by Madeline Alvis
Staff Writer
Kate Nelson (C’16) and Kaitlyn Roberts (C’16) are co-directors of the Wellness House located in Unit 1 of the townhouses on Mississippi Avenue. One of their main projects this year is offering meditation, abs, and yoga classes for students. The Wellness House is open for meditation Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1-2 p.m., Tuesday at 8 p.m., and Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Ladies Abs Class is Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and yoga classes are offered Friday and Sunday from 3:45-5 p.m. Each class has a different atmosphere. The Wednesday Ladies Abs Class is 25 minutes of intense but rewarding ab work, meant to create a safe place for women to exercise. According to Roberts, the “Funky Friday Flow” yoga class is “casual and people wear fun tie dye work out clothes and detox from the week.” After the weekend, the “Slow Flow” Sunday class focuses on starting the week in a happy, peaceful state. So far, there have been about 7-10 people attending the classes, but Nelson and Roberts encourage all interested at any fitness level to attend. Classes are free, but donations are accepted for local charities or future Wellness House events.
Along with daily classes, the Wellness House residents are busy organizing other events. Saturday, September 13, the house hosted an Ayurvedic meal. This Indian “mindful meal” focused on truly experiencing and tasting one’s foods. This colorful meal consisted of spices such as turmeric, cumin, and ginger, and attendees were encouraged to eat slowly and meditate. A “Wellness Week” with runs and various talks about health is in the works. Nelson said, “We want to bring together all aspects of wellness. Not just physical wellness or nutrition, but also mental, spiritual, sexual, and environmental wellness.”
The residents are also planning aromatherapy sessions coupled with discussions about what ingredients should be avoided in cosmetics. They hope to have tutorials on making homemade body products as cheaper and safer alternatives. Although a lot is happening at the Wellness House, its mission remains to be a safe, fun, and peaceful place for all students. Roberts hopes that everyone will feel invited to participate in their upcoming events. “You don’t have to know what you are coming to do because you are going to learn about it,” she says. For more information about the Wellness House, stop by their open house on Thursday, September 25 from 7-9 p.m. and follow their Facebook page.