Wellness at Reed
The Wellness Committee serves the Reed community by providing holistic wellness programs to faculty and staff, with the goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle and increasing overall fulfillment. We create and promote programs that relate to physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Bike Month
May is Bike Month in Portland! Join Team Reed during the month of May and log your rides. On Friday May 16th meet at 4:30pm in Eliot Circle for the 2nd annual Reed 30. Ride around the circle 30 times then head to an off campus happy hour at Moonshot Tavern sponsored by the Wellness Committee.
Happening Now:
class Registration SUMMER 2025 — sign up here
| Mondays | noon–1 p.m. | Vinyasa Yoga with Daniel Shaw |
| Mondays | 1–2 p.m. | Pilates with Mary Bradley |
| Tuesdays | noon–1 p.m. | Full Body Strength with Ruth Braunhuber |
| Wednesdays | noon-1 p.m. | Water Aerobics with Brenda Sutton |
| Thursdays | noon–1 p.m. | Core & Conditioning with Kubo |
Wellness programs are open to all Reed employees and frequently their partners. Fitness programs are intended to be inclusive of and welcoming to all fitness levels, previous experience, and body types. Our programs are constantly expanding and changing, so please contact the committee members with any comments or suggestions. Join the faculty/staff wellness Google Group to get regular updates on wellness events, programs, and opportunities.
Ongoing
Weekly Meditation
Alan Shusterman is offering a 30-minute period of silence in the Reed chapel and over zoom. This will be every Wednesday during the lunch hour. The silent period will be 12:10-12:40. January 8 is the first session and he will repeat these through the end of March.
Wellness & Fitness classes: Summer 2025
All faculty and staff are welcome to sign up for wellness and fitness classes, sponsored by the Wellness Committee. The variety of classes include everything from relaxation and stress reduction to toning, balance, and cardio workouts.
Pilates with Mary Bradley
Mondays, 1–2 p.m.
Pilates is a system of exercise founded by Joseph Pilates. Pilates is designed to enhance your physical strength, flexibility, posture, and mental awareness. The class will focus on strengthening your core muscles. Core muscles include your back, abdomen and hips. Concentration, Control, Centering, Precision, Breathing and Flow are the six principles of Pilates. Classes are multilevel and modifiable to student needs. Each student is able to progress according to their own ability. Some sessions incorporate techniques from the MELT Method. MELT is the first neurofascial pain relief, self-treatment technique.
What to Wear
Wear fitness, workout or yoga clothes. Bring a water bottle. Wear socks or go barefoot in class.
Contact
503-267-2415 or pilatesmeltmary@gmail.com
Full Body Strength with Ruth Braunhuber
Tuesdays, noon–1 p.m.
Full Body Strength is a full body workout using dumbbells, resistance bands, and body weight that hits all the major muscle groups in the upper and lower body. You’ll find compound exercises, isolation exercises, and balance challenges all designed to build muscle strength, endurance, stability, and mobility. There will be a focus on form with lots of options for progression, regression, and modification to fit all abilities. This class is welcoming and accessible for all. You’ll leave feeling successful, strong, and connected to your body.
Ruth (she/her) brings to her classes her love of movement and her belief that movement is for all bodies. Ruth has been working in the fitness world for the last 8 years, first in Austin TX then back to hometown Portland, OR. Ruth is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer. She spent 5 years as the owner of FIT4MOM SE Portland specializing in prenatal and postpartum fitness. For the last 2 years Ruth has taught strength classes and HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts at several Portland establishments, as well as coaching a run club. A mother of 2 and a former collegiate soccer player, Ruth now enjoys coaching her kid’s recreational soccer teams. You can usually find Ruth outside – hiking, camping, or reading on the porch are all favorite activities.
Core & Conditioning with Kubo
Thursdays, noon–1 p.m.
