University Mental Health Day

Thursday 1 March is University Mental Health Day with the theme of “community”. To mark the day, we are running some fun activities to promote the benefits of exercising and playing games together for mental wellbeing. The activities are free, and aimed at NDS staff and students.

Botnar Research Centre

Fitness session

11:45-12:30pm

Exercise is better together! This session will involve (depending on fitness levels and preferences) meeting at the Botnar main entrance to jog down to South Park to warm up, some activities in pairs, core strength and body weight exercises, and running drills, followed by some relaxing stretches to cool down, and a jog/walk back to the Botnar for 12:30. Please email Claire Thomson to book your place.

Please note: Due to the snowy conditions, this session has been postponed until Thursday 8 March (weather permitting).

Yoga

1:15-1:45pm

G54 meeting room

Enjoy a sequence of yoga postures designed to stretch and strengthen muscles, increase your flexibility and energy, and help improve your mental wellbeing. The yoga poses will be practiced standing up with no mats. Please email Louise King to book your place.

John Radcliffe Hospital

Wellbeing walk

12:30-1.15pm

Got a Fitbit? Need more steps in your day? Then join us for a lunchtime stroll around Bury Knowle Park and walk your way toward better physical health and mental wellbeing! Meet Gemma Horbatowski at the main entrance of the JR Hospital (outside M&S) at 12.30pm. Non-Fitbit users welcome too!

Please note: Due to the snowy conditions, this session has been postponed until Thursday 8 March (weather permitting).

Games Room

Play your way to mental wellbeing. Giant Jenga, Twister and various board games will be available in the NDS Interaction Room on Level 5 throughout the day.

Table tennis

Borrow the gear from Louise and take advantage of the two table tennis tables on the JR grounds.

Old Road Campus Research Building

Yoga at your desk

12:00-12:20pm

Ludwig Seminar Room

Sitting at a desk for hours on end places unnecessary strain on the lumbar spine, overstretches the mid to upper back, and shortens the chest and hips - leading to neck, shoulder, and low back pain. Give yourself an energy boost and focus your mind for the day ahead with a simple yoga routine. You will learn a sequence of yoga inspired stretches to relieve stress and increase flexibility, which you’ll be able to do at your desk anytime. The poses will be practiced sitting on a chair and standing up. Please email Tarryn Ching to book your place.

Wellbeing walk

12:30 – 1:15pm

Got a Fitbit? Need more steps in your day? Then join us for a lunchtime stroll around South Park and walk your way toward better physical health and mental wellbeing! Meet Tarryn Ching at the back entrance of the Old Road Campus Research Building at 12:30pm. Non-Fitbit users are of course welcome too!

Please note: Due to the snowy conditions, this session has been postponed until Thursday 8 March (weather permitting).