Health and Wellness Learning Center

About the Health and Wellness Speaker Series

speaker-Meixner-rev2

Since September 2019, our Health and Wellness Speaker Series has hosted 184 presentations that have drawn 3,029 attendees.  Those 184 presentations were given by 63 highly experienced and talented speakers from across our campus and around the globe, including 14 states (AZ, CA, CO, FL, KS, KY, MA, MN, NJ, OR, PA, SC, VA and WI) and eight countries outside of the US (Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, New Zealand and the United Kingdom).  Moreover, 10 of the speakers were faculty members at seven colleges and universities (Quincy College, Rutgers University, University of Arizona, University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Kentucky, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and Wichita State University).

There are seven important dimensions of the UMatter Wellness Wheel: emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual.  Learn how to enhance your wellness in these areas through our extensive and diverse curriculum of health and wellness classes!

All Princeton students, faculty and staff can register!

Registration Instructions

Please register online through the Learning Center to reserve a "seat"*.  After logging in, click "Training By Topic" (top gray menu bar).  Then on the list of topics, click "Health & Wellness."

*Registration is required at princeton.edu/training.


For more detailed information about a class, please go to the Learning Center.

If you have any questions or reasonable accommodation requests, please contact Matt Brzycki at [email protected] or 609-258-3520.

Health and Wellness Class Schedule

So, What's for Breakfast?
Tue, Feb 25, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

This class will sift through the confusion that’s associated with nutrition and weight loss and get right to the “meat and potatoes,” answering the basic question: “What do I have for breakfast?”

Doug Scott, BS, CSCS, is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  At…

Location
Dillon Gym Tower Conference Room
Speaker
How Physical Activity Can Improve Your Balance and Reduce Your Risk of Falls
Thu, Mar 6, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Poor balance causes falls and is a major contributor to the loss of independence, especially as we age.  Evidence indicates that physical activity targeting the systems involved in balance control (sensory, muscular, cognitive) can improve balance, reduce falls and fractures and lead to additional health benefits…

Speaker
Personal Safety: Proven Methods That You Can Take With You Anywhere
Tue, Mar 18, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Learn how to remain safe at all times and how to mitigate risk where possible.  The class will offer insight into the Risk Evaluation and Counter Techniques (R.E.A.C.T.) self-defense program.

Sean Ryder is a sworn police lieutenant with the Department of Public Safety at Princeton University.  He co-instructed…

Location
200 Elm Drive, Room 105 (Department of Public Safety)
Speaker
How to Have a Positive Approach to Exercise, Health and Life
Wed, Mar 19, 2025, 1:00 pm2:00 pm

Who hasn't felt stressed at some point during the past few years?  Among other things, stress often leads to negative thoughts and feelings.  In this class, you'll learn actionable information, including how the power of positive thinking can have a positive impact on exercise, health and life!

Diana Del Garbino

Speaker
Stretching to Help Your Lower Back
Thu, Mar 20, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Do you have occasional stiffness and discomfort in your lower back?  Inflexible muscles – especially in the hips and hamstrings – can make that area vulnerable.  Learn how to do three stretches that may help this condition along with the basics of protecting your lower back both during and outside of exercise.

Bill…

Location
Dillon Gym Tower Conference Room
Speaker
How to Be a Mindful Human
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:00 am12:00 pm

Humankind has evolved through revolutions that shaped how we think, believe and act, leaving mental imprints that once served us but now often hold us back.  These patterns can limit fulfillment, complicate relationships and hinder sustainable growth in today’s world.  The speaker will introduce eight key revolutions and their lasting…

Speaker
Be the Barbell: Bodyweight Resistance Training for Exceptional Strength
Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Contrary to popular belief, with a little creativity, your own bodyweight can provide ample resistance for progressive overload for years and even decades of training. Explore this neglected but fertile terrain between the calisthenics of yore and high-flying routines of Olympic gymnasts. Employ both innovative movements utilizing the latest…

Location
Wilkinson Fitness Center, Indoor Racquet and Recreation Fieldhouse
Speaker
How to Increase Energy, Balance Hormones and Lose Weight . . . Permanently!
Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

