Wellness & Health At Macalester -WHAM
News & Event Updates
Influenza & COVID Vaccination Clinic for Staff and Faculty
WHAM’s annual flu and COVID vaccination clinic is on Thursday, September 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, room 230. This clinic is for staff and faculty only. Please fill out the consent form and bring it along with a copy of your HealthPartners, Aetna, Cigna, BCBS, Medica, United Healthcare, or Medicare with supplemental insurance. Most vaccinations are covered as preventive care and are free to those with insurance. Those without insurance can purchase a flu vaccination for $40, FluMist (if available) for $45, Senior Dose (if available) for $70, and/or $185 for COVID. Please check with your insurance carrier to verify your coverage for the COVID vaccination. Instructions:
- Make an Appointment
- Appointments are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins will still be accepted while supplies last.
- A list of available times will appear. Select an appointment time.
- Enter your email address and click “Continue.” Confirm your email address is correct and click “Confirm.”
- Enter your first and last name, then indicate whether you would like the flu vaccine, COVID vaccine, or both.
- Enter your phone number if you wish to receive text reminders.
- Use the “Add to Outlook/iCal” feature to add the appointment to your Google calendar.
- You will receive an appointment confirmation via email. Use the “View/Change My Commitments” link in your email if you need to change or cancel your appointment.
What to bring:
- Bring your completed Consent Form (PDF)
- Your insurance card and a photo ID
- Wear clothing that provides easy access to the upper arm
- Follow current masking guidelines
Getting a flu vaccination is the single best way to protect yourself, your coworkers, your family, and our community from the flu (CDC).
WHAM Lunch & Learn: Contemplative Wisdom
WHAM invites Marc Anderson to give a short presentation on the Contemplative Arts Training program he’s developing through the Kofi Annan Institute and IGC. It will include an overview of the project as well as hands on experience with some of the things you’ll be practicing and discussing in the program. There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A for those who are interested in taking part in the program.
Marc Anderson is a meditation teacher, musician, poet and director of the Third Eye Collaborative. He was on staff with Macalester’s CRSL for 10 years and now contracts with that department and others to facilitate various events and projects.
Register to join us for lunch catered by Bon Appetit at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25 in the Leonard Center’s Hall of Fame room. The presentation will begin at 12:00 and end no later than 12:50 p.m..
Join WHAM at the annual Mac Fest 5K Run/Walk
This year’s 5K is on Saturday, September 28 and is part of Mac Fest. This event is for the entire Macalester community and is designed to be fun—no need to be an Olympic athlete! Faculty, staff, students, family members, alumni, dogs, and strollers are welcome. There is no fee to participate, but all participants must register and complete the waiver. On-site registration and check-in begins at 8 a.m. at the Leonard Center Portico. The run/walk begins on Shaw Field promptly at 9 a.m. with a send-off from Provost Anderson-Levy. The first 500 participants to check-in will receive a commemorative wristband. The Leonard Center will be open for restrooms but there will be no place to store personal belongings. Here is the 2024 5k Route Map (PDF).
This is a great opportunity for any staff, faculty, spouses or partners who are looking for a well-being activity to complete before the October 31 wellness reward deadline. It’s also a great event for teams participating in our Make a Move Challenge. Don’t forget to record your completion of the 5K in your well-being account after the event: healthpartners.com/wellbeing.
Stay Healthy Together – Join the Make a Move Partner Challenge
Looking for some extra accountability and support to live a healthier life? Partner-up!
Invite your spouse, partner or colleague to pair-up with you for this year’s Make a Move Partner Challenge and stay healthy together. Your partner is eligible to join as long as they have HealthPartners insurance through Macalester. You’ll get to create a team name and you’ll both track your own activity. Together you’ll compete to win a pair of Fitbits and bragging rights! The second and third place teams will win some sweet Macalester gear.
Invite other colleagues in your department to pair-up and enjoy a little friendly competition. You and your colleagues can celebrate each other’s progress no matter where your movement journey takes you. Visit our Well-being Activities page to learn more. Registration opens August 25.