This dynamic class delivers a mixture of core strengthening and cardiovascular conditioning through a variety of formats from interval training to circuits and more, all designed to keep you excited and engaged. Cardio conditioning moves always have a low/no impact option. Because a strong core is at the center of strength, balance, and functional movements we’ll have dedicated core work as active recovery between cardio conditioning exercises. This class will get your heart pumping and your core engaged!
Yoga with Daniel Shaw
Mondays, noon-1 p.m.
Meet Daniel (he/him), a dedicated yoga instructor, end-of-life doula, and advocate for spiritual growth and social justice. With years of personal practice and a recent venture into teaching, Daniel brings a unique blend of expertise to his role of teaching yoga at Reed College.
Integrating the skills and wisdom gained as an end-of-life doula, Daniel infuses his yoga classes with mindfulness, breathwork, and gentle guidance. With a commitment to supporting individuals during life's transitions, his compassionate instruction fosters an atmosphere of acceptance, personal growth, and deep presence. Daniel's passion for helping others navigate death anxiety and embrace spiritual growth shines through in his heartfelt teaching.
Outside of the studio, Daniel extends his passion for yoga to the community by volunteering as a yoga instructor for Special Olympics athletes. Inspired by their resilience and dedication, he embraces the transformative power of yoga in fostering inclusivity and personal growth.
In his spare time, Daniel pursues social justice initiatives alongside his partner, dedicating his efforts to creating positive change. They find solace in their shared love for gardening and enjoy taking their pit bull for walks, embracing the simple joys of nature and the companionship of their furry friend.
Join Daniel on the mat as he guides you on a transformative journey, encouraging self-discovery, inner peace, and connection to the present moment.
Water Aerobics with Brenda Sutton
Wednesdays, noon-1 pm (max 7 enrollees)
Brenda (she/her) brings joyful energy and a welcoming spirit to the pool, leading water aerobics classes that are fun, low-impact, and designed for every body—regardless of size, age, or lifestyle. Her classes offer a full-body workout that supports strength, mobility, and cardiovascular health, all while moving to great music and enjoying the supportive environment of the water.
In addition to teaching at Reed College, Brenda is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Pilates Practitioner at Portland State University, where she leads Water Aerobics, Strength and Resistance Training, and Pilates classes—always emphasizing inclusion and accessibility. Brenda is passionate about making fitness enjoyable and empowering, and she’s known for putting the “fun” in functional fitness.
In her spare time, Brenda enjoys spending time in nature—hiking, backpacking and connecting with the community. Her classes are a celebration of what our bodies can do—join her in the water and feel the difference!
Access Questions?
- All the classes accommodate different levels of experience and skill.
- We all have busy schedules. It's fine to arrive late to the classes and leave early.
- Locker room option (when at the Sports Center): Use the private changing rooms and shower facility on the top floor of the Sports Center, next to the Dance Studio.
Questions?
Contact Erica Nukaya. You may take one trial class before registering, contact Erica if interested. Also, please keep in mind that we do not allow participants to roll over unused classes to the following semester, except in cases of long term injury or illness.
Tobacco Cessation Programs
Reed employees have access to multiple resources to help quit tobacco. Click on the links below to find out more.
- Tobacco cessation program for Kaiser members
- Cascade Centers EAP tobacco cessation program
- Smoke Free Oregon Tobacco Quit Line
Previous Opportunities
Sleep Challenge
Tuesday, March 4, 1-3 pm, GCC patio: Come by our table to pick up your eye mask, ear plugs, and fillable sleep journal.
Tuesday, March 11, 5.30-6:30 pm, Sports Ctr Upper Fitness Studio: Join us for The Art of Conscious Rest: A Yoga Nidra & Dream Awareness Experience, a free sleep-centric yoga class with Daniel Shaw. Sign up here (encouraged but not required).
March 9-15: Celebrate Sleep Awareness Week!
