Weekly Wellness Newsletter 2/6/24

February 6, 2024

Your guide to wellness programs and events, recreational opportunities and highlights, timely educational wellness information and service offerings throughout the academic year.

February is American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, which spreads awareness of heart disease and how to keep your heart healthy! Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? Fortunately, it can often be prevented through healthy lifestyle habits and diet.

Throughout the month, Olivia Towne, the Student Health Center’s Nutrition Educator will be sharing tips on how to keep your heart healthy!

Tip #1: Eat more fruits and vegetables for heart health

Fruit and vegetable intake is important to support a healthy lifestyle and healthy heart. The American Heart Association recommends that you get 4 ½ cups of vegetables and 4 ½ cups of fruit daily. Here are some tips to increase your fruit and vegetable intake on campus:

Pre-cut and wash raw vegetables ahead of time and keep grab-and-go fruit easily available as a snack when you are on the move.
Add fruits and vegetables to what you are already eating. If you are ordering from Salsaritas, load your order with lettuce, salsa, and any other vegetables available!
At breakfast pair your entree with a fruit cup, orange, banana, apple, or grab a fruit and yogurt parfait if offered.
At lunch or dinner, pair your entree with a side salad or a veggie tray with hummus.

Get Connected with Nutrition Services at RIT

FreezeFest #RITFreezeFest rit.edu/FreezeFest

FreezeFest continues!

RIT’s annual winter celebration continues through February 10!

There are plenty more fun activities planned this week, including I Love Female Orgasm, the Feel Good Fair, a trip to the Seneca Park Zoo, and Chocolate on Ice (just to name a few!). Be sure to check out the full list of events and activities at rit.edu/FreezeFest.

View FreezeFest Events and Activities

Tell Me Something Good written in black text on a yellow background graphic

Be Heart Smart

Have you ever wanted to know more about your heart health, but are unsure of where to begin? Well, to kick off American Heart Month, we’ve provided a list of questions you can ask your medical provider to learn more about your heart.

How often should I have my blood pressure checked?
What do my blood pressure numbers mean for me?
How does smoking and/or drinking alcohol affect my heart health?
What, if any, risk factors do I have for heart disease?
What, if any, test should I have to learn more about my heart health?
What do you recommend I do between now and my next visit to lower my risk of heart disease?

Wellness Events Calendar

We’ve put together a Wellness Events Calendar to compile all the RIT Wellness events and programs in one easy place to find and refer back to all semester long. This includes CaPS workshops and groups, Mental Health First Aid training opportunities, Bow Wow Wellness, and more.

Be sure to save this page, as we’re always adding new events and programs throughout the semester!

Wellness Events Calendar

Women in Weightlifting
Saturdays, 4-6 p.m.
Meet in Classroom 1325 in the Student Life Center (SLC)

Want to start strength training in supportive group setting? With the help of a WFC Personal Trainer, participants will learn how to use barbells, kettlebells and dumbbells to increase strength, mobility and confidence in the gym. The first hour will include instruction on various strength exercises and the opportunity to get hands-on help with your lifts. The second hour will be an opportunity to lift in the company of other women. All fitness levels are welcome. This program is for women and female-identifying friends only!

FreezeFest: I Love Female Orgasm
Tuesday, February 6
Ingle Auditorium, 8-9:30 p.m.

Join us during this RIT FreezeFest tradition to laugh and learn about the "big O," the most popular topic sex educators Lindsay Fram and Marshall Miller teach about!

Orgasm aficionados and beginners of all genders are welcome to come learn about everything from multiple orgasms to that mysterious G-spot. Whether you want to learn how to have your first orgasm, how to have better ones, or how to help your partner, Lindsay and Marshall cover it all with lots of humor, plenty of honesty, and an underlying message of sexual health and women's empowerment.

Event swag and light refreshments will be held in Fireside Lounge. Are you coming?

Learn more

FreezeFest: Feel Good Fair
Wednesday, February 7
Fireside Lounge, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

It's time to feel good about our health and wellness! Join us in exploring health and wellness resources available to RIT students both on campus and throughout the Rochester community!

Learn more

Tea and Tinder
Thursday, February 8
SAU 1510 (1829 Room), 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, Grinder, OkCupid and more! Where do you start with Dating Apps and why would you use them? Grab a hot beverage and chat with Health Promotion’s Student Wellness Ambassadors about navigating dating in the age of hook-up culture!

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

Friday, February 16
Ingle Auditorium, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, February 17
Ingle Auditorium, 7-10 p.m.

Sunday, February 18
Ingle Auditorium, 3-6 p.m.

Get off the beaten path and explore the edge of believable with captivating stories from the 48th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you in this year’s Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour. From exploring remote landscapes to adrenaline-fueled action sports, films selected for the 2023/2024 World Tour are sure to captivate and amaze you. Be moved. Be inspired. Don’t miss out! A different line-up of films each night, and all films are captioned. Sign language interpreters available by request. Tickets on Sale now.

Learn more

Spring Intramural Tournaments

Join us for single-day tournaments showcasing a variety of activities! This spring, we are offering Pickleball, Table Tennis, and Cornhole. Tournaments are a great way to relax and try something new!

Pickleball (Doubles) – February 24 | 6-11 p.m.
Table Tennis (Doubles) | March 23 1-6 p.m.
Cornhole (Doubles) | April 20 1-6 p.m.

Registration will open three weeks before the tournament begins!

Monthly Fitness Clinic: Cardio Synergy
Sunday, February 25
SLC Lower Dance Studio, 12-2 p.m.

Break free from the monotony of conventional cardio routines! Cardio Synergy introduces you to a world of possibilities. Our expert WFC trainers are dedicated to empowering you with the knowledge to program cardio for specific goals. Whether you are looking to lose weight or gain muscle, we’ve got the insights to guide you on your fitness journey!

Ongoing Education Opportunities

Mental Health First Aid at RIT

RIT Wellness is excited to offer all students, faculty, and staff members of the RIT community the opportunity to participate in Mental Health First Aid training sessions this spring.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training course, in which you will:

Learn how to describe and talk about mental health, openly and non-judgmentally
Learn how to approach, reassure, and support a fellow RIT community member when they may be struggling with their mental health
Explore what self-care looks like for you with practical applications of self-care

To participate in a Mental Health First Aid training session, you can either request a session for your group or register for a scheduled session. If you have any questions, please contact Beau Gibbs at bmghcw@rit.edu.

Learn more about Mental Health First Aid at RIT

For additional events and event information, go to rit.edu/events.