Fall Session 1 Classes for Staff and Faculty
Our full suite of class offerings are back for fall and we hope you’ll take advantage of one of the best perks of working at Mac. We’re excited to offer a new class: Tai Chi/Qigong: Exploring Meditation in Motion taught by Ruthanne Kurth-Schai. Learn to lift in our Strength Training 101 class, or check out our beginner-friendly Circuit Training class. If it’s mental and emotional fitness you’re after, then our Mindfulness class offers time away from your busy day to rejuvenate, through guided meditations and the exploration of mindfulness and compassion practices. Tried and true favorites like Boot Camp, Yoga and Dance Cardio are offered too.
Registration opens on Wednesday, August 21 and closes promptly on Wednesday, September 4 at 4 p.m. For class descriptions and to register, visit our WHAM Classes page.
Macalester’s Weekly Farmer’s Market Continues Through Mid-October
WHAM is pleased to host Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm out of Waverly, Minnesota to bring you fresh, local, and nutritious produce delivered right to campus. Add a weekly reminder to your calendar and plan your first visit on Thursday between 2 to 6 p.m. The market is located on Macalester Street near Visitor Parking Lot 1. Cash or credit cards are accepted.
Untiedt’s offers a variety of seasonal produce such as fresh strawberries, asparagus, delicious bi-color sweet corn, cabbage, eggplant, bell peppers, sweet onions, garlic, zucchini, cucumbers, green and wax beans, young potatoes, tomatoes, Black Diamond and personal-size watermelon, Tuscan cantaloupe, small Sugar Cube cantaloupe, First Kiss and SweeTango apples, and a variety of winter squashes! Oksana will be there to greet you with a smile.
Stay active from anywhere!
Whether you work from home or go into work, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day that you suddenly realize, it’s been hours since you last got up. Wellbeats is a free online resource with programs for all interests and ability levels. Check it out and get moving more, whether you’re working at home, on campus or on the go.
Try the Give Me a Work Break Program (Four Weeks). Manage stress and increase productivity during the work day with these short exercises and stretches. Wellbeats member, Jess, said “This felt great! A quick five minutes made such a difference.” Download the HealthPartners mobile app or sign in to healthpartners.com/wellbeing to explore all Wellbeats has to offer. For more work-break ideas, visit our Well-being Activities page.
Back pain holding you back? Try Healthy Back
Did you know that three in five adults will experience back pain this year?
A healthy back is essential to maintaining a good quality of life so whether you suffer from chronic back pain or are hoping to stop it before it starts, Healthy Back can help. This online tool has stretches and strengthening exercises that will empower you to keep your back healthy and strong all year long. Check out the power of a healthy back.
Plus, you and your spouse or partner can each earn a $150 reward card for completing two well-being activities by October 31, 2024.Download the HealthPartners mobile app or sign in to healthpartners.com/well-being to get your back in its best shape yet.
New Well-being Activity: Plant Forward Health
Plant Forward Health highlights veggies, fruits, legumes and grains, but it isn’t limited to them. The main idea is to be mindful of adding and enjoying more plants as part of a balanced meal. This approach not only can improve our health, boost our energy levels and prevent chronic disease – it can also help the environment (and our wallet), too!
Features: 14 short lessons, a habit tracker (recommended and custom habits), progress dashboard (reflect and reach goals), and resource library (additional tools, recipes and meal plans).
Visit our Well-being Activities page to learn more. To get started, sign in at healthpartners.com/signin/livingwell or download the HealthPartners mobile app and click the Living Well button. Select “Get Started” on the activity, Plant Forward Health.
Connect with our health coach to reach your goals
It’s time to team up. A professional health coach can be the missing link between setting goals and meeting them. Talk one-on-one with our certified health coach, Kelly Fang, about what’s important to you. Whether that’s back pain, nutrition, sleep, stress management, exercise or something else – Kelly will work with you to address your unique needs.
If you’re on Macalester’s benefits plan, take your health assessment to get started at healthpartners.com/wellbeing or use the Living Well button on the myHP app. Then contact Kelly to set up a time. In-person, walking and video appointments are free and open to all staff, faculty, spouses and domestic partners, regardless of your benefits plan. To learn more, visit our Health Coaching page.