Faculty Wellness Month promotes several dimensions of well-being

All members of Northwestern’s faculty and their immediate family members have free access to the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion as well as all group exercise classes beginning today and running through Oct. 23 as part of Faculty Wellness Month. Details for how to sign up are posted on the Faculty Wellness Month webpage.

Expended from February’s successful debut of Faculty Wellness Week, this fall’s special programming and daily wellness suggestions are designed to address several dimensions of well-being, including work/life balance, family wellness and nutrition.

The Family Institute facilitated a session on Parenting Children and Teens with Mental Health Challenges on Monday, and Vicki Shanta Retelny will provide a demonstration on preparing Simple Everyday Meals on Oct. 14. On Oct. 18, Faculty Wellness Program Director Gaurava Agarwal will co-host a faculty information session on the new SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program, and on Oct. 27 Reyna Seltzer will facilitate a session on How to Have More Time for Research and Writing.

Of course, physical fitness also is an important aspect of faculty wellness.

“Whether weightlifting, cardio or whatever, visits to the gym are like ‘mind vacations,’” said Political Science Professor and Department Chair William Reno, a regular visitor to Henry Crown Sports Pavilion. “Exercise is the key to the head, to relax and to sort out what is important and what to put aside for the rest of the day.”

In addition to accessing the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion through Oct. 23 for free, faculty members can sign up for free fitness consultations from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 12 or Oct. 13 by emailing hilary.devries@northwestern.edu, or schedule free 10-minute massage tune-ups Oct. 24 (Evanston) and Oct. 26 (Chicago) by calling (847) 467-2607.