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Employee Wellness

Health Starts Here

Upcoming Events


Join Employee Wellness for Massages & Mocktails!

Be sure to stop by the Employee Wellness booth at the Celebrating Dominican event for free 10 minute chair massages and delicious holiday-inspired mocktails.

  • When: Thursday, December 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Where: Education Center parking lot  

Sound Bathing

Join us for a full-body meditative experience listening to beautiful resonant sounds. Sound bathing can encourage physical & emotional healing, lessen pain, relieve stress while also enhancing immune response. 

Location: Mezzanine 
Date: Friday, December 6 from 3-4 pm  


Congratulations to our Biketober participants!

Our Dominican Hospital team took first place in the recent Biketober Challenge. Over 100 employees logged 6405 miles during the month-long challenge. The riders logging the most miles and/or trips for the challenge were:

  • Hari Bartlett, Blaise Hamel, Aaron Johnson, Thigani Marines, Kyle Middleton, Peter Sparza, Matthew Rohan & Sara Zuelke

Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge. You helped Dominican Hospital shine and win our division for the seventh time in a row!
Don't fret if you missed the Biketober Challenge because Winter Wheelers starts December 1st!  


Winter Wheelers Begins December 1st!

Why Join In?

  • Stay fit and healthy during the colder months
  • Boost your mood and energy by getting outside in the crisp winter air
  • Challenge yourself and build resilience by riding in winter conditions

Here’s the Scoop:
Stay energized throughout this winter by pedaling on even the grayest of days. From December 1- January 31 ride a bike anytime, anywhere to enter a weekly prize drawing and a huge grand prize of $3,000 at the end of the challenge! The more days you ride the greater your chance to win. Register now and join the wintery fun today!  


She.is.beautiful registration is open!

Get ready to join us for the 15th Annual She.is.beautiful 5k and 10k, proudly presented by Dignity Health. The race is set for May 10, 2025, but don’t wait to register—use the exclusive Dignity Health promo code HELLOHUMANKINDNESS to save 25%.

To sign up, visit www.runsheisbeautiful.com. During registration, simply enter the promo code HELLOHUMANKINDNESS when prompted and click ‘apply’ before completing checkout.


Massages in the Mezzanine  - Evening hours added!

Stay resilient this holiday season with a relaxing massage that focuses on your back, shoulders, neck, and arms. 

  • When: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 12:00-4:00 p.m. & Fridays from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Where: Mezzanine, above the main lobby
  • Cost: 8 minutes for $12. Purchase massage tokens at Jazzland Coffee (Credit Card or Venmo). 

Click here or use the QR code below to reserve massage time. Drop-in times are available on a first come, first serve basis.

QR Code for Massage for Employee Wellness


Wellness classes at the Dignity Health Wellness Center

Stay Strong Under Stress

In this class you’ll learn simple, but powerful, science-based tools that help buffer stress and build resilience in your everyday life. We’ll explore the connection between stress and our physical and emotional well-being. You’ll leave this class with a tool kit of core skills and real solutions to live with less stress and more success. 

  • When: Tuesday, December 10 from 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. 
  • Where:  Online
  • For more information click here. To register please call 831.457.7099

Core Strength & Stretch

Join us for a fun core strengthening workout that will help improve all of your athletic endeavors and your daily activities.
When: Thursdays, 9:00-9:50 a.m.


Free Employee Fitness Classes at the DECC!

Core Strength: Tues 4:00-4:30 p.m. Mind-body exercises to strengthen your core, improve your posture & free your mind. 

Cardio/Spin: Tues 4:45 -5:30 p.m. Interval training using a spin bike or other aerobic equipment to improve your cardiovascular fitness & help relieve stress.

Yoga Flow: Wed 4:00-4:50 p.m. Yoga postures and guided breath-work to improve balance, flexibility and promote inner calm. All levels are welcome. 

Gentle Yoga: 5:00-5:50 p.m. Unwind and ease into your evening feeling more at peace. This soothing, slow-paced class uses basic yoga poses and breathwork to promote a deep sense of calm for your body and mind. (Begins September 6)

Meditation Moment: Tuesdays 12:15-12:30 p.m. Have you ever wanted to just relax your mind? Come learn to train your attention and stop your mind from reflexively passing aimlessly from one subject to another. Drop in and join us! Meet at the Poppy Patio (next to the Doctor’s lounge)

No registration is required for these classes. For more information please contact [email protected]  

Employee Wellness and PEP offer over 100 health and wellness classes, almost all of which are free. Click here to view the full list of classes offered through PEP.


