June Puett leads the class in the movements of tai chi.
Upcoming programs
Nutrition Knowledge
11 a.m.-noon and noon-1 p.m. Tuesday. University Center Tennessee Room. Learn guidelines about nutrition with ingredients to put together a healthy yogurt parfait. Grab-and-go containers will be provided as well as several toppings to explore what makes a perfect snack for you. Sign up by Sunday. Spots limited to the first 15 participants for each session. Register: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CABAD2AA0FBC07-utcnutrition.
Mind Over Mats
Noon and 1 p.m. Monday, April 11. Location To Be Determined.
- Practice yoga with an instructor to learn new poses and stretches to do in the office or at home for an active and beneficial break from responsibilities.
- Receive a pamphlet to take home that demonstrates a yoga flow with familiar poses and stretches.
- Engage in an opportunity to be physically active in a peaceful setting with other employees.
Bring your own mat or beach towel. Modifications will be demonstrated and employees with all experiences and physical ability are encouraged to join. Register here.
Sleep Health
10 a.m.-noon. Tuesday, April 19. University Center Ocoee Room
Complete a sleep assessment survey to better understand your quality of sleep and personal sleep habits.
- Discuss results with a graduate student from the Department of Psychological Science. Go over sleep assessment results, hear sleep experiences, receive recommendations for better sleep habits and other resources for additional information.
- Take home a small sleep package with goodies to encourage healthy sleep habits like tea and tip sheets for continued learning.
They pushed the mountain and made the pancakes then flipped them. They turned into windshield wipers and played the lute.
It was all to reduce stress and improve overall health.
A group of faculty and staff from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga spent the lunch hour on Thursday practicing the moves of tai chi, a form of martial arts that doesn’t involve punching and kicking an opponent.
“This is a slow, gentle, relaxed process,” instructor June Puett, an extension agent with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, told the class. “A lot of this is about mindfulness, mental effort.”
She proceeded to show the group, among other exercises, how to breathe properly and use tai chi push, pull, step and sway movements. Some movements help reduce arthritis pain ands prevent falls by teaching balance. No one had to get down on the floor and twist themselves into knotty positions.
“Have fun with it. You’re getting exercise. You’re building up core strength. You’re working on coordination,” Puett said.
“Y’all are all looking good for just first timers, I’ll tell you. I’m sure it’s because y’all are in higher education.
“Why are y’all laughing?”
The class was part of the UTC Employee Wellness program, which assists with physical, social, emotional, financial, career and community problems for faculty and staff. Casey Lee, the only man in the class of 12, described the exercise as “fun.”
“It felt good. It was relaxing. Kind of a nice midday break,” said Lee, who works in UTC Information Technology. “I wanted to kind of try it out. Tai chi sounded interesting.”
It was the first time Nancy Mullins, assistant director of campus campaigns and events in the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, had ever tried tai chi.
“It was great,” she said. “It’s supposed to be low impact and I do have some arthritis in my knees and I thought it might be helpful to help stretch it out a little bit.”
