Wellness

The UMKC Alumni Association offers programming for health and wellness, topics we know are important to our fellow Roos especially during this pandemic. Recordings of those events are available here. Keep an eye on the Alumni Events page for future offerings.

If you would like to volunteer your services as a Wellness coach, please contact us at: alumni@umkc.edu.

Physical Wellness

Yoga with Jellie Duckworth

Instructor: Jellie Duckworth, B.A. '19 

Jellie Duckworth (B.A. ’19) began teaching Power Yoga - a personally designed and fitness-based Vinyasa practice - at the beginning of 2017. Her philosophy is principled in intentional movement and holistic self-care. Outside of her Yoga practice, Jellie is a social entrepreneur and works for a couple of non-profit organizations in KCMO. She recently initiated a coalition of individuals, business, and organizations to help provide free, healthy produce to our communities in need in Northeast, KCMO who are strongly being affected by the pandemic. Follow Jellie on Instagram @puravida_organica, to stay connected.

Jellie's next series is dedicated toward solidarity and moving forward together.
During moments of uncertainty our common denominator is the desire to find the bridge that transcends tough times. We all have different starting lines. We owe it to ourselves to be honest with where we are so we can be honest with where we want to be, individually and together. We must first be the bridge within ourselves so we can walk across with others.
1. Reintroducing the Self - Opening up to being uncomfortable and open-mindedness throughout this process.
2. Unlearning - Opening up to perspective and letting go of certainty.
3. Creating Space - Allowing space to play with the areas of our life that are uncertain.
4. Rediscovering - Finding our hidden tensions, expectations, assumptions and insecurities.
5. Reflecting - Holding space to acknowledge what we are learning about ourselves.
6. Manifesting - Being intentional about how we move forward.

Yoga Flow

UMKC Campus Recreation is partnering with the UMKC Alumni Association to offer a virtual Alumni Group Fitness Series. All sessions will be hosted live on Campus Recreation’s Instagram: @UMKCREC, then posted here for you to participate at your leisure. The next live group fitness class: Dance Fit with Emily! March 22nd at 4:45PM CDT.

Alumni Group Fitness Series

Dance Fit
This alumni dance fit virtual class was offered as a partnership between the UMKC Alumni Association and Campus Recreation Center. (Please note: sound may be muted at various times due to copyrighted music.)

McFAB Moving x Jazz Funk
The UMKC Young Alumni Committee hosted instructor Brooke McPheeters (B.F.A. '16). If you were unable to make it – or if you joined and wanted to dance again – check out the recording.

Body Weight HIIT Workout
Join us for this high-intensity interval training session filmed at Swinney Recreation Center.

Pilates

Pilates with Lauren Thompson
Join alumna Lauren Thompson (B.A. '09, B.F.A. '09, M.A. '12) owner of Thrive Pilates and Movement Studio, as she leads us on a 30-minute Pilates exercise.

Exercise is Medicine

Exercise is Medicine: Implementing + Overcoming Barriers to Exercise
Margaret E. Gibson, MD, discusses how to implement exercise in your life, as well as ways to overcome the barriers that may prevent you from maintaining your exercise plan.

 
Speaker: Margaret E. Gibson, MD

Dr. Gibson received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh – School of Medicine in 2005 and in 2008 graduated from Residency in Family Medicine. She completed the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2009. Dr. Gibson is dual board certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine.

Dr. Gibson joined the medical staff at Truman Medical Center Lakewood in 2009 and has a faculty appointment with the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine as an Associate Professor. She is the Program Director of the UMKC Sports Medicine Fellowship and works with athletes ranging from high school to college. She has experience treating musculoskeletal conditions and medical conditions in elite athletes and weekend warriors. In addition, she received extensive concussion management training while in Pittsburgh. She serves as the Medical Director for the Kansas City Marathon and the Hospital Hill Run. She is also active in national sports medicine organizations. In addition to treating patient in KC, she also travels internationally as an USA Volleyball Physician and a member of the US Ski and Snowboard Physician pool.

Mental Wellness

Managing Stress and Anxiety

How to Manage Stress and Anxiety
How to manage stress and anxiety in uncertain times with a focus on coping with the current COVID-19 situation.  

Instructor: Teresa L. Huff-Pomstra Ph.D.  

Dr. Huff-Pomstra is a clinician and the Outreach Coordinator for UMKC’s Counseling Services. Her areas of clinical interest include anxiety, depression, grief, assessment, couples’ issues, interpersonal skill-building, spiritual concerns, and the development of intersecting identities, particularly with LGBTQIA students who identify as religious or spiritual.  Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Huff-Pomstra serves as the Outreach Coordinator, planning and providing psychoeducational events for UMKC students, faculty, and staff that highlight mental health prevention, concerns, and intervention.

Mental Wellness During the Holidays

Taking Care of Your Mental Wellness During the Holidays
Acknowledging the affects of the current COVID-19 pandemic, this session covers how to manage your mental wellness as we enter a holiday season that might look different than we are used to.

Instructor: Teresa L. Huff-Pomstra Ph.D.  

Dr. Huff-Pomstra is a clinician and the Outreach Coordinator for UMKC’s Counseling Services. Her areas of clinical interest include anxiety, depression, grief, assessment, couples’ issues, interpersonal skill-building, spiritual concerns, and the development of intersecting identities, particularly with LGBTQIA students who identify as religious or spiritual.  Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Huff-Pomstra serves as the Outreach Coordinator, planning and providing psychoeducational events for UMKC students, faculty, and staff that highlight mental health prevention, concerns, and intervention.

Art Wellness

Creative Crafting with Heather Isbell
Heather Isbell (B.A. ’17) teaches UMKC alumni and friends how to take a creative mental break by transferring photos onto wood to produce ornaments, keepsakes and more in this crafting wellness video.

Oral Health

Oral Health Care

Tips and Tricks on Oral Health Care
When we think of wellness, we need to remember the important part that oral health plays in our overall health. Join alumna Sally Hootman (BSDH ’18) as she gives an overview of oral healthcare for adults and children and also discusses systemic disease connections.

Sally is a Registered Dental Hygienist licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. She holds her Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene, as well as certifications in Local Anesthetic Block and Nitrous in both states. She holds mandatory certifications including; HIPPA, OSHA, CPR/BLS. She also holds an Associate of Arts degree from Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas City. She has experience in many avenues of dentistry including adjunct clinical facility at UMKC School of Dentistry, Outreach Coordinator with Cass Community Health Foundation, and as an RDH in private practice dentistry.