Live Well, Be Well…
The health and wellbeing of The University of Missouri faculty and staff is vital to our mission of teaching, research, service and economic development. Healthy for Life: The T.E. Atkins UM Wellness Program is here to help. With a variety of programs and resources, we encourage you to take charge of your health. Visit Healthy for Life’s website to find newsletters (current and past issues), success stories, upcoming events and information about all our programs.
Interested in Helping?
We need your help to make the fall 2009 Wellness Fairs successful! We are in search of volunteers for clinical & non-clinical jobs, non-profit and University Exhibitors, and donations for raffle prizes. If donating a raffle prize, your department will be promoted in advertising. If you are interested in helping Healthy for Life in any capacity, please contact Jenny Workman, workmanjl@umsystem.edu.
• MUHS- University Hospital; Thursday, Oct. 22nd, 8 a.m.– 3 p.m.
• MU- Reynolds Alumni Center; Thursday, Oct. 29th, 8 a.m.– 3 p.m.
Noon-Time Stress Reduction Meditation
Studies over the past two decades suggest that engaging in a regular mindfulness meditation practice can reduce stress, improve health and enhance overall wellbeing. Find out for yourself by taking advantage of the noon-time (12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.) stress reduction meditation sessions across campus each week. Join Healthy for Life for one of the following times and locations:
• Mondays; 143 Heinkel Building (starting Sept 24)
• Tuesdays; 143 Heinkel Building (ending Sept 18)
• Wednesdays; University Hospital Medical School, Room HSL146
• Wednesdays; Parker Hall, First Floor Conference Room (starting Sept. 9)
• Wednesdays; AP Green Chapel (while school is in session, starting Sept. 2)
All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. No registration or previous experience with meditation is necessary. If you can’t make the noon-time group, consider taking a stress relief break by listening to one of the audio recordings over your computer in your office. For more information, please visit the Healthy for Life website.
Massage Therapy
In these times of tight budgets and challenging deadlines, show your employees how much you appreciate them! Treat them to a stress-reducing massage by Licensed Massage Therapist Jeff Rioux. Jeff provides 30-, 60- and 90-minute massages in his office at University Hospital (GL-20A) or he can come to your work area and provide chair massage. Faculty and staff receive a discounted rate of $30 for 30 minutes, $45 for 60 minutes, and $65 for 90 minutes. Massage hours are Mon./Tue. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Wed. 1 p.m.-7 p.m. and Thurs. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Schedule an appointment today by calling 884-1312. If you’d like a gift certificate, stop by Medtique Gift Shop in University Hospital or the Healthy for Life office at 205 Heinkel Building on campus.
Yoga- Affordable Classes at Work!
Healthy for Life would like to encourage you to take advantage of these classes that can fit your budget. Please note that full payment is due at the beginning of the first class. Space is limited. Please contact the instructor directly to register or for questions.
• Office Yoga: Sept. 1 to Oct.6 at Ellis Library room 4F51-A. Class meets on Tuesdays from 1:10-1:50 p.m. and costs $12 for the 6 week session. Pre-registration is required and registration deadline is Aug. 25. To sign up, e-mail Ashley Jenkins, om.yoga@yahoo.com.
• Office Yoga: Oct. 27 – Nov. 17 at Lewis Hall, Room 3. Class meets Tuesdays from 12:10-12:50 p.m. and costs $8 for the 4 week session. Pre-registration is required and registration deadline is Oct 20. To sign up, e-mail Ashley Jenkins, om.yoga@yahoo.com.
• Office Yoga: Oct. 29 – Nov. 19 at Lewis Hall, Room 3. Class meets Thursdays from 12:10-12:50 p.m. and costs $8 for the 4 week session. Pre-registration is required and registration deadline is Oct 22. To sign up, e-mail Ashley Jenkins, om.yoga@yahoo.com.
• Mat Yoga: Nov. 24 – Dec. 15 at Lewis Hall, Room 3. Class meets Tuesdays from 5:10-5:50 p.m. and costs $8 for the 4 week session. Pre-registration is required and registration deadline is Nov 17. To sign up, e-mail Ashley Jenkins, om.yoga@yahoo.com.
2009 Upcoming Flu Season Information
There are many questions about flu shots for this year and definitive information is not yet available at this time. The seasonal flu shot will not protect against the novel H1N1, at least according to information we have at this time. Trials are currently being conducted with a vaccine for the novel H1N1 flu. It is not known whether this can be combined with the seasonal flu shot (probably not). Likewise, there have been reports that the H1N1 flu vaccine will require two shots, but that, too, is not known at this time. Last, and perhaps most importantly, is when the H1N1 flu shot will be available. That is not known, but is expected to be in the October/November timeframe. Concerned individuals should monitor the news and consult their personal physician. MU will issue guidance on the availability and cost, if any, of the H1N1 flu vaccine when such information is available. Peter Ashbrook, Director of Environmental Health & Safety and Dr. Susan Even, Director of the MU Student Heath Center encourage employees to visit the Environmental Health & Safety website and click on “ASK Dr. C” link to our own Dr. Cooperstock. They also encourage you to visit the CDC’s site as well.
“We continue to recommend that individuals follow the health guidelines that have been publicized earlier to avoid the spread of respiratory illness,” said Dr. Even.
Those recommendations include:
• Practice good hand hygiene, including washing hands and using hand sanitizers.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and place it in the trash, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
• Stay home until fever is clear 24 hours and symptoms resolve.
• Seek medical attention only as symptoms warrant.
Seasonal flu shots will be provided by the UM Faculty and Staff Benefits Office at no cost to faculty, staff and dependents enrolled in the UM Choice Health Care Program, and a $26 fee will be charged for those not enrolled. The seasonal flu shot will be available at the MU Employee Wellness Fair on October 29th as well as other clinic dates, which will be published in October. University Hospital Staff Health will provide free flu shots at the MUHS Employee Wellness Fair on October 22nd for MUHS employees. Faculty and staff also have the option of obtaining flu shots from their personal physician or at a public clinic; however, if they do so, there will likely be a charge.
Columbia Parks and Recreation
Get involved in your community! Columbia Parks and Recreation has many great opportunities to offer
you and your family. Take advantage of discounts at the Activity and Recreation Center, sports leagues,
classes, maps to parks and trails, and other special events. For more information or to view the monthly
newsletter, please visit the Columbia Parks and Rec website.
Any MU employee can get the flu shot at the MUHS Employee Wellness Fair on October 22nd. The paragraph above implies that only MU Health Sciences employees can get their shots on Oct. 22.
I would like to thank Shannon for providing excellent flu information in this issue of NewsNotes.
The regular flu shots might be available before Oct. 22. For example, Wagreen already has flu shot clinics starting in September. There will probably be a charge for these shots.
Yes the flu shots are also available at your doctor’s office. In some cases if one has a chronic condition, the flu shots may be free at the doctor’s office.
As of August, 2009, HR has no plans to offer the flu shot drive thru this year at Hearnes Center’s parking lot.
As a member of the MU Retirement and Health Committee, I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the flu and the H1N1 flu vaccine. If you have questions, the HR office would also be more than happy to answer your questions at 882-2146.
I will soon be posting more information and weekly updates about the flu and H1Ni1 vacine in MULSA’s blog.