The Centre for Innovation in Health and Wellness (CIHW) is offering a series of free initiatives to Humber College students, staff and faculty designed to promote health and wellness.

Vanita Varma, director, CIHW, says the Humber community asked for inclusive, accessible and equitable health and wellness initiatives that would be beneficial in helping deal with anxiety, stress and burnout many experienced over the last two years. The CIHW answered that call with several initiatives.
 
Mindfulness@Humber

This initiative offers free mindfulness meditation sessions both virtually and in person. These sessions are delivered by staff, faculty and students and are between 20 and 30 minutes in length. They are offered at different times on different days to be as accessible as possible.

Varma says mindfulness is a way of focusing on the present moment, being aware of thoughts and emotions in an environment free from distraction and judgement.

Led by mindfulness facilitators, the sessions are focused on breathing and awareness of the body, mind, and emotions. The sessions are also offered during the day, when people who are at work or school need a short break, rather than in the evening or on weekends.
 
Sign up using the Mindfulness@Humber booking form.
 
Healthy Breaks@Humber  

This initiative involves taking a short 10-minute break during a meeting or class to refresh the body and mind.

Members of the Humber community who have organized a meeting or class 90 minutes in length or longer and are interested in having the CIHW provide a facilitator to lead a healthy break session can email cihw@humber.ca. The breaks can be a short mindfulness session or one that involves stretching and movement.   

“We will do all the work that’s needed to make a healthy break happen in your meeting or a class, all you have to do is email us,” says Varma.  

Health and Wellness Coaching Program@Humber  

This program offers free one-on-one coaching sessions weekly or bi-weekly for 30 to 45 minutes. They are led by students in Humber’s Wellness Coaching graduate program, who gain work-integrated learning experience through this initiative.  

The initiative will support members of the Humber community in helping achieve their goals related to physical, emotional, mental, social and overall well-being. Some of the areas the coaching covers include stress management, self-care, making positive lifestyle changes, creating life balance, learning how to take advantage of personal strengths and developing and maintaining a positive and healthy mindset, among others.

It’s currently a pilot program and will continue until the end of April.  

To sign up or for more information, email cihw@humber.ca.