The sleep challenge is a four-week self-guided challenge that focuses on sleep hygiene and goal setting. Sleep hygiene refers to the healthy habits, routines, and practices that promote good, restorative sleep. Prioritizing your sleep hygiene can help you feel more alert and productive, better manage stress and mood, and support your immune system (just to name a few things). Poor sleep hygiene can lead to trouble sleeping, frequent wake-ups, and feeling tired or irritable, which can negatively affect both your physical and mental health over time.
This 4-week challenge is designed to help you build better sleep habits, reflect on your sleep patterns, and make meaningful changes to improve your sleep quality. Each week, you’ll focus on a specific aspect of sleep hygiene—from assessing your current habits to establishing a routine, minimizing disruptions, and building consistency. Through daily logging and weekly reflections, you’ll gain insights into what helps or hinders your sleep, setting you up for long-term success.
By the end, we hope you will better be able to:
- Understand your current sleep habits and patterns
- Create and maintain a healthy bedtime routine
- Identify and minimize factors that disrupt your sleep
- Build consistency in your sleep schedule for better long-term rest
Good sleep is essential to feeling your best each day. Let’s get started on your path to better, more restful sleep! Sign up here.
Shamrock Run
Join a Reed Running Team this March for the Shamrock Run 5k Race--"The biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Pacific Northwest, the Shamrock 5K is our most popular distance! Join thousands of runners and joggers on this out and back 3.1-mile block party in the streets."
The race will be on March 16, 2025 in downtown Portland. More information about the race can be found on their website, Shamrock Run Portland. To participate, please fill out this form by Monday, December 1st.
Guided Forest Therapy Walks
Join us for a gentle, restorative walk in the Reed Canyon (or nearby Reed grounds depending on participants' accessibility needs). A forest therapy walk (which is related, though distinct from the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku or “forest bathing”), is more than a “nature walk” in the woods. It is a guided contemplative wellness practice that invites participants to slow down, become immersed in their senses, and to cultivate reciprocal, healing relationships to the more than human world. It is a research-based framework that has demonstrated a wide array of health and wellness benefits. The practice is adaptable and accessible to all participants regardless of ability, fitness level, or experience in the outdoors. Please contact Kristy in advance if you have any accommodation concerns that could better facilitate your participation. Please come dressed comfortably for the weather, and with shoes that get along with potentially muddy terrain. (Tip- While hiking gear is unnecessary to participate, the Reed Backpack Co-op has boots and other gear that all staff, faculty and students can check out for free.) While participants are encouraged to try to stay for the full 90 min practice, opportunities will be provided for participants that need to leave earlier.
5K FUNd Run/Walk
Stay tuned for more information when available!
Bike Challenge
Stay tuned for more information when available!
Buddhist Chanting Club
Recharge your spiritual batteries. Chanting for 30 minutes, followed by a short reading. Open to all. Drop in for as little or as long as you like.
Spring Wellness Scavenger Hunt (March 2023)
To participate check off as many items as you can in the month of March. Each completed activity is an extra chance to win awesome prizes.
Walk on a Whim!
Interested in increasing activity? Looking for someone to go on a socially-distanced walk with? Don your mask and join together for motivation towards increased movement and health! We've created an email list to help individuals find others to walk with — for company, for motivation, for accountability, for whatever your reason! Everyone is welcome!
More No-Cost Activities
Many of these are unfortunately on hold due to COVID, but some day...you'll once more be able to check out the Sports Center for rock climbing classes, swimming and other sports/exercise facilities, and extensive equipment and expertise on hiking, paddleboarding, skiing, camping, and other Northwest outdoor pursuits! In addition, we expect community activities such as Noonball and Lunchrunners to resume.
Wellness articles and resources
- The science of cells that never get old
- Is eating standing up bad for you?
- Effects of exercise on cognitive impairment and dementia
- Effects of exercise on the brain and cognition
- Effects of exercise on self-stimulatory behaviors and positive responding of adolescents with autism
- Effects of exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress
Feedback
If you have feedback on Wellness Committee programs, contact the Wellness Committee. To stay up to date on events and offerings, join the faculty/staff wellness event email list.