WOW Seminars cover common issues facing students as they progress through university. The emphasis is on education coupled with suggestions and basic skills to manage and enhance the student experience. The seminars cover topics such as: self-esteem, sexual health, managing expectations, mindfulness, career choice, study/life balance, exam stress among others.
WOW Seminars are held Thursdays 12-1pm.
SEMESTER ONE
1 March – Life is a Balancing Act
Karilyn Andrew & John Ross, 12pm, SSLB3
As students you’re probably constantly negotiating between different pressures and demands – study, work, relationships and so on. This Seminar on balance will present strategies to help stay balanced, manage stress and cope more effectively in a balanced way to the demands of university life.
To view the WOW Seminar 'Life is a Balancing Act' from the 1st March 2012 click here or for the PowerPoint presentation click here
8 March – Let’s Get Physical – BODYBALANCE©
Toni Laurie, 12pm, Rec Centre
A class that reinforces flexibility and strength, combining the best of Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. Truly a fitness class for the 21st century. BODYBALANCE brings mind and body into perfect harmony. Try this revolutionary, holistic approach to fitness.
15 March – A Taste of Mindfulness
Angela Baker, 12pm, SSLB3
Research is showing mindfulness skills are very effective. For university students it can help to ‘sharpen the mind’ and so enhance academic success, as well as reduce anxiety, low mood, ‘over-thinking’ and the ‘dwelling’ on unhelpful thoughts, events or feelings. This brief seminar will introduce some of the foundation ideas underpinning the practice of mindfulness, and give you a taste of the mindfulness experience.
To view the WOW Seminar 'A Taste of Mindfulness' from the 15th March 2012 click here or for the PowerPoint presentation click here
22 March – Sexual Health
Tracey Bentall, 12pm, SSLB3
Sometimes it seems as if the whole world is having sex. The truth is some people are and some people aren’t – and it doesn’t make anyone better or cooler if they do. It’s not important whether you’re a virgin and plan to stay that way or whether you have a different partner every night – what’s important is being safe and being able to get the right information when you need it. This seminar will be informative and offer strategies for staying safe while still enjoying sex.
To view the WOW Seminar 'Sexual Health' from the 22nd March 2012 click here or for the PowerPoint presentation click here
29 March – Time Flies
Karilyn Andrew, 12pm, International Community Centre
There is the maxim “failing to plan is planning to fail.” This seminar presents the keys to effective time management, planning and scheduling, and empowering practices. Strategies will be presented about making goals specific, measurable and attainable and time bound. An invaluable seminar for busy students!
To view the WOW Seminar 'Time Files' from the 29th March 2012 click here or for the PowerPoint presentation click here
5 April – Weathering Winter
Lisa Carruthers, 12pm, SSLB3
The physical, mental and emotional demands of study can impact negatively on our physical health. This seminar will aim to provide you with some helpful general health advice on staying healthy over the winter flu season: what to do if you are unwell and when to seek medical treatment; what to do if you are unwell during exam time.
To view the WOW Seminar 'Weathering Winter' from the 5th April 2012 click here or for the PowerPoint presentation click here
26 April – Alternatives To Just “Not” Drinking
Ann Flintoft, 12pm, SSLB3
Under stress or in a routine of binge drinking it can be difficult to make a change when all you know is the advice “just stop”. This seminar explores what is risky drinking and how to make changes that will reduce the harm to your study, social reputation, finances and health.
To view the WOW Seminar PowerPoint presentation 'Alternatives To Just "Not" Drinking' from the 26th April 2012 click here
3 May – Supervise This
Professor Hugh Blair, Kitt Klitgaard-Coomber, Dr Sarah Leberman, Dr Kevin Stafford, 12pm, SSLB3
The supervisor-supervisee relationship is pivotal to the successful completion of a Masters degree and Doctorate. This relationship can potentially be one of the most rewarding academic partnerships. Conversely, for some students, this relationship can be fraught with difficulties, which can be very stressful for both parties. This seminar is presented by Doctoral and Masters supervisors who will discuss some of the common supervisor-supervisee relationship issues, and offer suggestions as to how to enhance this important relationship.
To view the WOW Seminar 'Supervise This' from the 3rd May 2012 click here
10 May – Ready, Get Set, Go – to work!
John Ross, 12pm, SSLB3
There is life after Massey! If this, for you, is a move into employment what might you do to make the move as smooth as possible? What’s important in career choice? What do employers want to see? How can the Career and Employment Service help? This seminar begins to offer answers to these questions.
To view the WOW Seminar 'Ready, Set, Go - to Work!' from the 10th May 2012 click here or for the PowerPoint presentation click here
17 May – Self-esteem - a Mindfulness Approach*
(*please note change to program, the previously listed presentation ‘Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself’ presented by Sarah Lacey (YOSS) has been replaced by Self-esteem - a Mindfulness Approach presented by Angela Baker)
Angela Baker, 12pm, SSLB3
Mindfulness is a specific way of training our attention to be aware of what is happening within us and around us, at any given moment. When we are mindful we are able to make conscious choices about how we live. We can develop the skills to stay connected to the present and to recognize when we are thinking negatively about ourselves and when and how these thoughts are controlling our actions and feelings. Mindfulness will help you learn to identify and separate your self-judgmental thoughts from your experiences and help you make healthy decisions about your life.
