Wellness at Babson

At Babson, we make the health and wellness of our employees a priority, and are constantly working on creating new ways to educate, promote, and empower members of the community to make positive lifestyle choices.

Babson recognizes that a happy and healthy faculty and staff population leads to a more engaged and productive community. It’s important to us that all employees have opportunities to learn, develop, and grow not only professionally, but also personally.

Wellness programs at Babson encompass physical, mental, emotional, financial, nutritional, spiritual, environmental, social, and intellectual topics in order to provide a holistic approach to health and wellness. Babson’s wellness programs help employees to be well not only while they’re at Babson, but throughout their lives.

Wellness Programs

Please note: Anyone participating in any of the Be Well@Babson programs must sign a waiver before beginning any program or activity. Classes may fill up and are assigned on a first come, first serve basis. All of the Be Well@Babson programs are limited to Babson staff and faculty only (no exceptions, please).

Farmers to You offers a new way to connect to local and sustainable food- with the personal choice and variety of a farmers market and the rhythm of a CSA. Every week, you place an online order for what you (and your family) want, and it is delivered to campus, year-round. Farmers to You offers traditional produce as well as meat/fish, dairy, eggs, fruits, nuts, prepared foods, pantry staples, and breads, with a goal of replacing your regular grocery shopping.

Logistics/Details:

Pick-ups are every Thursday from 4:30-6 p.m. (this is an updated time from past emails)
Minimum order size each week is $40
Operates year-round, with selection changing by the season.
Orders can be suspended for vacations etc., or you can work with a friend to pick items up
You submit your orders online a few days before delivery, and the team at Farmers To You assembles your order and brings it to campus.

For more details, watch their explanatory video, see the FAQs, or contact Rachel Greenberger or Celeste Beyer from Farmers To You

Physical Programs

Boot Camp is a 50 minute, two day a week program designed to improve your cardio endurance, build strength, and induce weight loss. the personalized approach to group exercise makes the class fun and motivating in pursuit of results and your personal goals. Instructor Craig Paris uses a variety of body weight exercises, resistance bands, agility drills, running, and plyometric training to activate multiple muscle groups and burn the maximum amount of calories during class.

This method of yoga has many benefits because it combats stress by utilizing both the mind and the body. The SanSani Mind silences and redirects the mind to become calm and effective in this world of over-stimulation and stress. The SavSani Body Technique brings the body to its ultimate strength and correct alignment by removing any ailments felt within.

Zumba Gold takes the popular Latin-dance inspired workout of Zumba and makes it accessible for seniors, beginners, or others needing modifications in their exercise routine. Zumba Gold builds cardiovascular health by challenging the heart and working the muscles of the hips, legs, and arms with dance moves. Whether you're a veteran exerciser or just starting out-this class is for you!

Join Gina Samwel as she takes you through a variety of movements to elevate your heart rate and warm up muscles with slow moving rhythms and simple choreography and cllisthenic moves, from there you'll move into increased intensity and more complicated moves and/or faster rhythms and toning moves (kickboxing, squats), before a gentle cool down to lower the heart rate with slower rhythms and stretching. Be prepared for all different types of music including salsa, mernegue, cumbia, current top 40 hits, jazz, rock and roll, and swing! This class has something for everyone!

Ginette Mayas Samwel is a certified Zumba instructor who provides healthy, fun classes for all ages but focuses on providing classes geared towards and older population. So join Ginette for a little exercise and a lot of fun!

The Zumba program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Originally created by Alberto “Beto” Perez in Columbia, Zumba is a Latin inspired dance fitness class that combines interval training sessions with fast and slow rhythms to sculpt and tone your body while burning fat. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, and to get hooked. Zumba fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in every calorie-burning, body-energizing class. This class is perfect for all fitness levels and no dance experience is necessary!

