Ways to Flourish

Registered Dietician Stephanie May and Nurse Practitioner Nancy Moul talks with our team about what exactly does it mean to be following a plant-based plan.  They explore some of the reasons that going plant-based can have an impact on our everyday lives.  Their biggest take-away is that going plant-based does not need to be all or nothing; there are many ways to slowly and sustainably increase yo...

Doctoral Candidate in Clinical & Counseling Psychology at the University of South Alabama Nicholas Borgogna and Doctoral Practicum Student candidate in Clinical Psychology at the Virginia Consortium Madison Smart-McCarthy talk to us today about the importance of sleep.  They share with us that sleep should be a priority, not a luxury.  Tune in as they discuss with us some various sleep issues...

As we prepare for W&M Earth Week 2021, we talk with  the Director of Sustainability Calandra Waters Lake and Senior Mary Lawrence Young to take a deeper dive into sustainability.  They share with us that you don't have to be all about the environment, or even all about sustainability, but if we can help you make wiser, long-distance decisions towards a better people and planet, then we&ap...

As we near the end of the semester, we may be all finding ourselves to be "checking-out". Our very own Lindsay Heck and Eric Garrison sit down and talk to us about how we can make sure to mentally check back in and persevere to the finish line.

Out team talks with Haider Ali about the new NOD app that has just been released on Apple and Android devices.  This app provides an environment for student to achieve the social connections that are needed for success in college.  In a time where we have been very isolated, this app can provide the tools to build social connections. Link to the app:  https://nodapp.app.link/aVwC6vYJq9

We sit down with Adjunct Lecturer for Mindfulness Meditation, Wellness Mindfulness Professional, and Yoga Instructor Martha Rouleau, Gail Pascaris, Laura Beltrán-Rubio and Sophia Sabardine to talk about Mindfulness.  During this stressful time during the semester, they talk to us about ways to help manage our stress so that it does not control out life.  They share some tips of what one can be doi...

Class of 2021 Senator, Helen Tariku & Class of 2021 President, Aria Austin talk to us today about the W&M Student Assembly.  They share with us how they can be that middle ground voice between the students and the campus administration to help elevate various topics & concerns throughout campus.  Resource:  https://www.wm.edu/sites/studentassembly/index.php

Dr. Warren Buck, Special Advisor to the President for Equity in the 21st Century, talks to us about meditative objects to cultivate a calmer and more focused self.  He dives in to concentration mediation and some of the benefits.  He reminds us to be kind to ourselves and what we can do do right now to practice healthy, mindful habits. Resources:   http://leighb.com/

Today we chat with Associate VP for Health & Wellness, Dr. Kelly Crace and Wellness Ambassador, Marrin Scalone on why our willpower fails us.  The dive in to the topic of  how many people currently address motivation with an unhealthy mindset and that the secret to motivation is shifting from trying to “be” motivated and focusing on more deeply understanding your values-entered motivation. Res...

Kamila Mehdi, Current FitWell instructor (since 2018) talks with our team about the combination of seeking out the things that make you feel your best including your passions/spaces that uplift you.  She discusses how being a FitWell instructor has impacted her life and how one can join the FitWell instructor community. FitWell Instructor Applications:   https://www.wm.edu/offices/wellness/campusr...

We sit down with Assistant Director of Campus Recreation for Outdoor Recreation Michael White, Willa Moffit ('21) and Daria Moody ('22) to talk about the Tribe Adventure Program (TAP) and how  the outdoors is a powerful wellness resource. TAP offers COVID-conscious outdoor experiences designed for everyone from the seasoned adventurer to the first time camper. Resources:   https://www.wm...

Dorothy Ibes, Senior lecturer for Environmental Science and Policy Program and Center for Geospatial Analysis, has such a fun topic to share with us today!  She conducts research to help promote healthy, sustainable lifestyles in cities and college campuses by focusing in on parks and greenspace.  She shares with us the importance of nature engagement on our mental health and how you can get your...

Eric Garrison talks with the Jody and Layton Smith Professor of Psychology and Gifted Education and Director for the Center for Gifted Education, Dr. Tracy Cross.  Reference Link:  https://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/

Our very own Eric Garrison sits down to talk to us about how we can prepare our bodies for Daylight Savings.  Tune in as he provides some tips on how to make the 1-hour loss of sleep this Sunday a little less tough on our minds and bodies.

Campus Recreation has welcomed a new position to their staff, BOC and state licensed Athletic Trainers Christi Ferrell & Kim Gong.  They will be primarily working with sports club but will be offering their services to Campus Rec community too.  They talk to us about what led them to the decision to become AT's, some common misconceptions about the profession and how one may look in to be...

Wellness Professional and Health Coach Jenny Call talks with Lindsay Heck about the current climate on W&M's campus in regards to the staff wellbeing during these challenging times.  She discusses that many essential employees have continued to work non-stop during this past year and how their work goes unrecognized.  She provides some advice on how we can cultivate a community where all...

We sit down with Dr. Natoya Haskins who is the Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the School of Education.  As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, she shares information about the current climate on W&M's campus, some of the biggest challenges right now, how we can work to continue to make changes and how to elevate those voices and...

Today we are excited to bring you W&M alum Kelly Gorman.  She is the Health Promotion Specialist at Columbia University where she oversees initiatives related to resilience, nutrition, sleep and stress management.  On today’s episode, she will be discussing a new approach that Columbia is developing and implementing that is moving away from a ‘nutrition science’ frame of reference. To view the...

We received some great questions from the community for this first ever Q&A day!  Lindsay Heck and Eric Garrison share these questions and answers to help  provide you more information on ways you can continue to flourish in your everyday life. For more information on W&M Health & Wellness, check out wm.edu/wellness.

On our next self-care episode, we site down with Wellness Professionals & Certified Yoga Therapists Patti DeBlass and Cindy Crace to talk about all things yoga and help us answer the tough question of "Which yoga class is right for me?"  They help to explain the variation of class that W&M Campus Rec offers and even dive in to how can become a yoga instructor. For more informatio...

We are back with Part 2 of our Consent & Boundaries series Hannah and Katie.  Today they dive in to helping you determine your boundaries, and what you like and dislike during sexual intimacy it can be helpful to spend some time alone exploring. Resources mentioned:  Betty Dodson’s Book, Sex for One For more on the W&M Office of Health Promotion, check out wm.edu/ohp.

We are excited to bring you this 2-part series with Assistant Director in the Office of Health Promotion Hannah Artile-Stravers and W&M Junior Katie Grotewiel.  In part 1, she will discuss sexuality as a part of who we are and answer the questions:  What is consent?  Why is it important?  How do we know if our partner expresses consent?  For more on the W&M Office of Health Promotion, chec...

Have you ever wondered what exactly Reiki is?  Adjunct Lecturer of Mindfulness Meditation & Wellness Professional Martha Rouleau helps answer this question for us and provides us some ways we can incorporate presence in to our self-care routines.

On today's episode, we sit down with Wellness Professional, Massage Practitioner and Alum Grace Anderson on the power of touch.  During this time of COVID, this lack of touch is impacting our overall health.  She shares with us that our bodies are missing that exchange of core energy from one person to another and provides us with a few tools to help facilitate the mind-body healing during th...

We sit down with Art Therapist Sarah Balascio and Freshman Raven Pierce as they introduce us to Art Therapy.  Sarah shares what a typical Creative Arts class may consist of while Raven shares her experience as a freshman on campus during a pandemic and what drew her to joining the Virtual Creative Arts class.  To find offerings of either Virtual or In-Person Creative Arts classes, check out wellne...