Spring wellness series begins Jan. 23

01/23/2024 

SUNY Cortland will host the Spring 2024 Conley Wellness Wednesday Series featuring speakers, presentations and other programs intended to help students adjust to college life and maintain healthy habits.

Sponsored by the Health Promotion Office, the series will take place each Wednesday in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge, unless otherwise noted. The events are free and open to the public.

In keeping with a university priority of well-being, each semester SUNY Cortland offers weekly encouragement to the campus and community to pursue a lifetime of good health.

A Spring 2024 Wellness Wednesday poster listing all the events can be found at the Conley Wellness Wednesday webpage.

Events include:

On Jan. 24, yoga instructor Danielle Regan will offer Intro to Yoga from 5 to 6 p.m. and again from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Student Life Center Mind Body Room. This class is open to everyone and combines physical postures, breathwork and mindfulness to create a complete system of exercise for the mind, body and soul. Please wear loose and comfortable clothing to move in. Yoga mats are provided and the class is free. Attendance is first come, first served and is open to the first 40 participants who show up for class. Yoga mats will be raffled off at the end of each session.

Learn what meditation is, why it is helpful, myths surrounding it and experience a variety of meditations on Jan. 31. Emily Quinlan, assistant director of care and outreach services and certified meditation teacher and Lauren Scagnelli, health educator will lead this class from 6 to 6:45 in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Participants will leave with resources to assist their meditation practice. Meditation pillows will be raffled off at the end.                                                                  

On Feb. 7, stop by the Student Life Center lobby between 1 and 3 p.m. for “Microaggressions 101,” explained by representatives from the Multicultural Life and Diversity Office and peer educators from Health Promotion. There will be opportunities to enter to win a gift basket.

Aromatherapy is using essential oils for therapeutic benefit. On Feb. 14 Crystal Meyers, LMT, and health promotion and wellness peer educators will be in Neubig Hall lobby from 1 to 3 p.m. to present samples of essential oils. Free samples are provided.

A national speaker from Active Minds will present “Loud in the House of Myself” on Feb. 21. Join us from 7 to 8 p.m. in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge as Stacy Pershall relates her personal journey from her early childhood, punctuated by severe bullying from her classmates to her struggles with depression and eating disorders in college. Get ready to connect, learn and leave here with a deep understanding and a feeling of community — let's build a community that supports each other.

On Feb. 28, “The Rites and Wrongs of Passage” about hazing will be presented by Jamison Keller, a national speaker from CampusSpeak. The talk will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Corey Union Function Room. Hazing is an often misunderstood and overlooked issue that takes root on our campuses and in our organizations, sometimes without us realizing it. This program is designed to open up dialogue about how a hazing culture begins and changes over time. We will discuss the short and long-term impact a hazing culture has on us morally, physically, psychologically, and legally. Finally, we will develop a plan of action that will include creating prestigious rites of passage that will uphold a strong anti-hazing culture within our organizations.

“Safe Spring Break” tables will be set up on March 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Student Life Center lobby. Free items will be handed out.

Guest speaker Nan Pasquarello, director of career services, will present “Career Well-Being” on our podcast to be released on Soundcloud on March 20. We discuss what career well-being is, how to figure out what career is right for you, how to best prepare and more.

On March 27, meet Cortland Auxiliary Services dietician and health promotion and wellness peer educators at “Challenge Diet Culture” information tables. Stop by Neubig Hall lobby between 1 and 3 p.m. to learn what diet culture is and ways to challenge it. Snacks will be provided.

Make a s’more while learning about consent at “S’more Consent” on April 3. Health promotion and wellness peer educators and members of the It’s On Us Action Team will be on hand from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Neubig Hall lobby.

“Men and Mental Health” is the topic to be discussed by a panel of speakers from 6 to 6:45 on April 10 in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Our panel of speakers will share their experiences as men and discuss their mental health.

On April 17, Marissa Whitaker, prevention educator, will present “Cannabis and Coping” from 6 to 6:45 p.m. in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Learn about common reasons why people use cannabis to cope, why it’s important to have other coping strategies and other ways that students can find relief, aside from cannabis.

“Grow Your Own Vegetable Plant” when you stop by Corey Union steps on April 24 between 1 and 3 p.m. Learn about the benefits of growing vegetable plants and how to care for them. Participants will plant one and take a free vegetable plant when they leave.

For more information or accommodation to attend an event, contact Lauren Scagnelli, health educator, in Corey Union, Room 202, or at 607-753-2066.