Get back in the groove with employee wellness classes
Classes are back in session, and not just for students. All faculty and staff are invited to take advantage of any of the several employee wellness learning opportunities offered throughout the fall 2013 semester at the Tempe campus by the ASU Employee Wellness Program.
Classes are taught by trained professionals with years of experience in their field, and topics range from smoking cessation to learning how to forgive. Take a break from your workday to focus on your health and well-being, and stop by one of these events.
Kicking off the schedule, from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Aug. 27, in room 228 (Cochise) in the Memorial Union, all ASU benefits-eligible employees with an insurance card issued by the state of Arizona can get a 30-minute health screening with immediate results. Several free tests are available that will provide readings for cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides. Other tests, such as a PSA cancer screening (recommended for men aged 40 and older), are available at varying costs, starting as low as a $5 copay. To register online, click here.
Next up is “The QUIT! Program!” This informational smoking cessation meeting is scheduled for noon-1 p.m., Aug. 30, at the Employee Assistance Office, The Towers, suite 101. Improve your health, feel better and live longer – all while saving money. Led by Suzanne Jacobs, a licensed clinical social worker and senior counselor at the ASU Employee Assistance Office, this class will give you all the tools you need to quit and stay quit. Did you know that if you quit smoking, within 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to the levels they were at before you started smoking; within eight hours your blood levels of carbon monoxide and oxygen return to normal; after 72 hours your lung capacity begins to increase; and within 3-5 years, your risk of heart attack drops to that of a non-smoker? Registration is required and the deadline is Aug. 23. Click here to reserve your spot today.
Are you a sodium chloride addict? If you’re guilty of piling on the table salt, then stop by from noon-1 p.m., Sept. 4, room 207 (Gold-second floor) in the Memorial Union and “Shake the Salt Habit.” Research shows that many Americans should cut way back on the sodium in their diet, but most are not doing that. Attending this workshop could answer many of the questions you’ve been asking about the effects of salt, such as, “How can I lower my salt intake without giving up flavor?” and “What is the DASH Diet and how might it help me improve my health, and even lose weight?” Join graduate students in the Master of Science in Human Nutrition program for an interactive presentation on the benefits of reducing sodium in your diet and suggestions for how to do so. Registration is required (with a 15-participant minimum) and the deadline is Aug. 28. Click here to reserve your spot today.
Finally, Jacobs also will be presenting “Learning the Art of Forgiveness,” from noon-1 p.m., Sept. 5, in room 236 (Mohave) in the Memorial Union. Did you know that holding a grudge is hazardous to your physical and mental health? Join Jacobs as she shares Fred Luskin’s model of forgiveness based on his famous book, “Forgive For Good,” and learn the healing powers and medical benefits of forgiveness. Registration is required (with a 15-participant minimum) and the deadline is Aug. 29. Click here to reserve your spot today.
For questions regarding any of the events mentioned above, contact Liz Badalamenti at (480) 727-6517 or Elizabeth.Badalamenti@asu.edu.