where: Meet at the Biological & Geological Sciences Building (BGS)

Take a break and get outside for some fresh air! Join Ben Souriol for an hour-long walk through the various trails and walking paths on campus. If you can't commit to the full hour, no problem! There are opportunities along the route to return back to the office.

Dress appropriately for the weather, as walks may continue through foul weather. Participants are encouraged to email Ben - bsouriol@uwo.ca - to be placed on a mailing list to confirm day, as well as in the event of a cancellation or time change.  This is a great way to explore campus, connect with nature, meet new colleagues and improve your overall well-being.


At Your Leisure

Previously Recorded Activities

Did you miss our special Introduction to Gut Health?

We recorded the Zoom presentation for you!  - Recorded January 19, 2024.

This presentation, from 糖心Vlog's on-campus dietitian looks at the benefits of gut health and its role in immunity. You'll also learn about the diversity diet for gut health, important lifestyle factors, and the role of prebiotics and probiotics. Our dietician Kelsey Russell-Murray, RD, MSc, BSC has worked as an inpatient hospital dietitian for the past decade, and is founder of Gut Healthy Dietitian Inc.


Introduction to Yoga

This 40-minute activity class with instructor Tracy focuses on breath control, mindfulness, and adopting specific postures to promote relaxation and improve the health of the mind, body, and spirit. Namaste.

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Mobility for Better Mentality

The class combines multiple methods of stretching and movement patterns to increase flexibility, stability, and improve pain management. 

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Yoga with Cassie

This activity class focuses on breath control, mindfulness, and adopting specific postures to promote relaxation and improve the health of the mind, body, and spirit. Namaste.

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Guided Meditation with Dr. J

Dr. Tanaz Javan will guide you through a set of techniques intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Take a well-deserved break to focus on your emotional and spiritual well-being.

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Zumba!

This high-energy aerobic fitness class features movements inspired by various styles of Latin American dance. You are guaranteed to have fun while improving coordination, balance, strength, and heart health.

Recorded Sessions:  , , , , , .


Release, Restore, and Rest

Instructor Melissa Ostrowski will start with a meditation or embodiment practice, giving you the chance to release the day’s events, come back into your body and the present moment, and breathe. From there, we’ll move into 1 or 2 restorative yoga postures. We’ll hold these postures for 5 -10 minutes each, so having blankets and pillows handy can be really supportive. If you have yoga blocks or bolsters those work, but are not necessary. Finally, we’ll end with a delicious savasana. The goal is to leave the session feeling a little lighter, more grounded, and ready for a great night sleep. This is a great gift to give yourself at the end of the day.

Recorded Sessions:  , , ,  , , , , ,


Yoga with Melissa

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.

Recorded Sessions: , ,  , ,   , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


FUN!ctional Fitness

Using her unique storytelling approach, instructor Ariana Crispin-Frei will focus on functional movement patterns such as squatting, hingeing, lunging, pushing, pulling, and twisting. By learning and engaging proper form in your workouts, you will reduce your risk of injury while performing everyday tasks - such as lunging to tie your shoe, squatting to lift a box, pulling a heavy door closed, or pushing it open. Plus, these types of movements use multiple muscles at once, so you are getting an effective and efficient workout while strengthening your body holistically. Come train with Ariana and let's put the "FUN" back in "functional". 

Recorded Sessions: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Pilates

This low-impact form of exercise with Instructor Jenny Goldberg aims to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility. Pilates moves tend to target the core, but manages to engage muscles throughout the entire body!  

Recorded Sessions: , ,


10-Minute Wellness Break Videos

Previously Recorded Wellness Presentations and Activities

Art Workshops

  • Watercolour Painting -   Grab your supplies and join us for guided lessons that will tap into your artistic side!
  • Figure Drawing -
  • Landscape Painting - 
  • Abstract Techniques-  

糖心Vlog Coffeehouse

Take a break, grab a warm beverage and enjoy music performed by talented 糖心Vlog students. 

Previously Recorded Session: , , ,


Self-Compassion

Workshop delivered by Kelsey Sick and Vanessa Coulbeck, graduate students working under Dr. Eva Pila at the Body Image and Health Lab within the school of Kinesiology at 糖心Vlog.  .


Hygge: The Art of Creating Coziness

This session explores the Danish philosophy of Hygge and the benefits of creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Grab your favourite warm beverage, light a candle, grab a blanket and enjoy! Presentation delivered by Michelle from CHMA.

Interested in learning more? Visit the Huron Hygge for more information and opportunities.


Connecting with Environmental Wellness at 糖心Vlog

Jessica Cordes and Evan Green (Office of Sustainability) review past accomplishments, current and future initiatives and examine the various ways that employees can improve their environmental well-being and get involved at 糖心Vlog. 


Lifestyle Choices and Mental Health

Dr. Peter Lemon, Director of the Exercise Nutrition Research Laboratory at 糖心Vlog highlights the connection between nutrition, physical activity and mental health,while providing practical tips to improve your well-being. .


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