Employee wellness program Velocity speeds into second years

She ultimately received more than she bargained for. The Dimensions of Health Lunch & Learn presentations are part of the La Sierra University Wellness Plan, which was newly named and re-organized in October 2013 under the name Velocity. It focuses on the importance of physical wellness and its connection to health and overall well being. The sessions included talks by La Sierra Health and Exercise Science faculty members with research and tips on various fitness activities such as stretching, as well as exercises that can be done without a lot of equipment. Organizers also began offering weekly lunchtime walks for employees during winter quarter in which Viramontes participated. “Not only did I meet some new people, but I got to see areas on campus that I had not seen in some time,” Viramontes said.

“One of the key things I learned was to find ways to move about and not be sedentary,” said Viramontes. “So now I try to add more to what I already do, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevators. Also, when I exercise it should be something I find enjoyable to do. This way I continue exercising and not give up.”

This fall Velocity enters its second year with a full schedule of activities that kicked off on Sept. 23 with a 3K walk, part of a new campaign aimed at eradicating hypokinetic diseases resulting from inactivity. The year’s lineup includes nine Lunch & Learn sessions, a walking challenge each Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., yoga classes every Monday and Thursday evening, and a walk-or-bike-to-work day in May. The first Lunch & Learn session is scheduled for Oct. 16 at noon in the Dining Commons Cactus Room.

This school year Velocity will follow a curriculum called Creation Health, a program of Florida Hospital, a Seventh-day Adventist institution. The program will incorporate several dimensions of wellness, including physical, emotional, spiritual, interpersonal and environmental wellness. Featured speakers will include La Sierra University faculty and off-campus specialists.

While there is no membership fee for Velocity, participants are asked to register to be a member of the program and RSVP for events at velocity@lasierra.edu.

“Our bodies are created to be in motion and work best when moving. Many of us working in office environments, unfortunately, spend much of our time sitting. This is killing us and severely decreasing our qualify of life. We don’t realize that there is an amazing power in moving our bodies. Regular movement provides the solution to so many of our daily physical ailments,” said Dominique Wakefield, assistant professor of health and exercise science. She is spearheading the Velocity initiative with Human Resources Director Dell Jean Van Fossen who has been involved in organizing the La Sierra employee wellness program from its inception.

Velocity, a name that means rapidity, or speed of motion, builds upon an employee wellness program called Well@La Sierra University begun approximately eight years ago and which offered yoga exercises, pilates, water aerobics and other activities. Over time the Dimensions of Health Lunch & Learn sessions were added which included topics that ranged from physical and social wellness to personal development issues such as financial planning. The program attracted a cadre of regular attendees.

The restructured and focused Velocity initiative launched last fall as a sponsored program of the Human Resources department and in partnership with the Health and Exercise Science department. Over the school year, Velocity attracted a membership of 109 faculty and staff.

“That was very successful. We have a pretty steady group that comes to the Lunch & Learn sessions,” Van Fossen said. “We’re now trying to brand the wellness program with the name Velocity,” she said.

In addition to scheduled Lunch & Learn sessions and weekly walks this school year, a special assembly will be held in April featuring Dr. Chidi Ngwaba, a leading United Kingdom health expert who will discuss lifestyle medicine, in particular the treatment of chronic disease through lifestyle and healthy behaviors.

Velocity is also partnering with the Health & Exercise Science Department for a 5K and Fitness Expo event in April 2015, which will be open to the La Sierra University community and the surrounding Riverside community, Van Fossen said.

In July, Wakefield and Health and Exercise Science Chair Dr. Robert Thomas gave a presentation on “Velocity: Wellness Together” at the 2^nd Global Conference on Health and Lifestyle in Geneva, Switzerland. The talk highlighted Velocity’s mission, goals and objectives which include creating awareness of all dimensions of wellness—physical, mental, emotional, environmental, spiritual, financial, intellectual, and occupational.

“The Adventist health message calls for the caring of the whole body, [mind, body and spirit] which is precisely articulated in the mission statement of Velocity,” Wakefield said. “Velocity is interested in providing growth opportunities to improve wellness of the whole person as God has created us.”