Employee Wellness
Mission Statement
Sonoma State University promotes a culture of wellness among faculty and staff to encourage personal and professional productivity, physical and mental well-being, and to promote a healthy lifestyle. We believe that healthy employees are more productive, happier and better prepared to thrive.
The Employee Wellness Program is a voluntary program that is available to all employees and to be utilized during (not in addition to) appropriate rest breaks. Lunchtime fitness classes are considerate of a 30 or 60 minute lunch break so that employees may plan accordingly.
Employee Wellness Program benefits include:
- Yoga and Pilates Classes
- Couch to 5K Training!
- Wellness Webinars
- Calm Meditation Sessions
- Health Promotion Classes
- Local Opportunities to Get Moving
- Vitalant Blood Drives
- CSU Wellness Challenges
- Campus Recreation Center
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Wellness Opportunities
Know Your Numbers
Kaiser Permanente will be hosting an on-site Know Your Numbers event on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. This event is open to all employees regardless of your health plan election.
Know Your Numbers
September 10, 2025 (11:30am - 1:30pm)
Student Center Ballroom D
Walk-in appointments only
Attend to be entered to win a PRIZE!
Each 10-15 minute consultation will include a review of recommended preventative healthcare services, as well as body composition, blood pressure, and height/weight measurements. This is a perfect opportunity to learn your baseline numbers, especially with the recent announcement about employee access to the Rec Center.
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
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 the SSU Track from 12:05 to 12:50pm. 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.
- Fit at WorkLearn skills to increase engagement and energy in your personal and professional life.
- Date: September 17, 2025
- Time: Noon - 1pm
- Register
- Understanding ADHDLearn about the human brain and what helps and hinder attention, gain a better understanding about ADHD, recognize how ADHD may affect us from childhood through adulthood, and hear about current treatments and resources.
- Date: September 25, 2025
- Time: 12:30 - 1:30pm
- Register
- Renew and Recharge: Navigating BurnoutFinding 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: September 29, 2025
- Time: Noon - 1pm
- Register
Calm Meditation Sessions
Join for 15 minutes to de-stress, reset, and renew yourself.
- September 10, 2025 (10 - 10:15am)Join here at the time of event
- September 24, 2025 (2 - 2:15pm)Join here at the time of event
Local Opportunities to Get Moving
Get ready to lace up your sneakers as the SSU Employee Wellness Program has secured an exclusive discount code for a local running event featuring distances for all levels. Whether you are a seasoned runner or wanting to try something new, you are invited to join us and walk, run or even skip your way to the finish line.
- Clo Cow Half Marathon (October 12)
5k, 10k, half marathon
https://www.clocowhalf.com/
Please email [email protected] for the discount codes.
Vitalant Blood Drives
In partnership with SSU Student Involvement and Student Clubs, Vitalant will be hosting on-campus blood drives this fall. These events will be held in the Denali Gym in the Campus Recreation Center from 10am to 2:15pm on the following dates:
- September 17, 2025
- October 15, 2025
- November 4, 2025
Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled on https://vitalant.org/sonomastate. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Campus Recreation Center
As part of our continued commitment to employee wellness, Sonoma State University is excited to announce an expansion of the Employee Wellness program beginning this fall. Sonoma State employees have the opportunity to access the Campus Recreation Center (Rec Center) beginning 8/16/25.
This initiative promotes physical and mental wellbeing by providing employees access to the outstanding fitness, recreational, and wellness resources available on campus, while also creating opportunities to connect and build community with one another outside of work spaces. More information about the Rec Center’s facilities, classes, and hours of operation can be found at Campus Recreation’s Rec Portal.
How to activate your employee access:
- Sign your Campus Recreation waivers through the Rec Portal. Log in with your SSU credentials by clicking “sign in” at the top right corner.
- Visit the Campus Recreation front desk with your physical or virtual SSU ID card.
- The front desk will confirm your waivers have been completed, verify your Faculty/Staff status and activate your access.
- Scan in with your SSU ID card (physical or virtual) every time you visit.
If you have any questions regarding Campus Recreation memberships or previously purchased passes, please email [email protected].
Membership Benefits:
- You may sponsor up to three guests, allowing adult family members or friends to join you. Sponsored guest memberships can be purchased at the front desk.
- Please note, this is an individual membership. If you are interested in hosting an event at Campus Recreation with your department, colleagues, or students, please submit a request through Conference and Event Services.
We are excited to offer this wellness opportunity and appreciate the collaboration of our campus partners making it possible in a way that supports the entire university community.
Employee Assistance Program - LifeMatters by Empathia
The employee assistance program (EAP) is designed to provide professional assistance to faculty, staff and their families in assessing and resolving personal matters. Please review the LifeMatters brochure or LifeMatters guide for additional information regarding the wide array of resources available from Empathia. Other benefits include:
- 24/7 telephone assessment/counseling
- Access to MyLifeMatters (please reach out to Payroll and Benefits at [email protected] or (707) 664-2793 to obtain Empathia's phone number or the campus-specific password)
- Digital Cognitive Behavioral Health - a self-guided program with techniques and tips to address anxiety, depression and stress.
- Discount Center - members can register to access discounts for travel, entertainment, consumer goods and services.
- Up to six free counseling sessions
- Work/life resources and referrals
- Financial consultation with a certified financial counselor
- Legal consultation with an attorney
- Smoking Cessation Program
- Access to Spanish-speaking counselors
- ...and more!
Employees can also download The LifeMatters® App for convenient access to materials.
Empathia Webinar
LifeMatters Newsletter
- Access the LifeMatters Newsletter for this month’s promotional content.
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for our employee wellness program, please feel free to contact [email protected].