Wellness Walks

Wednesday Walks

Walking can be incredibly valuable in so many ways. Looking for ways to incorporate more walking into your daily routine? Here are a few ideas:
• Schedule a walking meeting
• Get up and move around during a conference call
• Park farther away from work or the store
• Instead of email, try face-to-face communication and walk over to your colleague’s work station
• Take a walk around your workplace during coffee break
• Take the dog for a walk
• Walk to the store
• Take the stairs
• Get your neighbours involved and set up a morning or evening walking group
• Forget the remote control – get up to change the TV channel
• Take regular fitness breaks throughout the day and go for a walk or climb the stairs
• Join UHN Wellness for Wellness Walks on Wednesdays

For physical activity, fresh air, the opportunity to interact with others, while re-energizing for the afternoon, all UHN employees, physicians, volunteers and students are invited to join UHN Wellness for Wellness Walks on Wednesdays. Each walk will explore various routes throughout the UHN community, and will be approx. 2 km in length. Meet the group in the appropriate Wellness Centre.

To view the Wednesday Walk schedule, click here.

Would you like to receive weekly Wellness Walks notifications and route updates? Contact UHN Wellness at wellness@uhn.ca or Ext. 14-4486 to add your name to the walking distribution list.
Not able to join the group on Wednesdays? Add your name to the distribution list to receive walking routes and resources for personal use.

The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool, an individual walking meditation and a path of reflection. It is a place of release and renewal, a place to bring your questions or ask for guidance, forgiveness and healing. We experience many feelings and thoughts along the way. While walking the Labyrinth some people find peace and or a deep state of concentration. Many find insight, clarity and understanding.

Date: Monday, July 6th @ 2 – 3:30 PM

Please allow at least 10 minutes for your Labyrinth walk but feel free to stay longer to relax and reflect

Location: TWH 6th Floor Fell Pavilion Room 103

An initiative of the Spiritual Care Department at Toronto Western Hospital. For more information contact: Department of Spiritual Care at 13-5836

Warm Up with UHN Wellness – Group Exercise Schedule

Over the next several months, you may find yourself saying “It’s too cold to workout!” or “I’m too busy to think about physical activity!”.  As challenging as it may be to remain physically active during the winter months, there are many ways and reasons for you to continue, or begin to focus on your health and well-being.

Looking for an inexpensive, convenient and fun way to be physically active?  UHN Wellness offers group exercise classes at various times throughout the week at many of the UHN sites.

For UHN Wellness Group Exercise Classes that are currently being offered, please click on the link below:

Group Exercise Schedule – November 2014-February 2015

With several class formats to choose from, UHN employees can participate in any of the classes on the schedule above, on a drop-in basis, by purchasing a Flex Pass. Passes are available on the eLearning system.

New to UHN Wellness?? Many of the classes are perfect for all levels of fitness.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the UHN Wellness team to discuss your questions or concerns at wellness@uhn.ca or Ext. 14-4486.

Fall into Fitness: UHN Wellness – Group Exercise Schedule

With September upon us, and students across the city returning to the classroom, what better time to get into UHN Wellness Group Exercise Classes yourself?

Offered at several locations across the organization, there’s an opportunity to improve your health and well-being near you! For thirty to sixty minutes at a time, join your colleagues and enjoy a variety of the activities available.

Please click on the link below to view the group exercise classes that are available to all UHN employees:

Group Exercise Schedule – September-October 2014

Hoping to focus on flexibility and mobility while taking time to energize? Attend any of the 8 weekly Yoga classes offered at 5 of our sites.

Looking to focus on core strength, stability and posture? Participate in any of the 4 weekly Pilates classes offered at 3 locations.

With several other formats to choose from, UHN employees can participate in any of the classes on the schedule above, on a drop-in basis, by purchasing a Flex Pass. Passes are available on the eLearning system.

New to UHN Wellness?? Many of the classes are perfect for all levels of fitness.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the UHN Wellness team to discuss your questions or concerns at wellness@uhn.ca or Ext. 14-4486.

The 2014 Inter-Hospital Health Challenge is here!

Is there a better time of year than the Spring (now that it has finally arrived) to renew your commitment to healthy living!? What better way to do just that, than to join the 2014 Inter-Hospital Health Challenge!? Open to all UHN staff, physicians, volunteers and students, the IHHC is an online challenge that takes place from May 1st-31st, where participants collect points and compete against other UHN teams and hospitals from across the province. Earn points for minutes of physical activity, servings of fruits and vegetables, minutes of mental health breaks, hours of sleep, and servings of water. Register now!

How do I register for the Challenge?
• Form a team of 4-7 people.
• Assign a Team Captain. Team Captains will visit www.ihhc2014.com to register your Team Name and determine your Team Password.
• Team Captains: Email your team members both the Team Name and Team Password.
• Captains & Members: register for the challenge at www.ihhc2014.com (You’ll need your Team Name and Team Password)
• Once a minimum of 4 people have enrolled your team will be activated.

There will be weekly draw prizes plus prizes for UHN’s top 3 winning teams. The winning hospital is also awarded the coveted gold cup. Let’s bring that trophy home!

All UHN staff are invited to the 2014 Challenge Launch on Thursday, May 1 at 12:00pm in front of Sick Kids Hospital on University Ave. There will be Music! Stretching! Games! And Prizes! Represent UHN by wearing Yellow.

UHN Walking Challenge

As part of the Get Up step Up campaign, the Oasis Wellness Centre is pleased to bring back the March walking challenge.  March into Better Health, a one-month walking challenge began last year and had over 100 participants in its inaugural year.  The challenge is FREE for UHN employees to register and consists of using a pedometer or pedometer app to track your daily steps.  Participants can then submit their weekly totals for a chance to win prizes from a weekly draw. As well a grand prize will be awarded to the participant with the greatest number of steps at the end of the month of March.

There are several ways you can begin to count your steps:

• You can download a pedometer app to your smart phone (Such as Accupedo for Androids or Pacer for iPhones)
• You can borrow a pedometer from the libraryhttp://www.toronto.ca/health/walkintohealth/pedometerlending.htm
• You can use one you own or purchase a new one

*The Oasis Wellness Centre will have a limited supply of pedometers for those unable to download, borrow or purchase one.

To register:

1. Email UHNWalkingChallenge@gmail.com  with the following information: Name, site, your method for pedometer use (App, library, your own, Wellness Centre) and your goal .
2. Send weekly updates to UHNWalkingChallenge@gmail.com with your weekly step count totals! (Send each Friday with results from the previous Friday – Thursday)

For more information or to register email UHNWalkingChallenge@gmail.com

Are you ready to March into Wellness?