Building a healthier you

Do you want to become a healthier you? Southern Arizona VA Health Care System(SAVAHCS) has services that can help you achieve your desired health goal. Most of us know that we should eat healthier, move more, stop smoking, not drink so much, but sometimes we just don’t know where to start, how to start, or maybe how to do what we want to do. SAVAHCS offers health and wellness classes and resources to help you stay healthy. Find out how to get help quitting tobacco use, preventing disease, and managing your weight.

Movement Classes

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&R)

Back In Action: Mondays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bend and Breathe Yoga: Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To enroll, please call ension 1-2103

MOVE!

Be Active and Move (must be enrolled in MOVE classes or TeleMOVE): Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.

To enroll or for questions, please call

Health Promotion Classes

Smoking Cessation: Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in building 90, Mental Health Clinic in the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program Room
Rethink Your Drinking: Individual support to reduce your alcohol intake
Individual Coaching to help you improve your overall health

To enroll or for questions, please call ension 1-2985

Mindfulness Class

VA Calm Class: "A group to explore and deepen recovery"

To enroll or for questions, please call ension 1-2985

Whole Health

At SAVAHCS, the Whole Health team empowers and equips you to take charge of your health, well-being and quality of life. Whole health goes beyond illnesses, injuries and disabilities and focuses on your values, goals and overall health. Whole health includes self-care and complementary therapies along with conventional medical care.

For more information on Whole Health classes and resources, please call ension 1-4971.

You can download and complete the Personal Health Inventory at any time to find out what is important to you.

Coaching

Coaching is a way of effectively empowering Veterans to find their own answers, encouraging and supporting them on the path toward well-being. Coaching is collaborative, solution-focused, result-oriented and facilitates the Veteran toward self-directed learning, personal growth and goal attainment. Individual coaching is by appointment. It focuses on SMART goal setting.

Ear Seeds Parts 1 & 2

Ear seeds are actual mustard seeds attached to tape that can be placed on five specific points on each ear. The placement of seeds on these 5 points have been shown to reduce chronic pain. That is the reason you would use ear seeds. These classes teach participants to do this for themselves as these 5 points are the same points used in Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA). While BFA may provide quite immediate and intense feelings of relief, your response to ear seeds may be less so, but many people still do find they get relief. Using ear seeds is safe and effective. Using one’s own body’s natural healing abilities is very liberating for many. You may find that taking part 2 a few days to a week after part 1 works better; allows time for the concepts to be more fully understood.

Gentle Yoga

A movement class for people who don’t move very much. We will spend time doing gentle stretching exercises while seated on a chair, easy balancing exercises while standing next to or behind a chair, and some simple strengthening postures using a chair or a wall for support. Significant others are welcome.

Pain Skills

The 3rd and 4th Thursdays of the month we will have demonstrations of self-care pain reduction tools (self-massage, self-acupressure, EFT/tapping, aromatherapy, etc.) Significant others are welcome.

Tai Qi /Qi Gong

Qi gong is a form of exercise that involves posture, breathing, and mental focus. Qi gong will help you reduce stress, build strength, increase energy, and enhance your immune system. Significant others are welcome.

You’re Not Your Pain

A two-part series - Overview of Integrative Pain Management; Active vs. Passive Pain Management; Understanding Pain Process; Biology and Stress factors; Pacing and SMART Goal Setting; Communication Awareness and Stress; An Introduction to Whole Health. Call the Ironwood Clinic at to get scheduled

Introduction to Whole health

The class is a 1-hour virtual series that talks about the Whole Health program, how to use it and get scheduled for classes.

Pathway to Whole Health

The Class is a 2-hour virtual two part series that helps you discover your personal health plan and goals. You can even invite your spouse or caretaker.

Class Name Class Description Information for scheduling

Anti-Inflammatory Diet 4 week class where you will learn about a dietary pattern highly effective in reducing the risk of disease associated with chronic inflammation. 520-792-1450 ext 1-2450

DASH Diet Learn about how heart healthy eating can help manage blood pressure & promote overall health. TBA

Diabetes Nutrition Class Learn what diabetes is, the effects of diet on diabetes management and education on meal planning for diabetes. 520-629-4881

Healthy Teaching Kitchen Basics Series Six week virtual series that will walk you through food safety, cooking skills, and how to prepare and store balanced and healthy dishes from snack to breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. 520-792-1450 extension 1-4124

