Meet MoveWell: A Recap of the Fall Quarter Mixer
Hey there Bouncing Busy Bruins!
We hope you had a chance to stop by the MoveWell Mixer on Thursday, October 11! In typical ThursYAY! fashion, the Court of Sciences was buzzing with activity. Instead of walking past the open spaces, students going to and from their classes engaged with their peers and gigantic versions of childhood games, such as Connect-4, chess, Jenga, and more. ThursYAY! will continue in its second academic year, activating the Court of Science with games and activities presented by UCLA Recreation and MoveWell.
Spike ball in action.
Ryan and Ashwin, first year undergraduate students, played Spikeball for nearly an hour after their class. “We just wanted to come out here and relax,” explained Ryan. He added that he regularly takes movement breaks while studying or working by heading to the gym, explaining that, “It helps me focus and be more efficient.” Ashwin shared that, though he does not partake in activity during study breaks, it is something he is willing to try it out and see how he can implement more activity into his daily life. A MoveWell pod-member overheard another student laughing, “It’s so fun playing silly games on a bigger scale!” It is our hope that activated spaces like this will continue to enrich the student experience by increasing activity and engagement within busy schedules.
Feels like playing chess with Harry, Ron, and Hermione!
Over at the MoveWell tents, pod-members and students enjoyed a sandwich lunch and networking, despite the strong wind blowing through the event. MoveWell pod leaders and Healthy Campus Initiative Staff informed students of movement-related campaigns and opportunities, including the Lyft-UCLA partnership offering students a flat rate of $4.99 for a carpool ride within 5 miles to/from campus.
South Campus students learning about MoveWell resources.
Bruin Bike Share is celebrating its one year anniversary by offering $25 off the annual membership code (use code: BRINCIKE1 for new members). Students will be able to ride for up to 90 minutes a day with the membership. What a great way to be active!
Many students who stopped by the booth were interested in the Yoga pass and GroupX passes, offering unlimited low-cost fitness passes classes throughout the quarter. For UCLA staff and faculty, UCLA REC’s Fit Zone is a fantastic opportunity to participate in fitness classes at zero cost. These programs are just two of the wide variety of affordable and enjoyable ways that UCLA makes it a little bit easier to be active within a busy work and/or academic week. A full listing of courses and programs can be found on the UCLA Recreation website.
Giant bubbles: the wind made it a little tricky, but they were still fun!
Be sure to look out for free yoga on campus throughout each Friday afternoon and early evenings. The program was started by the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA, partnering once again with UCLA Recreation. The location and time of the sessions can be found here. Don’t forget to bring your yoga mat!
Karan Ishii is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Biology. She is the MoveWell Blogger for the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Student Wellness Commission and an intern at the Counseling and Psychological Services. She is passionate about dogs, curry, and skiing!