24 May – Good Mood Food
Karilyn Andrew, Lisa Carruthers & Lynley Hayward, 12pm, SSLB3
What we eat or don’t eat influences how we feel and impacts on our mental and physical energy levels. Maintaining a reasonably consistent energy level means you are more able to study and concentrate more effectively and handle the stresses of heavy study loads. This seminar presents the basics of food and mood, with dietary suggestions to get you started and keep you going.
31 May – Exam Stress – Nightmare on Uni Street!
Mark Rainier, 12pm, SSLB3
Everyone is afraid of exams- some people are just better at hiding it! Explore ways to clear your mind so as to achieve the results you deserve.
SEMESTER TWO
19 July – Time Flies
Karilyn Andrew, 12pm, AH3
There is the maxim “failing to plan is planning to fail.” This seminar presents the keys to effective time management, planning and scheduling, and empowering practices. Strategies will be presented about making goals specific, measurable and attainable and time bound. An invaluable seminar for busy students!
26 July – Diversity on Campus
Dr Bronwyn Campbell, 12pm, AH3
Diversity is a challenge and something we cannot ignore or accept uncritically. Diversity is present all around us. What might we need to be taking account of in order to enhance the social and educational benefits diversity can bring to the university experience?
2 August – Life is a Balancing Act
Karilyn Andrew & John Ross, 12pm, AH3
As students you’re probably constantly negotiating between different pressures and demands – study, work, relationships and so on. This Seminar on balance will present strategies to help stay balanced, manage stress and cope more effectively in a balanced way to the demands of university life.
9 August – Let’s Get Physical – BODYBALANCE©
Toni Laurie, 12pm, Rec Centre
A class that reinforces flexibility and strength, combining the best of Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. Truly a fitness class for the 21st century. BODYBALANCE brings mind and body into perfect harmony. Try this revolutionary, holistic approach to fitness.
16 August – Health at Every Size: A new paradigm for all bodies
Dr Cat Pausé, 12pm, AH3
Health at Every Size (HAES) is a health-centred initiative that is challenging society’s fixation with weight loss and dieting behaviours and shifting focus to promoting health and healthy lifestyles through respect for one’s body. The aim of HAES is to encourage acceptance and respect for body size and shape diversity, and promote that weight is not a determinant of health, as people of different sizes can be healthy.
23 August – Mind the Gap: Managing Expectations
Natalia Benquet, 12pm, AH3
Becoming a University student can be a challenge. To prepare yourself you might ask many questions before you arrive. However, no matter how many questions you ask, you only get to know how things really are once you’re there. Expectations can lead to surprises, and ugly surprises can create uncertainty and stress, often resulting in underperforming, unhappiness, and withdrawal. This seminar offers supportive advice on: how to manage the difference between what you thought was going to happen and what actually happens; how to seek clarity, and gain the confidence to make the changes necessary to succeed academically.
WELLBEING MONTH AT THE RECREATION CENTRE – ALL OF SEPTEMBER
Wellbeing workshops, seminars, health checks, massage, meditation, mindfulness, creative dance, drumming, workouts and more every day for four weeks. All sessions at the Recreation Centre.
Visit http://pnrecreation.massey.ac.nz for more information. These classes will not be available online – live attendance only
13 September – Here with You
David Coomber, 12pm, AH3I
Important and often overlooked aspects of wellbeing are positive social connections and personal relationships. This seminar focuses on personal relationships. Being a student and in a relationship can be stressful, especially if your partner is not a student, or living far away. Some of the common relationship problems will be outlined with strategies to deal with them. Included in Wellbeing Month programme
20 September – Putting off putting it off . . .
Angela Baker, 12pm, AH3
Research has shown that procrastination amongst students not only effects academic performance and outcomes, but also increases stress levels, insomnia, and compromises the immune system. This seminar will help increase your understanding of procrastination, and some strategies to confront it. Included in Wellbeing Month programme
27 September – Spirituality and Life
Dr Ibrahim Al-Bahadly, Dr Douglas Osto, John Pahina, & Paul Stock, 12pm, AH3
Cultural theories of everyday life support the realisation that daily activities can become wonderful and mysterious when the spiritual dimension is realised (Jane Bone, 2007). The development of spirituality plays an important part in the development of the whole person. In this seminar spirituality will be discussed using the Te Whare Tapa model of wellbeing developed by Dr Mason Durie, as a framework. Included in Wellbeing Month programme
4 October – Coming to grief . . .
Lynley Hayward, 12pm, AH3
Grief is a normal reaction to loss and is something that we will all encounter at some time in our lives. How we understand it will affect how we respond to it. This seminar will explore how grief affects us, and may be helpful if you or someone you know is dealing with grief.
11 October – When Overwhelm Threatens to Become OVERWHELMING
Mark Rainier, 12pm, AH3
When our own and other peoples’ expectations of us continue to push us on to do more, harder, faster and better these expectations can easily turn to overwhelm. So much is going on for us it becomes hard to keep the main thing as the main thing! This seminar will focus on how we recognise and manage early symptoms of overwhelm before they escalate, and how to manage overwhelm if we don’t recognise these symptoms in time!
18 October - Exam Stress – Nightmare on Uni Street!
Mark Rainier, 12pm, International Community Centre
Everyone is afraid of exams- some people are just better at hiding it! Explore ways to clear your mind so as to achieve the results you deserve.
