Sonoma State University

September Employee Wellness Opportunities

To: Sonoma State Employees

Fr: Wellness Program, Payroll and Benefits

Re: September Employee Wellness Opportunities

Vitalant Blood Drive

In partnership with SSU Student Involvement and Student Clubs, Vitalant will be hosting an on-campus blood drive on September 6, 2023.

Yoga Classes

Lunchtime yoga classes are open to all experience levels and are a great opportunity to meet employees from other units, while also taking a break to stretch and have a midday reset.

  • Mondays (12:05 - 12:55pm, Ives 76): Meditative Yoga with Jeanne Janae
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays (12:05 - 12:55pm, Ives 80): Yoga Flow with Kim Purdy
  • Thursdays (12:05 - 12:55pm, Ives 80): Meditative Yoga with Jeanne Janae

Mindfulness and Self-Care Classes

Please join our 30-minute virtual Mindfulness and Self-Care classes with Dr. Andy Wallace, SSU Philosophy professor (pre-registration required). Each class begins with a short description of mindfulness followed by a 15-20 minute mindfulness-based exercise and concludes with a poem. Dr. Wallace will also be available following the class for further discussion.

“The benefits of mindfulness stem, I believe, from the role that it plays in the human caregiving system. Kindness, compassion, and love are the system’s core emotions, and unconditional acceptance of self and other is its raison d’etre. When we meditate mindfully we activate or elicit those emotions and learn to care authentically for ourselves in the same loving spirit as we authentically care for others.” - Dr. Andy Wallace (bio)

These mindfulness classes will be held on Fridays from 12 - 12:30pm starting September 8th, and will continue throughout the fall semester. Employees interested in attending are asked to please register in order to receive the zoom link for the class.

Clo Cow Half Marathon, 10k and 5k

Sonoma State employees interested in participating in the Clo Cow Half Marathon, 10k or 5k event on October 15, 2023 in Petaluma, are invited to use this promo code (23SSU) to receive 15% off the registration. We are also excited to share that both Dr. Gerald Jones and Erik Dickson from the Division of Student Affairs will be participating in the half marathon! Not interested in yourself participating in the run/walk? A cheering squad at the finish is welcome to motivate our SSU colleagues!

Wellness Webinars

We are excited to share this month’s Wellness Webinar line-up offered by Kaiser Permanente. These webinars are open to all employees regardless of your health plan election. Webinars remain available on-demand for six months after the live stream.

Energize Your Mind

Practicing stimulating habits to maximize our brain’s potential and inspire creativity.

September 13, 2023 (Noon - 1pm)

Register

Financial Wellness

Learn about life planning, retirement planning, education funding, and estate planning.

September 21, 2023 (5 - 6pm)

Join here at the time of event

Live Calm Sessions - Save the Dates!

Join Kaiser Permanente for a 15-minute de-stress exercise using the Calm app.

September 13, 2023 (10 - 10:15am)
Join here at the time of event

September 27, 2023 (2 - 2:15pm)
Join here at the time of event

If there is other wellness programming you would be interested in seeing offered, please email employeewellness@sonoma.edu to express interest.