July Employee Wellness Opportunities

Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 8:14am

TO: Sonoma State Employees
FR: Employee Wellness Program, Payroll and Benefits

July is full of opportunities to recharge, reconnect, and recommit to your well-being. We invite you to explore this month’s lineup of wellness offerings - there’s something for everyone!

Salsa Dance Class
Dennis Goss will be teaching a 4-week salsa dance class beginning July 21st for staff and faculty. These sessions are continuous and will cover basic musicality and partnership skills along with learning fun salsa steps. No partner or experience necessary. Bring comfortable indoor shoes that are not worn outside. Please join us in Ives 80 from 12:05 to 12:55pm on the following Tuesdays:

7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11

Yoga and Pilates Classes
Lunchtime yoga and pilates classes are open to all experience levels and offer a great mid-day break to stretch, reset, and connect with colleagues. Please join us in Ives 80 from 12:05 to 12:55pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Yoga mats are available.

Mondays: Pilates
Wednesdays: Meditative Yoga
Thursdays: Meditative Yoga

*Please note Yoga will be canceled on July 1 and 2, 2026*

Opportunities to Get Moving in Local Community
Get ready to lace up your sneakers as the SSU Employee Wellness Program has secured an exclusive discount code for a local running event featuring distances for all levels. Whether you are a seasoned runner or wanting to try something new, you are invited to join us and walk, run or even skip your way to the finish line.

Clo Cow Half Marathon (October 11)
5k, 10k, half marathon
https://www.clocowhalf.com/
26SSU = 15% discount for any distance

Wellness Webinars
Kaiser Permanente is offering a range of wellness webinars open to all employees, regardless of your health plan. Most sessions are available on-demand for six months after the live stream, with the exception of the Calm Meditation Sessions, which are only available live.

Move It Mondays - These 30-minute classes are designed to boost both your body and your mind and are available for all fitness levels. These classes will include a gentle warm-up, energizing movement, and a cool down.
July 6 & 20, 2026 (Noon - 12:30pm)
Register

Food and Mood - Understand how the foods you eat affect brain chemistry, mood, and emotional well-being.
July 15, 2026 (Noon - 1pm)
Register

Eat Well, Live Well - Learning about the food we eat and how it affects the mind and body is an important step to better health. In today's webinar the most common truths and myths about eating well will be explored. You will learn tricks and tips for creating your own healthy eating action plan such as eating mindfully, creating a healthier plate or making healthy snack choices.
July 16, 2026 (Noon - 1pm)
Register

Snack Attack! - Staying ahead of your hunger at home, at work, and on the go starts with having healthy snacks on hand. In this live cooking demonstration, we will explore how to create simple, satisfying snacks with long-lasting energy, including a demonstration of four quick and balanced recipes.
July 20, 2026 (Noon - 1pm)
Register

Self-Care Across Your Lifespan - Practice mindfulness and other stress management techniques, review best practices for restorative sleep, set goals for self-care, and explore the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine as it relates to self-care.
July 23, 2026 (12:30 - 1:30pm)
Register

Calm Meditation Sessions
Join for 15 minutes to de-stress, reset, and renew yourself.

July 8, 2026 (10 - 10:15am) - Join here at the time of event
July 22, 2026 (2 - 2:15pm) - Join here at the time of event

Employee Access to the Campus Recreation Center
Employees have access to the Campus Rec Center, which offers a wide range of fitness, recreational and wellness resources that support physical and mental wellbeing. The Rec Center also provides opportunities to connect and build community outside of your work space. More information about the Rec Center’s facilities, classes, and hours of operation can be found through the Campus Recreation Rec Portal. Instructions for activating your employee access are available on our website.

Additional information regarding our SSU Employee Wellness programs can be found here: https://hr.sonoma.edu/payroll/employee-wellness