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Make Time for Self-Care at Vancouver Campus Wellness Classes
Wellness classes for the Spring 2024 semester began on Tuesday, January 23 in the SFU Vancouver Wellness Studio.
The month of January has become synonymous with lifestyle changes—working out, eating better, and prioritizing self-care. SFU’s Vancouver campus aims to provide programming that encourages healthy habits and positively influences the health and well-being of the SFU community—not only in January, but all year round!
One of these programming options is the wellness classes offered out of the Wellness Studio, located on the second floor of Harbour Centre, room 2530. This cozy studio space acts as a sanctuary of sorts, allowing students, staff, and faculty to put aside the stresses of the day and unplug, even if for just 45 minutes.
Wellness programming at the Vancouver campus began in 2013 with the goal of providing the Vancouver campus community with access to free, convenient, and fun class options that would also positively influence physical and mental health. Over the past 11 years, we’ve offered dozens of classes including yoga, Zumba, gentle stretch, and pilates and barre-inspired classes.
New Class Offering
We’ve added a new class this semester—Dynamic Stretch and Mobility! This class provides an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to activate the core through body awareness and bodyweight stability exercises. Participants will work to develop a strong mind-to-muscle connection to increase cardio endurance and stamina, and will leave feeling energized and refreshed. All levels are welcome!
Meet Your Instructor, Amanda
Amanda Mason teaches our new Dynamic Stretch and Mobility class. Amanda has been coaching in the fitness sphere since 2019. In addition to wellness classes at the Vancouver campus, she also coaches group classes at HUSTLE and spin at SPIN SOCIETY. Amanda’s coaching philosophy places emphasis on deep core connection and breath-to-movement connection. Outside of coaching, Amanda loves spending time with her two dogs, Bentley and Kai! She loves a great cup of coffee, and you can quite literally always catch her with a cup in her hand. Amanda says, “I hope individuals leave my classes feeling empowered and welcomed. I spent many years of my life feeling like an outcast and I strive to create a space where everyone feels like they belong.”
Meet Your Instructor, Pamela
Pamela Ferman has been practicing yoga since 2000, teaching since 2010, and has taught a variety of yoga classes at SFU’s Vancouver campus since 2018. She also teaches at Kitsilano, Creekside, and Granville Island False Creek Community Centres. Pamela says yoga has taught her to slow down and be more present in every moment. Over time, it has given her the tools to greater self-awareness, flexibility, strength and balance in body, mind and life.
Pamela teaches Hatha Yoga on Thursdays this semester. This class flows slowly and smoothly from one posture to another, with some long holds in between for deeper fascia stretching. A combination of flexibility, strength, balance, movement, and stillness are used throughout the class and you’ll leave feeling more grounded, energized, and balanced between body and mind. Learn more about Pamela.
We hope to see many students, staff, and faculty in the Wellness Studio this semester! Visit our Wellness Classes webpage for more info and to see the full schedule.