September 30, 2014

GPSA, Johnson School to Host Activities for Wellness Week

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By TOM SCHREFFLER

In an effort to help students deal with the stress surrounding studying for and taking exams, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly and The Johnson Graduate School of Management are holding their second annual Wellness Week, which began Monday.

The week consists of various relaxation and fitness events held in various locations on campus, including mindfulness meditation, a smoothie-making contest and sports events such as pick-up basketball and group running, according to Safiya Miller grad.

She added that the common theme of stress management and activity helps students both relax and improve fitness.

“Wellness is important for the entire campus,” Miller said. “It’s easy for students to lose sight of important things, of which health is one. This week was chosen because of the many exams that are being taken by graduate students, but all students are encouraged to go to the events.”

While some events are clearly designed to be calm — such as the teaching of breathing techniques — the fitness events on Friday are meant to provide a way to release anxiety through more intense activity, according to Miller.

According to Beatina Theopold grad, one of the main organizers of the event, both the GPSA and Johnson’s Healthcare and Biotechnology Club chose to sponsor Wellness Week for a second year due to their interests in student health.

“Student Council and the Healthcare and Biotech Club teamed up to co-sponsor the event because both clubs are very focused on the health and wellness of the Johnson Community,” Theopold said. “[The GSPA] is specifically interested in supporting a healthy community and the Healthcare and Biotech Club is interested in raising awareness for new and interesting trends in health across the healthcare industry.”

In addition, most of the event ideas came from Ph.D. and MBA students currently studying at Johnson, according to Theopold.

“One thing that is unique about this particular celebration of wellness is that it was organized almost exclusively by students,” Theopold said. “Those holding the event are offering plants, healthy snacks and spa packages to students. We hope that using student ideas in our planning will help to encourage participation by the entire student body.”

There will be a “Fueling Your MBA” event Wednesday, hosted by Tom Howley — the head strength and conditioning coach — in Sage Hall’s Ramin Parlor.

Though it may seem to students as though the coming weeks are all about exams, Miller said the idea behind Wellness Week is to enforce a balance between schoolwork and physical and mental health.

“Don’t lose sight of why you came here,” Miller said.