Lauren Updyke, Author at The Whole U

Lauren Updyke, MS ACSM HFI Executive Director for Employee Experience and UWHR Chief Wellness Officer

Hi everyone, I’m Lauren, the Executive Director for Employee Experience and UWHR Chief Wellness Officer. My role is to lead our Employee Experience team encompassing The Whole U, UW Combined Fund Drive and WorkLife programs.

I have spent over 20 years of my career in Health and Wellness. I came to the USA from Canada on a track and field scholarship to University of Louisiana. I have my Masters in Exercise Physiology, am a Certified Personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine, and have coached over 10,000 individuals online from all over the world. I worked with the wellness program at Duke University and Hospital for 13 years as fitness and health education manager.

This is my tenth year at UW and I love being a Husky. When I’m not at work, I am either training for a marathon, doing lots of strength training, traveling with my family, or racing from one kid activity to the next.

Ring in the New Year with These January Events

Happy New Year! It’s 2017 and The Whole U is kicking off the year with a ton of opportunities for UW faculty and staff to get healthy and fit, give back, and spend more time with family and friends—all for FREE! If you’ve made a few resolutions this year, we hope we can help you [...]

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Dare to Do 2017 – Master Wellness in 30 Days

When you think of wellness, do you think of merely food and fitness? Are you an avid exerciser like me, yet your bedroom closet is a complete mess and your finances could be a little better? Or, instead, do you focus only on nutrition and budgets because you feel you have no time to exercise [...]

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This Holiday Season, Just Breathe

Thanksgiving is over and we are well on the way to a holiday season full of visitors, gatherings, events, treats, and end of year reports. Over the last three years, The Whole U has published many articles on meditation and mindfulness, so I thought I would draw on some of the best tips and strategies from two [...]

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Whole U Events in November

Check out these exciting Whole U events coming up in November! From enjoying a free Husky men’s soccer game, to making a difference in the classrooms of Seattle by committing to the UW Stair Challenge, to learning how to stay fit during and after your pregnancy, there’s no shortage of exciting, informative, impactful activities to [...]

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UW Summer Throwdown was a Success!

For the past three years, The Whole U has offered a summer fitness challenge for UW faculty and staff and their families to support their summer health goals. Each year we reach more people — in 2014 we had 100 teams participate, and this year the number of teams climbed to over 260! In addition [...]

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Free Photo Day was a Success!

On Sunday August 21 over 2000 UW faculty, staff, students, and their families strolled through our beautiful Seattle campus posing for 14 photographers at various locations for a FREE photo session toward their future holiday card, social media profile, baby announcement memo, engagement celebration photo, family reunion portrait, and even LinkedIn profile. The Whole U celebrates [...]

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Meet the Photographers: FREE Photo Day 2016

Dress up, don Husky gear, or come as you are: It’s time to strike a pose for some of Seattle’s top photographers. Don’t miss our third annual FREE Photo Day from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on August 21. Swing by the UW Seattle campus for a quick shoot or pack a picnic and make a day [...]

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8 Whole U Events in August

It’s August and The Whole U has so many great activities for you, your friends, and family whether you are in the Seattle, Bothell, or Tacoma area! Don’t miss an opportunity to share your hidden talent, try a FREE fitness class, volunteer, or get FREE portraits by local professional photographers.

Throwdown This Summer – UW’s next Fitness Challenge

For the past two summers, The Whole U has organized fun summer fitness challenges to encourage UW faculty, staff, and their families to move more by trying new activities and sharing healthy meals together. Over 1,500 participated each year. This summer we plan on engaging over 2,000 with a NEW team fitness challenge that will [...]

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Meet Our Next Guinness World Record Fitness Instructors!

This year will mark our third annual Guinness World Record attempt at the UW. We will break the record for the Largest Exercise Ball Class in history on Wednesday, May 25, when over 500 participants fill the basketball court in Alaska Airlines Arena. In partnership with UW Sports Medicine and the IMA, our instructors this [...]

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Thank You, UW Nurses!

“They took great care of me during a very scary time.” UW Medical Center Patient Can you think of that nurse that made your hospital stay more comfortable, helped deliver your baby, took care of your parent or child, or even saved your life? The Whole U would like to celebrate all of the incredible [...]

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Get Connected. Get Support. Get Social!

Selfies while out on a run. Group pictures after an impossible feat. A shot from the top of the most picturesque mountain or milestone. These images make me so happy when they pop into my social media feed. I love waking up in the morning while drinking my coffee and seeing who has already put [...]

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