WINTER 2020 NEWSLETTER

Hello OISE! Welcome to the Winter 2020 edition of our OISE Wellness Newsletter!

Inside this newsletter is a preview of what you can look forward to for the rest of the session with OISE Wellness. This newsletter is intended to connect students, faculty and staff to opportunities to practice and learn about the various wellness activities available at OISE and the University of Toronto.

There has been some room changes and new events added, so please read carefully. 
DAILY REMINDERS AND UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For daily event reminders and updates about everything related to OISE Wellness, follow us on social media! Find us under @OISEWELLNESS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 
UPCOMING STAFF WELLNESS EVENTS
OISE Winter Wellness Day
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

There will be a number of activities and workshops running from 11am-2pm. More details will be posted on the CAO - HR website as they become available. 

Back by popular demand, we will be offering 15-minute chair massages with therapists from Massage in Motion throughout the day!

Registration information will be available in early February for:
  • Intermittent Fasting and Nutrigenomics Workshop with Nutritionist Jill Hillhouse
  • Laughter Yoga with Lillian Saggiorato
  • Too Busy to Be Still? Simple Techniques to Calm Your Distractions with Naraindra Prashad
  • Dance Class (dance style TBD) led by our CAO, Helen Huang
Monthly Dancing
Last Wednesday of each month | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | 8th Floor South

Join Helen Huang and Judy Silver as they teach members of our community various dances from around the world, including Zumba, line dancing, etc. Get ready to move and have some fun during your lunch hour.
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Workshops for Faculty & Staff

10 Keys to Happier Living 

Offered January 29 | 12:00 – 1:30pm | 215 Huron Street, Room 610

What Does Happiness Mean to You? What Things Make You Happy?
In this interactive wellness workshop, we’ll reflect on 10 Keys to Happier Living based on a review of scientific research relating to happiness. Engage in reflective conversation and learn tips to put the science of well-being into practice. Learn practical action steps we can take in our daily life to support happier living.
Hart House Art Collection Art Tour – Contemporary Art 

Offered January 31 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Hart House Information Hub, 7 Hart House Circle 

Join us for a drop-in tour of the Hart House Permanent Collection. Participate in a guided walking tour of the Collection on display in Hart House and have an insightful exchange with our knowledgeable docents.
OISE's ACADEMIC SOCIAL CLUB
(AcSoC)
OISE's Academic Social Club (AcSoC) is a peer-led group that group organizes curated activities and social events, hosts student-focused discussions, and leads excursions throughout Toronto. Members share information about activities, events, and services that are relevant to graduate students at OISE. Events are low-or-no-cost and membership is free. 
UPCOMING EVENTS

Safe Space for Race: Race and Land
Tuesday, January 28, 6:30pm - 8:30pm | Nexus Lounge
 
Join them on Facebook
Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE)
The Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE) Initiative provides OISE students, TDSB educators and many others with an introduction to the concepts and practices of ESE to integrate in your teaching and learning at OISE, our partner schools and beyond!  

UPCOMING EVENTS

OISE's Climate Action Summit
Friday, January 31 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | OISE Library

In response to the growing climate crisis, please join us at the OISE  Climate Action Summit  on Friday January 31, 2020 from 9am-12noon in the OISE Library. All OISE staff, students and faculty are invited and welcome to participate!
 
Sponsored by the Dean’s Office, this roundtable event is an opportunity to draw on the knowledge, skills, and expertise of our community to identify ways to shift curriculum, programs, operations, culture and outreach towards an environmentally sustainable OISE—an important goal in our Academic Plan.
 
A team from the CTL Climate Action Working Group will facilitate this event, encouraging participants to work collaboratively on a set of recommendations to inform an OISE-specific Climate Action Plan. As spaces are limited,   registration for this event is required. 
Changing the Climate: Creating Hope through Environmental Art 
Wednesday, February 19 | 12:10 am - 12:50 pm | FE134, 371 Bloor St. West

Interested in changing the conversation around the climate crisis towards a more positive and sustainable future? This lunch-time workshop will provide an introduction to hopeful, creative forms of climate action. Come to learn more about the environmental art movement, and experience it first hand by contributing to OISE’s next environmental art installation for the main stairwell. Also gain an intro to art-making with clay as a form of mindfulness. No previous skills in art-making are necessary!
2019/20 MINDFUL LIVING & WORKING LUNCH & LEARN SERIES - FALL 2019
Please note that all events in the Lunch & Learn series require attendees to register in advance through the OISE Wellness website.
Elli Weisbaum: Building & Broadening Resiliency: Integrating Mindfulness into Education

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 12:10 – 12:50 PM | Room 12-199 (OISE)
In this session, learn how to increase well-being and combat burn-out, anxiety and stress. You’ll also explore foundations for how to develop your own personal practice, along with building a tool-kit of practical activities you can apply in the classroom and workplace.  To read more about how Elli integrates mindfulness into her experience as a graduate student visit her blog . 
Naraindra Prashad: Too Busy to Be Still? Learn Simple Techniques to Calm Your Distractions

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | 12:10 – 12:50 PM | Room 12-199 (OISE)

Join Naraindra as he explores the culture of "being busy" while sharing some simple transformative techniques for "being still." Comfortable clothing is recommended as participants will engage in some chair yoga, stretching and breathing exercises as a transformative step to quiet the mind and body and help cope with the distractions of everyday life.
Jennifer Brandi: iREST Yoga Nidra

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 | 12:10 – 12:50 PM | Room 12-199 (OISE)

iRest (Integrative Restoration) Yoga Nidra is a research based transformative practice of guided meditation and deep relaxation.  Research  continues to show that iRest Yoga Nidra effectively reduces: PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Chronic Pain, & Chemical Dependency.

