UC San Francisco Fitness and Recreation hosted the third annual UCSF Wellness Champion Spring soiree on Tuesday, June 10. The event welcomed Wellness Champions from across campus, individuals who are committed to sharing wellness initiatives with their teams to create a culture of well-being at UCSF.
This year’s event was held at the Bakar Fitness Center at Mission Bay, where attendees enjoyed a yoga class and lunch. The event allowed attendees to experience Fitness and Recreation programming as inspiration for their own wellness initiatives.
“Our department is a small team of two, and the Wellness Champions are a big part of how wellness information and wellness-related discussions get spread through our organization. We want to equip the Wellness Champions with knowledge and experiences that they can then bring back to their teams and keep the wellness going in their own departments,” Wellness Program Manager Kathleen Yumul, MPH, said.
Human Resources Wellness Manager, Kathleen Yumul and Projects Coordinator Sebastiani Romagnolo get ready for class.
UCSF Assistant Fitness Manager, Christine Martin hopes that this event shows Wellness Champions, and the UCSF community by extension, that fitness can be accessible to everyone.
“In a setting like UCSF where there is so much happening at once, it is very important for folks to take time for themselves. I think that the main idea of wellness is to take care of yourself. And, through taking care of ourselves, we can better take care of others,” Martin said, “So, this wellness initiative, along with all of the others that Kathleen [Yumul] and Sebastiani [Romagnolo] work so hard on, is important for not only the participants, but for the lives of the people that they touch.”
“When we move, we are nourishing our minds, bodies, and souls!” Martin said.
Vice President/Assistant Vice Chancellor for People Wellness Stephanie Collins, practices yoga with the Wellness Champions.
Will Kellogg, Parnassus Site Supervisor for the Anesthesia Department, is in his second year as a Wellness Champion and has enjoyed bringing wellness information to his team at monthly staff meetings.
“Emotional wellbeing and physical wellbeing are a very big part of who I am and what I believe in my personal life. When I found out there was the opportunity to represent wellness at UCSF, I wanted to join the movement and help spread the word. It's done so much good for me to be dedicated to wellbeing in all its shapes and forms, and I love sharing that with other people,” Kellogg said.
Kellogg saw the event as a reminder that it doesn’t have to be hard to make space for wellness.
“Moving the body energizes the soul and brings a little bit of presence to everyday life. Wellbeing doesn’t have to be something you make extra time for. It can fit into the fold of whatever is happening in your day."
Will Kellogg chats with a fellow Wellness Champion before yoga class.
For Yumul, these efforts are especially valuable in our current day.
“Taking care of our well-being allows us to thrive in our work and lives. In our current world, there are a lot of external factors that can cause stress and uncertainty for people. Valuing well-being, making space for wellness activities, and being in community is more important than ever.”
The wellness work, Yumul said, is also gratifying because she gets to watch others grow.
“I love the work I do. I truly believe that taking care of one’s well-being is essential. I believe in preventative care and tending to all the pillars of our well-being. I love that we get to empower a group of people who are also passionate about well-being and provide them spaces to practice well-being and connect with other Wellness Champions.”
If you are interested in becoming a Wellness Champion, the application is open year-round. Visit the sign up page to join the program today!
Neurology Clinical Affairs Analyst Nancy Puckett, MPA, poses on her Wellness Champion yoga mat.
All UCSF departments can take advantage of hosting a fitness or stretch class for their group by contacting Fitness and Recreation Group Fitness Manager, Gerri Nuval: Gerri.nuval@ucsf.edu.
Fitness and Recreation is also hosting their annual free rooftop yoga class open to the UCSF community on June 29 in honor of International Yoga Day.
Learn more online.