12 July 2021

Healthy Week 2021: a thank you

Healthy Week 2021 has been a fantastic success.

This year’s Healthy Week achieved some impressive statstics

Healthy Week returned last month with a virtual programme of activity aimed at bringing colleagues together and encouraging us all to get out into nature.

This year’s events included more than 37 hours of live activities (15 more than in 2020), plus a range of pre-recorded and written content to help improve colleagues’ physical and mental wellbeing.

A total of 302 people participated in the events, with YouTube content garnering 892 views during the course of the week.

Going the distance

This year also saw the return of some in-person activities in small groups, such as walking and running.

These activities complemented the virtual distance challenge – an inclusive event that encouraged colleagues to get out into nature to see how far we could collectively ‘travel’ from Leeds by combining all distance totals. Six different activities were submitted throughout the week, with walking being the most popular.

One colleague said: “The distance challenge was fantastic as an incentive to be more active. Really worked!”

A massive 1,973 virtual miles were travelled in total – the same distance from campus to Malta or Moscow!

Kate Petty, Physical Activity and Wellbeing Officer, said: “On behalf of the Healthy Week team, I’d like to thank all colleagues that got involved with, and supported, Healthy Week 2021.

“The focus of Healthy Week this year was on bringing our community together, wherever they may be based. The virtual programme was considerably bigger than last year and it was great to be able to offer some in-person activities again.

“I’m pleased to say that some of the activities offered during Healthy Week are continuing during the summer and there are additional activities on offer, both in person and online, to support your physical and mental wellbeing.”

Participants have also highlighted other wellbeing benefits from the week’s events.

One said: “This Healthy Week has been a great reminder to take some time for me!”

Another said: “I had a brilliant experience. It really made a difference to me.”  

The Healthy Week team would love to hear about your experience of this year’s events via this short feedback form, which will help improve future instalments. 

Keeping moving

Healthy Week might be over for another year, but colleagues across campus are still committed to providing health and wellbeing opportunities for colleagues, and there are still lots of virtual – and in-person – activities you can get involved in:

  • A Staff Rounders Club is being set up and informal introductory taster sessions are being held on Wednesday 14 July in Woodhouse Moor. Pre-booking is required by 12 noon on Tuesday 13 July, with places offered on a first come, first served basis.
  • The Get Out, Get Active Wellbeing Run Club is meeting opposite the Refectory steps every Tuesday at 12.05pm during the summer. Pre-booking is required.
  • 15-minute upper body postural sessions aim to tackle aches and pains in your neck and shoulders through gentle exercises, including mobility, stretches and activation. Starting the week commencing Monday 19 July, the class will run every Monday at 12 noon via Teams to help combat the tightness seen with poor posture and desk working. Email Fran Andralojc for more details, or to be added to the class mailing list.
  • 15-minute lower body postural sessions will target lower back pain or stiffness in your legs linked with a sedentary job/lifestyle. Starting the week commencing Monday 19 July, the class will run every Wednesday at 12 noon via Teams. Email Fran Andralojc for more detials, or to be added to the class mailing list.
  • Virtual Qigong sees Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces/sections of Brocade) and Liu Zi Jue (Six Healing Sounds) take place online every Tuesday and Thursday from 4.30-5pm throughout July. Sessions will start again in September. Please email instructor Xiaoping Lu to join the classes.
  • Join colleague Deborah Marcus for a 15-minute session focusing on physical movement, stretching and meditation. The time and number of sessions vary each week, so please email Deborah to be added to the class mailing list.
  • The Edge is offering virtual classes every week during summer. Sessions include legs, bums and tums, Vinyasa yoga and Body Jam.
  • Join the Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Service and take 15 minutes to catch up with yourself, settle and reorientate at one of its virtual rest, reset and resume sessions. These take place from 2-2.15pm every Thursday until the end of July via Zoom. Join via the link above and input Zoom details: Meeting ID: 815 0192 0425 Passcode: +R#1bn
  • Join the ‘Menopause for thought’ café, which creates a safe, respectful and confidential space to discuss the menopause. The cafés are open to everyone, irrespective of age or gender, and no one is advised to follow any particular course of action in them. The final café this summer is taking place from 12 noon to 1pm on Tuesday 20 July. They will begin again in September.
  • Get Out, Get Active offers free running programmes, including a nine-week Couch to 5K guide to get you running 5K without stopping. If you want to increase your distance and set yourself a new challenge, try the 12-week 5K to 10K programme.
  • The Your Home, Your Move hub offers workouts as well as wellbeing and nutrition blogs. They are created by The Edge personal trainers and the Health and Wellbeing Team to support you in staying active and healthy at home.

Please contact the Healthy Week team if you have any questions.

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