During the session, participants will be introduced to IRest basic core concepts and have the opportunity to experience a practice to develop Inner Resource and to introduce Body Sensing. Participants are asked to dress comfortably and arrive ready to relax.

A Co-Curricular Credit Opportunity for Students: Cultivating Personal Health & Wellness through Mindfulness
The Cultivating Personal Health & Wellness through Mindfulness program is an opportunity for students to become aware of, develop knowledge about, and practice mindfulness for their overall health and well being. The program is intended to improve one's general well-being to impact both their academic and personal lives. Successful students will have attended 10 or more of the available OISE Wellness sessions throughout the year. Sessions can include Mindful Moments, Lunch & Learn sessions, yoga or other pre-approved activities for this program. This opportunity is available to all OISE students.

Since the start of the program in September, over 100 students are currently registered in the program and it's growing every day!
Training Opportunities
The University of Toronto is committed to supporting a culture that promotes mental health. The "Identify, Assist, Refer" approach guides you in identifying someone experiencing a mental health challenge, offering assistance, and facilitating help-seeking behaviour.

The IAR Online a great training for students, faculty and staff, and only takes about 30 minute to complete!

Mindfulness Without Borders
The benefits of social/emotional learning (SEL) cannot be denied. In fact, studies have shown that students who have SEL as part of their curriculum are higher achieving, better behaved and have more positive relationships with the adults in their lives. This course is designed for educators, social workers, health professionals, and/or anyone else interested in integrating Social and Emotional Learning and secular mindfulness in their individual school or workplace environments. Participants will have garnered the skills and knowledge needed to successfully implement Mindfulness Without Borders’ (MWB) Mindfulness Ambassadors Council (MAC), in both youth and adult populations.
Learners are eligible to receive a Mindfulness Ambassador Council Program Facilitator certification from Mindfulness without Borders.
True Blue Recognitions
Take two minutes and recognize the everyday contributions of OISE faculty and staff!

This recognition program aims to profile staff and faculty who in their own way make invaluable contributions to OISE and the University of Toronto each and every day.

U of T wants to hear from you about the amazing people you know at OISE! This award is designed to showcase and acknowledge our staff and faculty who are loyal and committed to making this University a great place to be. They are ‘True Blue'.

The nomination process is simple: all it takes is a couple of minutes to complete this  short online form . Selection criteria is listed on the  True Blue Award  page .

The benefits of social/emotional learning (SEL) cannot be denied. In fact, studies have shown that students who have SEL as part of their curriculum are higher achieving, better behaved and have more positive relationships with the adults in their lives. This course is designed for educators, social workers, health professionals, and/or anyone else interested in integrating Social and Emotional Learning and secular mindfulness in their individual school or workplace environments. Participants will have garnered the skills and knowledge needed to successfully implement Mindfulness Without Borders’ (MWB) Mindfulness Ambassadors Council (MAC), in both youth and adult populations.
Learners are eligible to receive a Mindfulness Ambassador Council Program Facilitator certification from Mindfulness without Borders.
Offered every Thursday, 12:10 – 12:50 pm
September 12, 2019 - April 3, 2020
Room 8-170 (location may change, please visit OISE Wellness website to confirm)

Join us weekly to practice secular mindful meditation techniques 
that will increase your relaxation, resiliency and focus.

*Late arrivals and early departures welcome.
Sponsored by ORSS
Offered every Wednesday, 12:10 - 12:50 pm
September 11, 2019 - March 25, 2020
Room 8-220

These sessions provide a space intended to explore the basic practices of mindfulness, promoting a personal and non-judgmental connection with our present experience. In this way, it looks to provide tools to address the difficulties that arise in the course of life.
Sponsored by ORSS
Offered every Monday, 12:40 - 1:15 pm | JICS 363 (JICS)
every Tuesday, 12:10 - 12:50 pm | 8-180 (OISE)
AND every Thursday, 4:10 - 4:50 pm | 5-230 (OISE)
September 19, 2019 - March 26, 2020

This is a space to reconnect with our body, mind and emotions through the practice of various mindfulness techniques, with the purpose of increasing inner harmony and overall well-being. Everyone is welcome!
O THER WELLNESS EVENTS AT U OF T
Mindful Moments Yoga
Offered every Thursday, 4:10 – 5pm, Multi-Faith Centre, Room 208

Kundalini Yoga
Offered twice every Tuesday, 10:45 – 11:30am, Emmanuel College, Chapel, Victoria College and 12:10 – 12:55pm, Multi-Faith Centre, Quiet Room
Subscribe to the Our Mindful Campus Newsletter
This newsletter connects students, faculty and staff to opportunities to practice, learn and participate in the mindfulness movement at the University of Toronto.
ABOUT OISE WELLNESS COMMITTEE
As a priority outlined in the OISE Academic Plan 2017-2022 , we established the OISE Wellness committee in 2018 to develop a wellness program that supports the health and well-being of the OISE community.

Learn more about the OISE Wellness Committee and have your say on the work we do to serve the community.

If you would like to subscribe to the OISE Wellness Listserv, send a message to [email protected] and ask to be put on the list.