May 2026 Employee Wellness Newsletter

Prioritizing mental health is essential to overall health and well-being. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month (May), we want to remind employees of upcoming wellness opportunities. We also encourage you to reach out to your healthcare provider to explore additional no-cost wellness apps, programs, and resources to support your mind, body, and spirit.

Yoga and Pilates Classes

Lunchtime yoga and pilates classes are open to all experience levels and are a great opportunity to meet employees from other units, while also taking a break to stretch and have a midday reset. Please join us in Ives 80 from 12:05 to 12:55pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Yoga mats are available.

• Mondays: Pilates
• Wednesdays: Meditative Yoga
• Thursdays: Meditative Yoga 

*Please note Yoga and Pilates will be canceled May 13 - 21, 2026*

Couch to 5K Training!

Please join our 45-minute Couch to 5K Training with Yavé Guzman Valdez (bio)! Training is held weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Arbor and Lakes from 12:05 to 12:50pm, beginning January 13, 2026. All levels are welcome, from beginners to intermediate as well as advanced runners looking for some extra workouts. Suggested items to bring with you: A pair of good running shoes, comfortable clothing to run in, water, post-run snack, and a yoga mat. 

Wellness Webinars

Kaiser Permanente is offering a range of wellness webinars open to all employees, regardless of your health plan. Most sessions are available on-demand for six months after the live stream, with the exception of the Calm Meditation Sessions, which are only available live.

• Move It Mondays
  These 30-minute classes are designed to boost both your body and your mind and are available for all fitness levels. These classes will include a gentle warm-up, energizing movement, and a cool down. 
  • Date: May 4 & 18, 2026
  • Time: Noon - 12:30pm
  • Register
   
• Find Your Flow: Connecting with Creativity to Improve Your Mental Well-Being
  Tapping into your creativity isn’t just for artists! Explore how your personal strengths support “flow” – deepening focus, reducing stress and boosting mood. Whether it’s writing, drawing, music or another outlet, bringing creative expressions into your daily life can support your mental well-being.
  • Date: May 18, 2026
  • Time: Noon - 1pm
  • Register
   
• Nature Rx
  Explore the science-backed benefits of spending time in nature for stress relief and emotional balance.
  • Date: May 20, 2026
  • Time: Noon - 1pm
  • Register
   
• Moving from Burnout to Brilliance
  Finding a healthy pace at work and at home is more important than ever to avoid burnout. Discover how workplace culture, connection, practicing compassion and taking small steps to practice self care can reduce burnout and help increase motivation, feel purposeful, passion-driven and engaged.
  • Date: May 21, 2026
  • Time: Noon - 1pm
  • Register
   
• Glow Up! Secrets to Radiant Skin and Cosmetic Confidence 
  Learn about the aging process and how it affects our skin, evidence-based ingredients in cosmetic products, and cosmetic procedures that can maintain youthful, radiant skin. 
  • Date: May 28, 2026
  • Time: 12:30 - 1:30pm
  • Register

Calm Meditation Sessions

Join for 15 minutes to de-stress, reset, and renew yourself.

• May 13, 2026 (10 - 10:15am) - Join here at the time of event
• May 27, 2026 (2 - 2:15pm) - Join here at the time of event

Kaiser's Monthly Challenge: Book Worm – Read, Relax, and Rejuvenate Your Mind

This May, we’re inviting you to take a mental health break through reading. Challenge yourself to read for at least 600 minutes this month. That’s less than 20 minutes a day! Reading is more than just a hobby, it’s a proven way to boost your mental well-being. It lowers stress, improves focus, enhances empathy, and helps you feel more positive. When you immerse yourself in a good book, your body relaxes, your heart rate slows, and your mind escapes the constant buzz of daily life. For this challenge, we encourage you to read (not listen) so you can fully engage your mind and give it the mindful exercise it deserves. Find a cozy spot, settle in, and let your book carry you away. Taking time to read each day is a simple yet powerful act of self-care, nourishing your mind, calming your thoughts, and helping you build a stronger foundation for mental health. Happy reading and happy mind!

Employee Access to the Campus Recreation Center

Employees have access to the Campus Rec Center, which offers a wide range of fitness, recreational and wellness resources that support physical and mental wellbeing. The Rec Center also provides opportunities to connect and build community outside of your work space. More information about the Rec Center’s facilities, classes, and hours of operation can be found at Campus Recreation’s Rec Portal. Instructions for activating your employee access are available on our website.

Faculty/Staff Basketball Group

Interested in joining a faculty/staff basketball group? The group meets Mondays at 5pm. For more information or to join, contact Mike Dominguez at [email protected].

Salsa Dance Class

Dennis Goss, from the Office of the Registrar, will be teaching a beginning salsa dance class at the Rec Center on May 5, 2026 and May 12, 2026 from noon to 1pm. If you have not yet used the Rec Center, please complete a waiver form prior to the class. We hope to see you there!