Healthy Teaching Kitchen Get inspired with this virtual cooking demonstration. Different recipes every month. Recommend completing the basic series first. 520-792-1450 extension 1-4124

Intuitive Eating Overview of non-diet nutrition including Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size. Learn to follow your body’s cues for a healthier and happier body image and relationship with food. 520-792-1450 ext 1-2765

Meal Masters Learn about the basics of meal planning for healthy meals. Workshop involves hands-on application where veterans can compose their own meal plans under dietitian’s supervision. 520-792-1450 extension 1-4124

MOVE Orientation Learn about the MOVE Program, weight management ideas, and options for MOVE follow-up. 520-629-4659

Midlife Nutrition for Women Learn about nutrition and lifestyle considerations for women in and around menopause. Covers weight, strength, bone health, sleep and more! Women’s Clinic 520-629-4885

Nutrition for Pregnancy Nutrition in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Women’s Clinic 520-629-4885

Nutrition and Food Services Classes

SAVAHCS Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) develops and provides comprehensive evidenced based nutritional services for our Veterans. They offer a variety of classes to help our Veterans improve health outcomes.

Below are class descriptions and handouts that are used during the classes.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet Classes

Clinic name: TUC VVC NUTR ANTI INF DT GRP

Above is the clinic name that you will see on your appointment reminder.

The Introduction class will cover what an anti-inflammatory diet is and why it is important. It is on the first Wednesday of every month. Each class thereafter will cover a food group, anti- or pro-inflammatory foods, ways to prepare the foods, recipes, and fun facts. You do not need to attend these classes in any specific order. Significant others are welcome.

Call for more information and to sign up: -2450

Diabetes Nutrition Class

Clinic name: TUC VVC DIAB NUTR GRP

Above is the clinic name that you will see on your appointment reminder.

Learn what diabetes is, the effects of diet on diabetes management and education on meal planning for diabetes.

Call for more information and to sign up:

Nutrition for Pregnancy Classes

Clinic name: TUC VVC NUTR PREG GRP

Above is the clinic name that you will see on your appointment reminder.

Classes on nutrition in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Call for more information and to sign up: Women’s Clinic

Whole Health Class Offerings

To enroll in a Whole Health Classes or for more information, please call ension 1-4971.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Meditation (Virtual classroom)

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Ear Seeds part 1/ Intro to Whole Health (Face to Face starting May 2022 in Ironwood)

10:00 a.m. to noon Pathway: 2-part exploration of the personal health inventory and mission aspiration and purpose (Virtual classroom)

9:00 a.m. to10:00 a.m. Ear Seeds part 2 (Face to Face starting May 2022 in Ironwood)

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Introduction to Whole Health

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Gentle Yoga (Virtual classroom)

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. You’re not Your Pain 1st and 2nd of the Month (Virtual classroom) Register by calling ironwood clinic 520-529-4882

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Introduction to Whole health In person Bldg. 90 , Room 1200 First and third Friday of the month

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pain Skills 3rd and 4th of the Month (Virtual classroom)

2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Tai Chi /Qi Gong (Virtual classroom)

Nutrition and Food Services Class Schedule

*Class times are subject to change. An appointment is required to attend.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Every Monday MOVE! Orientation (VVC) 10:30 a.m. - noon First Tuesdays Midlife Nutrition for Women (VVC) 11:00 a.m.- noon First Thursdays Anti-Inflammatory Diet (VVC) 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. *4 week series First Fridays DASH Diet (VVC) 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

First Wednesdays Nutrition on a Budget (F2F and VVC) 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

First Wednesdays Healthy Teaching Kitchen Basics Series VVC 10 - 11:30 a.m. *6 week series, starts the 1st Wednesday of every even month

Second Tuesdays Healthy Teaching Kitchen (VVC) 11:00 a.m.-noon Second Fridays Diabetes Nutrition Class (VVC) 10:00 a.m. - noon

Second Tuesdays Nutrition for Pregnancy (VVC) 11:00 a.m.-noon

Third Wednesdays MOVE! Orientation (VVC) 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Forth Tuesdays MOVE! Orientation (F2F)1 - 2:30 p.m. in Saguaro Clinic Forth Wednesdays Meal Masters Series VVC 10am, every other month (odd months)

Forth Wednesdays Intuitive Eating (VVC) 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.

F2F = In person class at Main VA Campus VVC = virtual class, online