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Wellness Programs
Wellness Programs
Talking with Your Kids and Teens about Sexuality
Thursday, May 15, 2025, 12 – 1:15 pm
Facilitated by Rachel Billowitz, MPH, Teaching Professor in the Department of Health Sciences
Many parents want to talk with their kids about bodies, birth, boundaries, puberty, dating, sex, and sexuality, but feel they may not know the “right” thing to say. This workshop is designed to empower parents of kids and teens of all ages to have open and honest conversations. Participants will learn how to send age-appropriate and positive messages about sexuality, start conversations, answer questions, and access resources for more guidance.
Talking with Your Kids Zoom registration link
Employee Fitness Classes
Zumba classes at the Rec Center
Wednesdays, through April 23, 2025, 12:05 – 12:55 pm
Multi-Purpose Gym in the Rec Center, Health and Learning Center
Led by Alison Mercado, M.Ed., Academic Advisor Sr, and Zumba Instructor
Wednesdays are for dance parties! Combine fitness and movement with this free class. All faculty and staff are invited to let loose during lunch while exercising with good music and company. You will learn as you go; just bring a smile, comfortable clothes, shoes, and water. All are welcome, join anytime.
Registration is required and the registration link below becomes live 48 hours prior to the class and remains open until 1 minute before the class begins.
Power Pilates at the Rec Center
Thursdays, through April 24, 2025, 12:05 – 12:55 pm (no class on 4/17)
Exercise Suite 2, Campus Recreation Center, Heath and Learning Center
Led by Kelly McCue Nation, MPH, Power Pilates-certified instructor
This is a free mat-based Pilates class to build mobility, strength, and core. Music is played to energize the space, and light equipment (e.g. bands, rings) may be used to engage and isolate muscles.
This class is for everyone, whether you are brand new to Pilates or a seasoned practitioner, modifications will be provided to ensure you are getting the right workout for you! All are welcome, join anytime.
Registration is required and the registration link below becomes live 48 hours prior to the class and remains open until 1 minute before the class begins.
Power Pilates registration link
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Fitness@nau.edu.
Weekly Online Drop in Groups
Stress Management Group (by Zoom)
Mondays, through April 28, 2025, 3:30 – 4 pm
Led by Cyndy Soto-Lopez, PhD, EAW Psychologist
Everybody experiences stress which, if unmanaged, can lead to many negative physical and mental health outcomes. In this open, drop-in group we will discuss specific stress-management strategies with the goal of finding practical applications to help manage our stress. All are welcome, join anytime.
Stress Management Group Zoom registration link
Midweek Mindfulness Meditation (by Zoom)
Wednesdays, through April 30, 2025, 8:30 – 9 am
Led by Mike Bouck, LCSW, EAW Counselor and Qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher
The amount of information, complexity, and degree of change we encounter daily at work will probably not diminish. Working more, working faster, and working harder isn’t sustainable, so, we must adapt on a personal level. We can meet challenges reactively, or we can meet them in a balanced way that draws upon our executive functions, which allows us to be responsive rather than reactive.
Mindfulness is both an attitude and an aptitude. It is a state of mind we can achieve through training. Join our small community to learn techniques which will allow you to focus your attention, become more self-aware, better encounter your emotions, cultivate empathy, develop effective communication skills, and build resilience. Please participate as often as you are able. All are welcome.
Morning Meditation Group Zoom registration link
Support Groups
Cancer Support Group for NAU Employees (by Zoom)
The first Monday of each month, through May 5, 2025, 12 – 1 pm
Facilitated by Heather Rist, LPC, EAW Counselor
When the “C” word enters your life, everything turns upside down. Thrown head-first into medical jargon, tests, procedures, all while your head shocked and fuzzy from this life altering word. Of course, I’m talking about cancer. Studies indicate that cancer rates are on the rise globally and it’s being diagnosed in younger people. Luckily, treatments are better, and people are living longer, cancer-free lives after medical intervention. The impacts of cancer are life-long, even when in healthy survivorship anxiety lingers on the backburner.
Since coming to NAU in 2019, I (Heather Rist) have counseled more people impacted by cancer than ever before in my career. I am facilitating this group with the intention of gaining mutual support, developing coping skills, and cultivating post-traumatic growth and resilience.
If you are interested in attending this group, please contact Heather.Rist@nau.edu.
Caregiver Support Group by Zoom
1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, through April 16, 2025, 12 – 1:30 pm
Led by Cyndy Soto-Lopez, PhD, EAW Psychologist
With our aging population, there has been a rise in the number of individuals who are informal family caregivers, many of whom are also caring for children and/or managing their own chronic health conditions. Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the US is a family caregiver.
Caring for a family member with an injury, illness, or disability can be one of the most important and rewarding (and very challenging) roles a person can take on in their lifetime. The financial, physical, mental, and emotional demands of caregiving tasks may overwhelm even the most resilient of people. This group aims to provide support for the challenges caregivers face in managing stress associated with caregiving and barriers to self-care in striving to enhance quality of life for themselves and the loved ones for whom they provide care.
If you are interested in attending this group, email Cyndy.Soto-Lopez@nau.edu.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Offerings (by Zoom)
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in recognition that traumatic experiences impact all of us, EAW is presenting a series of workshops to enhance understanding, develop skills, and support NAU’s cultivation of a trauma-informed environment.
The first three workshops are part of the Foundations of Trauma Informed Care (TIC) series. Please note the this three-part series is also available as a recorded course on Canvas and may be found at the Foundations of Trauma-Informed Care Course Canvas link.
TIC103: The 6 Principles of TIC
Thursday, April 17, 2025, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Led by Heather Rist, LPC, EAW Counselor
This workshop looks at the principles and philosophy of trauma informed care. These principles guide us in our application of strategies to genuinely cultivate a culture of care.
Secondary Trauma and Compassion Fatigue
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Led by Heather Rist, LPC, EAW Counselor
Bearing witness to the suffering of others impacts the nervous system. Expecting to be exposed to suffering and hardship and not be impacted is like expecting to walk through water and not get wet – it’s unreasonable. As social creatures that co-regulate and care, we must learn how to process the secondary effects of trauma so we can remain healthy. Let’s talk about strategies we can use to manage our own responses while showing up for students and loved ones who are navigating their own hardships.
Secondary Trauma Zoom registration link
Supportive Wellness Programs
Green Transportation Week
April 21 – 25, 2025
Join the NAU Office of Sustainability and ditch the car and use an alternative form of transportation when you come to campus this week! Ride your bike, scooter, walk, take the Mountain Line bus, NAU campus shuttle or carpool with a friend. Every day you participate, you will be entered to win raffle prizes.
Additionally, you may enter your days of using alternative transportation on your HIP/Personify Health account and earn up to 200 points. Watch your Personify Health portal for a challenge invitation coming soon.
For more information and complete schedule of events, visit the Green Transportation Week link.
Cultivating Positivity in Caregiving (by Zoom)
Thursday, April 17, 2025, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Led by Janice Greeno, MA, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
Join NAZADA for a special program that will highlight the importance of maintaining a positive outlook for both the caregiver and the people whom they care for (loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias). All are welcome and registration is required.
Cultivating Positivity workshop Zoom registration link
Northern Arizona University is committed to providing universal access to our programs and services. Please contact EAW at 928-523-1552 to request disability related accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for accessibility needs.
(Do not email sensitive information, as email is not confidential or private)
