Here’s some of what’s coming up at Health Plus, the Vanderbilt staff and faculty wellness program.
The Health Plus exercise center is atop the Kensington garage.

Count on Your Health under way
The sixth annual Count on Your Health observance, devoted to encouraging a healthy lifestyle, is under way, sponsored by Health Plus, Vanderbilt Heart, Nutrition Services and the Kim Dayani Center. The timing of the annual event takes advantage of National Heart Month in February and National Nutrition Month in March.
Count on Your Health will have several chances through February for staff and faculty to stop by a Health Plus mobile station for a weight, blood pressure and a body fat percentage measurement. While supplies last, those coming to a mobile station will receive a free drink tumbler.
Here are the times and places for the mobile stations:

Thursday, Feb. 1
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Wyatt Center Atrium

Thursday, Feb. 8
7 - 11 a.m.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, Room 2104

Tuesday, Feb. 13
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Chestnut Plant Operations,
Break Room

Wednesday, Feb. 14
7 - 11 a.m.
Robinson Research Building,
Walkway/Breezeway

Tuesday, Feb. 20
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Frist Hall, Room 144

Wednesday, Feb. 21
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The Law School, North Lobby,
First Floor

Wednesday, Feb. 28
7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
VMG Green Hills, Conference Room
Throughout February
All hours of operation
Health Plus, Kensington Garage/
Club Level

In addition to these events, Vanderbilt is participating in a program called America on the Move, and the Vanderbilt Kick-Off Party will be March 1 at noon in room 208, Light Hall. America On the Move at Vanderbilt is an initiative that inspires Vanderbilt faculty and staff to engage in fun, simple ways to become more active and eat more healthfully to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The program is free and participants receive a
pedometer, tracking tools, quarterly newsletters, and motivational e-mails. Participants can elect to participate in a challenge buddy program, monthly weight checks, and an e-mail reminder program. Participants may complete the six walking routes by tracking steps or minutes of activity via the pedometer and be eligible for small prizes and compete for the grand prize.

Sign up for America on the Move at Vanderbilt and receive a pedometer at any of the locations/times listed below:
• Courtyard Café, Feb. 12, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Light Hall, Room 431, Feb. 20, noon – 1 p.m.
• Light Hall, Room 208, March 1, noon – 1 p.m.
• All “Count on Your Health” locations (see column on left).

Other America on the Move events include:
• Heart-Healthy Eating Made Easy, March 15, Light Hall, room 407, noon-1 p.m.
• How To Become and STAY Motivated For Exercise, March 29, Light Hall, room 214, noon-1 p.m.
• The Courtyard Café and Children’s Way Café will have select nutritious dishes marked with a heart logo throughout March.

Faculty and Staff Swim Nights
The next Health Plus Faculty and Staff Swim Nights are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday, March 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center Pool. Participants should wear their bathing suit and bring a towel—and their staff ID. It’s OK to bring along the whole family or to invite a guest.

Babies and You has Yoga
Babies and You is a prenatal program offered to full-time faculty and staff and their dependents. Co-sponsored by Health Plus and the March of Dimes, this program focuses on early prenatal care, the prevention of birth defects and low birth weight.
The upcoming Babies and You class is:
• Feb. 15: Prenatal Yoga, presented by Lori Cowan, group fitness coordinator for Health Plus. The class will be held in the Health Plus yoga room from 12:45 to 1: 45 p.m.
To get more information or to register for Babies and You classes, call Lisa Conner at 343-9623.

Life Phase Series Prepares for Disaster
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 Preparing for Natural Disasters, and will be held Thursday, Feb. 15, in 411 Light Hall from noon to 1 p.m.
The class will focus on how to reduce stress by planning ahead for natural disasters. Learn what items are necessary for survival, how to protect your loved ones and how you can recover from a disaster. Jim Kendall, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Manager for Work/Life Connections-EAP, will be presenting.

New Classes
The best time to get started on that spring fitness program is before spring gets here. Some new classes just under way at Health Plus include:

Classes for walkers and runners—A Beginner Run/Walk class meets at the Health Plus fitness facility during February and the Campus Recreation Center outdoor track after that, on Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. The class called Organized Track meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center outdoor track for an intermediate/advanced class that focuses on speed work and individual running goals.

Fitness Through Dance—Health Plus offers dance classes, and the style of dance changes monthly. The class meets every Monday from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. in the Health Plus Aerobics Room.

Tai Chi—T’ai Chi is a Chinese martial art that includes a series of slow rhythmic
exercises emphasizing balance and body coordination. It increases circulation throughout the body, improves balance and flexibility and lowers stress. Instructor Stephen Deppen has been practicing T’ai Chi since 1990 and has been a certified teacher since 1994. This is for all fitness levels. The class meets 5 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, through March 8, in Light Hall.

BOSU—BOSU is a unique, multidimensional training device that integrates core training, functional sports training and balance training. The BOSU Balance Trainer is currently used as a training tool by leading sports teams. Health Plus offers two BOSU classes: Monday noon-12:30 p.m. and Tuesday 12:30-1p.m. All levels are welcome, but these classes are very beginner friendly. The BOSU is also being integrated into many of our other group fitness classes such as Functional Fitness, Step Circuit and Cardio Strength.
For a complete listing of Health Plus classes and times, visit the Web site: www.vanderbilt.edu/goforthegold.

Nurse Fair Features
Exercise, Prizes, Food
The fifth annual Nurse Wellness Fair will be held Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in The Learning Center on the ground floor of the Medical Center North Round Wing.
Among the nurse-centric activities will be prize drawings, food samples, information booths, health screenings and exercise mini-classes.