UW Code Lavender for Healthcare Workers
Hi healthcare heroes! The Whole U is the University of Washington’s wellness engagement program and we want to offer support. Taking care of yourself allows you to take better care of others!
Below, you’ll find guidance to enhance your mental and physical strength as you continue to care for your patients. Whether you complete a short workout, listen to a playlist or do a 5-minute meditation, it is crucial to call a Code Lavender and take the time for self care when you are feeling uneasy or stressed.
Table of Contents
Other Ways to Support Yourself
Meditations
Try the following audio meditations anytime during the day to cope with feelings of anxiousness and provide a sense of calm.
Fitness
Try these two workouts that can be done anywhere and without equipment. This upper body fitness workout can be done anywhere. Perform each exercise for 30 seconds and continue the workout for 10-20 minutes.
The following lower body fitness workout can be done anywhere. Perform each exercise for 30 seconds and continue the workout for 10-20 minutes!
Yoga for Nurses
Yoga with Kelsey Henrickson
Kelsey Hendrickson is a registered yoga teacher and yoga therapist (AAYT), with a BA in Psychology, and a Masters degree in Psychotherapy (in progress). She began teaching yoga in 2012, first in New York City and now in Sydney, Australia. Her passion is catering yoga and meditation practices to suit the unique needs of her students while helping them to unwind and de-stress. Her classes include a mixture of breath awareness, mindfulness practices and a little philosophy, delivered with a down to earth attitude. Kelsey hopes that by sharing these powerful practices she can help others flow through the challenges of life with grace.
Yoga with Daiva
Daiva has had a lifelong passion for movement and healing. As a hula dancer for 14 years, she fell in love with the connection between the mind and body. She began studying yoga at an early age and deepened her practice upon moving to the mainland from Hawaii, finding it to be the perfect replacement for the movement and spiritual connection she felt through hula. She returned to Kailua in 2013 to complete her 200-hr teacher training under the beloved mentorship of Brigitte Snyder and Martin Doluz at Aloha Yoga Kula.
Music
Unwind, relax, and stress less with The Whole U’s curated playlists to help you feel at peace. From soft and mellow tunes to upbeat songs that you can’t help but smile to, we’ve got your ears covered. Listen while working, in the car, on a walk, or wherever you are! Click here to access all 5 Stress Less playlists and press play!
Why music you ask? Here at The Whole U, we are on a constant quest to connect with the UW community prioritizing your health and wellness. Music contributes significantly to health and wellness beyond the enjoyment you feel listening to a favorite tune. Have you ever wondered why you can’t help but smile and dance when a song you love comes on? Or why certain types of music make it so that your afternoon of work seems to fly right by? Read more here.
Nutrition
Let’s talk about an important physiological necessity – FOOD. Check out this grocery guide that will help you simplify and take the stress out of meal planning and preparation. Sound like your jam? Read on!
You can also take the guide with you on-the-go with this simplified, handout version full of methods to simplify your meal planning, grocery shopping and pantry stocking.
Please contact us at wholeu@uw.edu if you have further additions for our healthcare heroes to add to this page!