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Seated on brightly colored yoga mats and towels, a group of BWHers released the stresses of the work day through five minutes of deep breathing exercises.
“We want you to feel peace, a sense of calm and to become present in the moment as we enjoy feeling each pose,” said Jackie Gagnon, MSN, RN, CCRN, CYT, Cardiac Surgery nurse educator for Shapiro 7, as she led the group into a Hatha Yoga class on the third floor of the Shapiro Center.
Hatha Yoga, a type of yoga suitable for all levels, is just one of the offerings of a new cardiovascular wellness program for BWH employees. Dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease and improving heart health of BWHers, the program offers screenings, classes and programs to educate employees about risk factors for heart disease and to support lifestyle changes that improve heart health.
“We’re very excited to be able to offer these resources to employees,” said Annette Rubin, director of the Cardiovascular Wellness Service. “Many of our employees spend the majority of their time caring for patients. We want this program to support employees in taking care of themselves and making sure their own health is a priority, too.”
In addition to yoga classes, the program also offers stress reduction classes, an employee walking group and healthy cooking demonstrations, as well as online resources to help employees maintain a healthy lifestyle. More than 100 employees expressed interest in these resources during a recent open house showcasing the employee wellness program.
The employee wellness program is one arm of the Cardiovascular Wellness Service, of which JoAnne Foody, MD, is the medical director. The multi-pronged service provides community outreach through screenings and education, online resources and a clinical program at the Watkins Cardiovascular Clinic, in addition to conducting research to further knowledge of heart disease prevention and interventions.
View the course calendar at, www.brighamandwomens.org/cvwellness and sign up through the PikeNotes calendar.