The Employee Gym is Open!

If you are a new gym user you’ll need to complete a brief competency and liability waiver before using the gym. Click on the buttons below to review the Employee Gym Powerpoint and complete the competency and waiver. Please email your completed competency and waiver to [email protected].

Employee Gym Competency Powerpoint

Employee Gym Competency

Employee Gym Waiver


Healthy Nutrition for Living

Join a Dignity Health registered dietitian for a series of free informative talks to improve your diet and lifestyle. Topics include:

  • Unhealthy Eating-Breaking the Cycle
  • ABC’s of Mindful Eating
  • Emotional Eating and Stress
  • Plant-Based Flexitarian Eating

When: Last Wednesday of each month from 12-12:50 pm
Where:  Dignity Health Wellness Center - 21340 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz 
To register please call 877-648-4273



Calendar

View the complete schedule and registration information for classes, coaching, and massage on the calendar below. Please check the calendar below for days and times for current wellness classes at the DECC and at the Wellness Center. Please note the location for each class listing.


 

 

Offerings for Dominican Hospital Employees


Discounted Gym Memberships Available

As a CommonSpirit Health employee, you have access to discounted gym memberships at popular brands like 24 Hour Fitness, Orange Theory and Club Pilates through LifeMart’s Active&Fit Direct program. Join Active&Fit Direct for free by using promo code FITFORFALL.


Pain Management Program from Kaia Health

Don't let chronic pain prevent you from reaching your goals. Kaia can help you manage your pain at home by offering a drug-free option with exercises for the body and mind. Earn 250 MyWellness points when you complete the Kaia self-assessment survey. Click here for more information.


Mindfulness Minute: Embracing Calm

Take a few mindful  minutes to embrace calm, using the helpful resources provided by Lyra, our mental health benefit provider. Sign up for Lyra and explore a five minute meditation, listen to  a soothing soundscape or take a moment to find relief through your breath. 

Meditation: Smiling Escape 
Soundscape: Summer Rain
Breathing Exercise: Circle 

Learn more about the mental health benefit support available to you and your eligible dependents and household members, at no cost to you, through Lyra. Once you sign in, you'll have access to a variety of mental wellness resources, exercises to practice resiliency, consultations on work-life topics and one-on-one sessions with a provider.  


Reserve Time in the Lactation Room

In order to ensure that all nursing moms have access to our lactation room at a time that is convenient to them, please sign up for a time slot in advance. As you enter the East entrance, the lactation room is on the left after you go through the first door on the left. Please click here to reserve your time.


Try an e-bike Free for Two Weeks!

From conquering hills with ease, to shortening longer trips, e-bikes have been a game changer for many people. Through our partnership with Ecology Action, all Dominican Hospital staff are able to check out a  BMC Switzerland e-bike free for two weeks. Try it for your commute, errands, and other transportation needs. Hurry, these bikes are sure to get reserved quickly! Click here to schedule your free two week test ride (scroll to the bottom of the page). 

Questions? Contact Tawn Kennedy at Ecology Action at [email protected].


Commuter Club

  • Dominican Hospital is pleased to announce that GO Santa Cruz County is now available as a benefit for all staff. Every time you log a carpool, transit, bike, or walk trip (or telecommute), you earn points towards the Commute Rewards Program. Points can be accumulated and redeemed for $5, $10 or $25 gift cards.
  • Register by visiting my.cruz511.org/s/dominican-hospital and joining the GO Santa Cruz County Dominican network. GO Santa Cruz County includes rewards and incentives, trip planning support, and a carpool matching tool.
  • The Go Santa Cruz County program has replaced our previous Commuter Club.

New Commuter Program Offers Free Benefits for Employees
Dominican Hospital is proud to partner with Ecology Action to provide employees with free environmentally friendly services to lessen the burden of commuting. Through this program Dominican employees can take advantage of great benefits including:

  • 0% interest on a bike loan: up to $750 for a pedal bike and $1,500 for an electric bike
  • e-Bike demos: test ride an e-Bike for two weeks!
  • To find out about other great free benefits and sign up visit ecoact.org/membership

Sleep Better, Feel Better

Trouble sleeping? Unwind and recharge with a soothing meditation, learn tips to calm nighttime worries and anxieties. Check out these resources from Lyra and explore ways you can prioritize your sleep and mental health.


Questions?

If you have questions about wellness programming please contact [email protected] or [email protected].