Walk like you mean it
Join Health Plus for eight weeks of 30-minute walks each Wednesday. Meet at the Medical Center
North shuttle drop-off at noon, rain or shine (if it rains the group walks in
the tunnels). Two groups will be led by Health Plus each week, one for fast paced walkers and one for slower walkers. No
pre-registration is required.
Start! challenge runs through October
The Start! initiative, the partnership between Vanderbilt and the American Heart
Association, continues to walk briskly along, improving employee health all the
way. Health Plus and Vanderbilt Heart are providing this physical activity program
for faculty and staff and encouraging everyone to participate in reaching the
goal of 1,000 participants and an updated goal of 1 billion combined steps by
Oct. 31.
Even those who prefer a physical activity other than walking can participate.
Since Start! is about being more physically active, the site allows staff and
faculty to track other activities. Any activity can be converted to steps
through the online tracker.
Each registered participant also receives a step pedometer, a paper tracking log
for your activities, and resources to help you succeed.
Every participant who logs more than 150,000 steps by Oct. 31 will receive a
T-shirt.
Go for the Gold 2008 continues through November
The 2008 edition of Go for the Gold runs through Nov. 30. As last year,
full-time active, benefits eligible staff and faculty can complete the Gold
Level of the Go For The Gold Incentives Program and receive $20/month in
wellness credit in 2008. More than 13,000 faculty and staff participated in the
program last year, and are being rewarded by Vanderbilt for engaging in healthy
lifestyle practices.
Here are the steps:
Step 1 Do your yearly Health Risk Assessment to learn what your health risks are and
what you can do to become as healthy as possible.
Step 2 Do your yearly Wellness Action Log to focus on healthy actions that will help
you maintain or improve your health.
Step 3 View the 2008 Game Plan For Your Health, which is titled “Five Keys to Financial Health.”
Steps one and two are also available for spouses and domestic partners of staff
and faculty, which adds a wellness credit of $5 for each step.
Child and Family Center offers test prep
Life Phase Series goes green
The Life Phase Series showcases speakers who have ideas to help staff and
faculty balance work and home responsibilities. This month’s Life Phase Series is titled “Eco-Friendly Travel” and is presented by Team Green, which calls itself “Middle Tennessee’s Adventure Club.” The program will be held Thursday, Oct. 16, from noon to 1 p.m. in 411 Light Hall.
Babies and You
Health Plus offers this work site prenatal health promotion program to all
Vanderbilt employees, spouses and dependents. The program encourages early and
consistent prenatal care and provides monthly educational opportunities on
issues relating to perinatal health.
Enrollment is voluntary and free but must be completed during the first
trimester of pregnancy. Call 343-8943 to enroll and learn how mothers-to-be can
earn a $100 savings bond (taxable) for their new baby. Fathers-to-be and
grandparents-to-be are welcome. Door prizes are given at each program.
All classes are from noon to 1 p.m. This month’s class is “Caring for your Newborn,” presented by Alice Rothman, M.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics. The class
will be Thursday, Oct. 16, in 415 Light Hall.
Self Care classes offered
Most of the time when you get sick or injured, you’ll recover without special medical care. But how do you know when medical care
is necessary? In the “Self Care Techniques” class, offered through the Occupational Health Clinic, you will learn:
• What your symptoms mean
• Helpful self-care tips for your symptoms
• When you need to seek medical help
• Valuable prevention tips to stay healthy
• How to make the most of your health care appointments
Class attendees will receive a copy of “Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Guide to Self-Care.” The next Self Care Techniques class will take place Oct. 8, noon to 1 p.m. in 419 Light
Hall.
Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact the Occupational
Health Clinic at occhealth.vanderbilt. edu or 936-0955.
Group Fitness News
Fitness through Dance—This class is held Mondays at 6:15 p.m. and the featured dance changes monthly
or bimonthly. The dance for October is Latin Salsa. You may bring a partner who
is not a Health Plus member to Fitness through Dance, however, no partner is required.
Work/Life Connections-EAP offers tool-kit for smokers
Since the entire Medical Center is now smoke free, those who want to give
support to staff and colleagues making the transition to a smoke-free life can
find help with a downloadable tool-kit at www.healthandwellness.vanderbilt.edu.
Health and Wellness offers Podcasts
Health and Wellness now offers weekly podcasts. Listen to brief interviews, tips
and tidbits on a variety of health and wellness topics ranging from relaxation practices to protecting your child from online
predators. Visit www.vanderbilt.edu/ HRS/wellness/hwpodcast.htm to listen from your computer or your MP3 Player.