Zumba®Toning

For those who want to party, but put extra emphasis on toning and sculpting to define those muscles! It works by utilizing the challenge of adding resistance by using ZumbaToning sticks or light weights, which helps you focus on muscle groups so you (and your muscles) stay engaged! B using lightweight maraca, like stoning sticks or light weights, Zumba Toning enhances sense of rhythm and coordination, while toning target zones including arms, core, and lower body.

So, join Dawn George, certified dance and Zumba instructor, as she leads you through the latest in fitness fun. What are you waiting for? Ditch the workout ... join the party!

Start your day on the right breath! this 45 minute practice will get your energized while helping you build strength and flexibility to face the challenges of the day. Through a combination of sun salutations, standing and seated poses, you will learn how to link breath and movement and keep your mind present. this class will focus on alignment rather than speed so expect to build some heat without exhausting yourself or turning yourself into a human pretzel. Suitable for beginners and those with yoga experience. suggested attire is gym/ypga clothing. no sneakers or socks necessary. Please bring your own yoga mat and a bottle of water.

Join Babson's own Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for a training program which will heighten mental and physical fortitude through felxibility, balance, coordination, conditiong, strength, power and agility drills, exercises, and routines.

Power vinyasa yoga builds physical and mental strength and flexibility. Find your mind body connection as you link breath to movement in a fast-paced, energizing class taught by Lindsey Athanasiou, National Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT 200). This class is accessible to most levels of fitness. Prior experience with yoga is recommended but not required.

Tai Chi is a gentle exercise for body and mind. With its roots in Chinese martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Chi uses slow and gentle movements to build your balance, strength, flexibility and focus. No matter your age or physical condition, you can practice Tai Chi. Scientific studies support the effectiveness of Tai Chi in improving the lives of people with chronic conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Most of all, Tai Chi is relaxing and fun. So come as you are, in comfortable clothes, with flat-soled shoes. You will learn the basic principles of Tai Chi as well as exercises and a short form you will be able to practice on your own. The course will be taught by faculty member Carolyn Hotchkiss, who has studied Yang and Sun style Tai Chi for five years, and is certified to teach Tai Chi for Arthritis.

This weekly meditation class will be led by Babson’s Meditation Instructor, Chris Scheller, who will guide participants through a variety of accessible, secular meditation techniques adapted from the Buddhist tradition. These simple and direct practices cultivate relaxation, mindfulness, and basic wellbeing. By relaxing tension and opening to our sensory experience through these techniques, participants will learn new means of working with stress, difficult emotions, physical discomfort, and the challenges we encounter in our lives. This class is suitable for any experience level.

Chris trained to teach meditation at Harvard University, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 2009. He concentrated his studies on the intersection of meditation and psychology, as well as the history of meditation practices within the Buddhist tradition. He has studied at various ashrams and monasteries in India and the USA including the Tushita Meditation Centre, the Insight Meditation Society, the Zen Peacemakers, and lived and studied at the Cambridge Zen Center.

Would you like to participate in a 5k this year? Prepare for a Turkey Trot Running Event this fall? Or, simply get some exercise, fresh air, stress release, camaraderie and fun on Wednesdays at lunchtime? If your answer is yes to any of the above, please come and join the Babson Walk~Runners! Along with the guided weekly walk/runs on Wednesdays, participants will also be given a suggested workout schedule to follow during each week on their own, or with other walk/runners. At the completion of the program, participants will be motivated & physically preparded to run the distance of a 5k event (3.1 miles).

Who:This program is for walkers who would like to progress to running, and beginner/intermediate runners who would like to participate in weekly group workouts. If you are a walker, this program will progress you to running. If you are a beginner/intermediate runner, this program will prepare you for a 5k distance, and offer the camaraderie of weekly group workouts. the program will be tailored to meet the needs and fitness levels of the participants. By week 9, all participants will be preapred to run 3.1 miles.

When:This 9 week program consists of weekly guided walk/runs on Wednesdays, September 16, 2015 through Wednesday, November 18, 2015 (excluding November 11, Veteran's Day). these training sessions meet at the Webster Center (bottom of the stairs next to the student desk) at 12 p.m. and last approximately 50 minutes. the majority of the workouts will be held outdoors, so please dress accordingly.

