Employee Whole Health

Employee Whole Health Monthly Highlights

Mindfulness and Mindful Awareness

Whole Health, mindfulness matters

Whole Health centers around mindful awareness, also known as “mindfulness.” This focused awareness helps you determine what’s most important to you, which is what Whole Health is all about. It is the doorway through which you can connect to all aspects of your health and well-being.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness involves noticing what is happening when it happens. It is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. 

Why is mindfulness important for health?

Practicing mindfulness unlocks the connection between our minds and our bodies. Our thoughts impact our health in a powerful way—our minds affect our bodies, and our bodies affect our minds. For example, sometimes when you think about stressful things, your heart rate and blood pressure go up. But changing your mindset can aid in healing and coping.

Mindfulness improves well-being by reducing stress, developing resilience, managing pain, increasing focus, and improving anxiety and depression. In addition, as you practice mindfulness, you will deepen your appreciation of your own life. 

What does a mindfulness practice involve?

Mindfulness activities may include meditation, grounding, guided imagery, even art and music. Physical mind-body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong have the added benefit of improving strength and flexibility.

Wellbeats

We aim to be very thoughtful about the needs of our EK staff and equipping you with the wellness offerings that you find most useful. Due to the low utilization of Wellbeats, we are opting not to renew our Wellbeats contract at this time. We encourage you to continue using this wellness platform through the contract date of September 30, 2024. If you have ideas of additional wellness offerings you would like to see added, please feel free to reach out to our Whole Health team! We so appreciate your understanding! 

For any questions, please contact us at vhaekhwholehealthconsultants@va.gov.

Employee Yoga

Join Laura or Billie for FREE in-person employee yoga! Laura leads yoga in Leavenworth on Tuesdays from 4:45pm-5:45pm in the Employee Gym. Beginning December 19, 2023 this class will be held in the Schwarzkopf Room and will be held at the same time. Billie leads yoga in Topeka on Thursdays from 4:15pm-5:15pm in the Employee Gym. Put on some comfy clothes and give yourself this hour of self-care! Not able to make it for in-person yoga? Check out our Yoga Quick Breaks that we offer through Teams each Monday at noon and Wednesday at 10am. Let us know if you need a calendar invite or if you any questions: vhaekhwholehealthconsultants@va.gov. Namaste!

Begin Your Personal Journey Today

The Personal Health Inventory is a tool created to walk you through the Circle of Health and assist you in identifying your mission, aspiration, and purpose (MAP).  Once your MAP is clearly identified, you can use this tool to help evaluate where you are and where you'd like to be in your health and wellbeing journey, and consider how your personal goals might best align with the things you value most. Download the file below to get started!

Health Coaching for Employees

Are you ready to prioritize your health and wellbeing, but not sure where to start? VA Eastern Kansas is proud to offer you individualized health coaching to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Our coaches will work with your schedule to find a convenient time to provide accountability, identify proactive goals, and help problem-solve barriers. Coaching can be offered virtually to all staff or face-to-face on the Topeka and Leavenworth campuses. Simply email vhaekhwholehealthconsultants@va.gov to get started!

VAEK Employee Whole Health Classes

Whole Health For You and Me

This course is designed to guide you in exploring Whole Health and considering how it can be used to improve your health and well-being. Together we will identify tools and support to empower your success. In addition, learn about EKHCS resources that are available, for free, to support your health and wellbeing while at work and at home.  

Join this class virtually or one of the in person sessions on your campus in 2024. 

• WH102 Virtual Modularized (2) 1 hr. classes available in March, May and August 2024.
• WH 102 (1) 2hr. class In Person Topeka Campus September 10th, 2024.

For more information or to enroll go the EKHCS Education SharePoint Learning calendar, find the class and date you are interested in and earn free CEUs for your participation. 

Whole Health Coaching Skills for Clinicians

Whole Health Coaching for Clinicians occurs in 2 hour segments over a 4-week period and is designed to be highly experiential, with an emphasis on taking coaching skills back to your clinical practice. The focus of this virtual course is on meeting Veterans where they are in readiness for change, providing information in a Veteran-centered fashion ( a ‘coach’ approach), and supporting actionable steps toward improving their health and wellbeing. 

VISN 15 Offerings

Visit our VISN 15 Sharepoint to explore whole health classes that allow you to engage and learn with your peers from other organizations throughout our VISN. Through these courses, you'll have the opportunity to learn about and explore your own Whole Health as well as how Whole Health fits within your clinical or work practice!

National Offerings

Visit the National Whole Health Education Sharepoint to explore whole health classes that allow you to engage and learn with your peers from other organizations throughout the country. You'll have the opportunity to learn anything from Eating for Whole Health, to Empowering and Equipping staff, to using Whole Health principles to Lead Change in your organization!

Whole Health Minute

A Whole Health Minute involves taking 60 seconds prior to the start of a meeting or huddle to engage in an activity as a team that supports employee health and wellness components within the circle of health.

Activities can be anything from mindfulness or breathing exercises, riddles or jokes, to stretching or gratitude practices. 

The goal is simply to come together as a team, pause and take a moment to kick off autopilot and connect.

Benefits of a 1-minute mindfulness exercise:

• • Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system dissolving stress and anxiety
  • Slows down and calms the mind
  • Activates and strengthens the prefrontal cortex, enhances mindfulness
  • Allows us a moment in our day to consider and prioritize our self-care
  • Creates and strengthens our sense of community together

Ready to get started? Use the Whole Health Minute Practice Guide below to get started now. If you have further questions or would like additional support on implementing a Whole Health Minute, please reach out to vhaekhwholehealthconsultants@va.gov .

Facility Resources

Employee Gym

Pursue your health and physical fitness goals by utilizing the VAEK 24-hour employee fitness center! Enjoy the use of our cardio equipment, free weights, circuit machines, and resistance trainings. If you'd like to gain access to the employee gym, please email vhaekhwholehealthconsultants@va.gov to get started. Employee Fitness Centers are located at the following locations:

Topeka: Building 3, Ground floor at the end of the hall

Leavenworth: Building 71, A150

Employee Whole Health Relaxation Rooms

In the midst of a busy work day, please remember that YOU matter! Our Employee Whole Health Relaxation Rooms are designed to give you protected space away from your duty station to engage in a mindful moment and rejuvenate. In these rooms, please enjoy the use of massage chairs, essential oils, yoga mats, exercise bands, and more! Relaxation rooms can be found in the following locations:

Topeka: Building 2, Room A2; Building 1, C519, G1 Key

Leavenworth: Building B, Room B111; Building 122, Room 240, any VA key will give you access