This class will offer a multi-faceted approach that details how you can increase your energy, balance your hormones and lose weight.  The information goes beyond the advice of “eat less and exercise more.”  Instead, you'll learn how to make safe and effective changes to your behavior that you can follow for years which will bring you…

Location
Dillon Gym Tower Conference Room
Speaker
Parks Rx: The Physical, Mental and Social Benefits of the Great Outdoors
Wed, Apr 2, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Healthcare providers and public health experts increasingly recognize the physical, mental and social benefits of time spent in the outdoors.  Learn about the “Nature Pyramid” and how/why you should maximize your – and your family’s – exposure to green space each day as well as prioritize more immersive nature experiences periodically.

Speaker
Weight Training for Wellness Plus
Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Has your doctor ever suggested weight training but you’re not sure where to start?  The Wellness Plus Workout features half-hour sessions specifically for the unique health benefits of weight training (as compared to bodybuilding or “boot camp”).  In this class, you’ll learn a starter routine of five exercises that are designed to…

Location
Dillon Gym Tower Conference Room
Speaker
Reducing Risk of Injury to the Shoulder, the Muscle that Bears the Weight of the World
Wed, Apr 9, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

The shoulder is a remarkably complicated combination of four separate joints that work together to create an astonishingly useful range of motion.  The downside of this great mobility is great instability, making the shoulder highly prone to injuries.  Shoulder “problems” can be the result of a blunt trauma but frequently are the…

Speaker
From Milo to Macrocycle: Principles of Progression in Strength Training
Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

The idea of progression has been around since Milo of Croton demonstrated his legendary feats of strength more than 2,500 years ago but is often overlooked today.  This class will explore practical methods for achieving measurable results from your strength-training workouts.  Learn how to examine variables that influence your ability…

Speaker
Common Foot and Ankle Sports Injuries and Prevention
Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Are you a sports or fitness enthusiast?  Discover the secrets to keeping your feet and ankles strong and injury-free!  Join the speaker in a discussion of the most common sports injuries, their causes and practical tips to stay ahead of the game.  Whether you're on the field, court, track or fitness center, this talk will equip…

Location
Dillon Gym Tower Conference Room
Speaker
Live Long and Strong: Reduce Your Risk of Sarcopenia
Thu, May 1, 2025, 12:00 pm1:00 pm

Sarcopenia refers to an age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.  Learn from a 68-year-old strength-and-fitness enthusiast how to reduce your risk of this potentially devastating condition so that you can live longer and stronger!

Matt Brzycki, BS, is the Assistant Director of Campus Recreation, Fitness at…

Location
Frist Campus Center - Multi-Purpose Room A
Speaker

Campus Recreation and UMatter 7 Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness is not merely the absence of illness or distress – it is a lifelong process of making decisions to live a balanced and meaningful life. Princeton University Campus Recreation has adopted the 7 Dimensions of the UMatter Wellness Wheel for Students, Faculty, and Staff to guide our well-being efforts. Each of our program offerings will fall under one or more of these dimensions to help you find the ways to enhance your wellness that work for you. Think about how you have been doing and feeling over the past month, and choose the option below that best describes your recent experiences.

Intellectual: Engaging in creative and mentally-stimulating activities, expanding your knowledge and imparting knowledge to others.

Social: The quality of the relationships you have and how you interact with others.

Physical: Making choices to avoid harmful habits and practice actions that support your physical body, health, and safety.

Spiritual: Having values or beliefs that provide a sense of meaning and purpose to your life, and considering whether your actions align with your values.

Occupational: Finding fulfillment from your work and study, contributing meaningfully, and continuing to expand your skills and strengths.

Emotional: Understanding your own feelings and expressing emotions in a constructive way. It is also the ability to manage stress and cope with life's challenges.

Environmental: Considering the interactions between your environment, your community, and yourself. The environment includes not only the natural environment but also your social environment.

Princeton University has an extensive pool of talented individuals who have expertise in many different spokes of the UMatter Wellness Wheel.  If you’re interested in sharing your professional knowledge/experience in health and wellness with the campus community, please contact Matt Brzycki at [email protected].