How:Anyone interested in participating should register through the Babson Calendar Walk~Runners event (we would like to be able to notify participants of any changes or cancellations that may arise).

Need a little extra motivation to accomplish your fitness goals? Join us for small group training sessions led by trainers from InnerCity Weightlifting as they guide you through a workout designed expecially for you.

Seminars

Learn how to perform CPR for adults, children, and infants, to include the proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). the lesson will also include how to perform abdominal thrusts on choking victims. After completion of the lesson, all students will be certified for 2 years by the AMerican Heart Association. Presented by the Office of Public Safety.

Blending and Juicing....what's the best choice? Both blending and juicing your fruits and vegetables are hot topics right now. Are you wondering that combinations of fruits and vegetables work best? What should you avoid? How often should you have one of these drinks? What about fruit...can it cause you to gain weight? We will cover all of these topics and more. Plus, there will be a few yummy concoctions to taste and recipes for you to try at home.

Instructor Julianne McLaughlin is a Certified Weight Loss and Nutrition Counselor, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Personal Trainer, Pilates, and Spin Instructor. Find out more about Julianne and Whole New U at www.wholenewu.org.

Care giving for elderly parents or relatives is an extremely stressful task – mentally, physically and emotionally. Caregivers are generally ‘on call’ 24/7, with very little help from other family members. Care giving, as many caregivers find out, can be a physically and emotionally demanding, draining and frustrating task that may take its toll on health, spirit and psyche. This seminar will focus on taking care of the caretaker and what individuals can do to help themselves through the difficult ups and downs of caring for others.

This seminar will focus on what foods to incorporate into your life and what to leave by the way side. This is a real life, down to earth comparative talk on what you should be eating, what is OK once in a while and what you should completely avoid. Bring your questions and any food(s) you may be wondering about.

This presentation illustrates how portion sizes have grown over the years and how consuming these “extra” calories contribute to obesity and heart disease. This interactive presentation challenges the audience to “guess-timate” how many calories certain foods are and how much physical activity needs to be done to burn those excess calories.

Babson would like to be able to offer a fall Weight Watchers program for employees! If you are interested in participating and have not contacted HR already, please email hr@babson.edu. The class will only run if we are able to meet the minimum number of required participants (15) and the class would be one hour in length with the time and day of the week TBD.

Basics of Budgeting
Presented by Curt Padilla, CLC
A good budget can make all the difference in your financial success! Learn why budgeting matters, how to make one that works for you, and how to stick to it!
Register now.

The Power of Positive Self Talk
Presented by Dr. Delvina Miremadi
Negative self-talk, which often impedes our everyday lives, can be extremely harmful to your personal relationships, productivity and performance, and overall quality of life. This is why learning to change how we think is crucial to our happiness. It takes time and a conscious effort, but if we can change our "faulty" thinking and replace it with more rational, realistic, and positive thinking, then we will be able to approach the challenges in our daily lives from a more confident, rational, and optimistic perspective.
Register now.

Computer-based, with no audio component. They are anonymous, web-based sessions in which our expert panelists answer your questions online.

Employee Praise for Babson’s Wellness Programs

“I want to thank HR for launching the Masters Swim program. In the first few months I’ve lost a few pounds, feel great, and most mornings I’m at my desk by 8 a.m. ready to go and feeling no pressure to exercise during my lunch hour!”

“I want to thank the Wellness Team for bringing in such a great instructor for Boot Camp. He facilitates a safe, supportive, and yet challenging class, focuses on the individual needs and goals of each participant and encourages all of us to achieve our personal best!”

“I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I love the running program. I have been trying on my own to do the Couch to 5k program for five years now and have failed to complete it. This was the first time I was able to accomplish a life goal and I owe it all to the program and Babson. Without the instructor to coach me and Babson’s great employees to motivate me, this would not have happened. I have lost weight, am more confident in myself, and am happier to be around!”