Fitness & Movement Classes
Monthly Mindfulness Sessions
Non-Sleep Rest-Slow Down and Refresh: Wednesday, July 29 from 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET. As we celebrate Independence Day and settle into the long, sunny days of summer, consider taking a break from the constant push of daily life. Join us this July to slow down, cool off, and recharge with the practice of non-sleep deep rest (NSDR). NSDR is rooted in the ancient tradition of yoga Nidra ("Nidra" meaning sleep) and combines mindful breathing and body scanning to bring you into a state of deep relaxation while remaining awake and aware. Research suggests NSDR may help reduce stress, improve focus, support recovery, and enhance overall well-being. Participation link.
Mindful Mondays: August 3, and September 14 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. Take a moment to recharge with Mindful Mondays, a series of free monthly wellness sessions designed to help you manage stress, build resilience, and cultivate greater peace and balance. This quarter’s topics include Guided Meditation for Summer Bliss (July 6), Guided Meditation for Finding Peace (August 3), and Guided Walking Meditation (September 14), all held from 12–1 p.m. ET. Register today: https://k-p.li/4rcZtf4. Offered by Kaiser Permanente free of charge to NIH employees, contractors, and trainees.
Well-Being Wednesdays: Wednesday, July 22, August 19, and September 23 from 12:00 pm. to 1:00 p.m. EST . Support your health and well-being with Well-Being Wednesdays, a free monthly wellness series focused on improving physical and emotional health. Join upcoming sessions on Summer Safety (July 22), Flu Awareness (August 19), and Osteoporosis Prevention (September 23) to gain practical tips for staying healthy and informed. Register today: https://k-p.li/49iXiQC. Offered by Kaiser Permanente free of charge to NIH employees, contractors, and trainees.
Loving Kindness Meditation: Every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30–4:30 PM in the CRC Main Chapel (7th floor) or via TEAMS (link provided upon request). This guided practice cultivates compassion, self-care, and emotional well-being through intentional kindness toward yourself and others. Open to all—email gomezdemolinad@cc.nih.gov by noon on the day of the session to receive the virtual link.
Stronger from the Core: Pelvic Floor Health
Pelvic floor health is essential for bladder control, core strength, and overall well-being, but many people are unsure what is normal or when to seek care. Join Grace Chen, M.D., M.H.S., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to learn about the causes of pelvic floor issues, prevention strategies, and treatment options for better pelvic health on Thursday, July 23 from 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm ET. Register here.
Get Medicare Ready with Confidence
Join us Wednesday, August 5, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. ET for a free GreenPath webinar that breaks down the basics of Medicare and helps you make informed decisions for your retirement. Learn the differences between Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, get tips for choosing the right coverage, understand the enrollment process, and plan for healthcare costs in retirement. Reserve your virtual seat.
Plan Ahead for Open Enrollment
Join us Wednesday, August 12, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. Eastern for a free webinar with GreenPath to learn how to make confident open enrollment decisions that support your budget and financial goals. Discover practical tips for saving on healthcare and other enrollment costs, choosing the right plan, and preparing your budget before enrollment begins. Reserve your virtual seat.
Caregiving Peer Circle
The Caregiving Peer Circle is a space for the NIH community to connect, share, and support one another in a respectful and understanding environment. It's an opportunity to talk openly about the realities of caregiving, exchange practical strategies, and build coping skills that support your well-being. The Caregiving Peer Circles will be held on the second Thursday of every month; with the next meeting on August 13, 2026, from 12:00 – 12:30 PM ET. Click on the link to join the session: Please make sure to paste this link in your calendar. Open to NIH employees, contractors, and trainees. Learn more.
Estate Planning for Pets
What will happen to your pets if you become incapacitated or pass away? This program explores practical and legal tools that can help ensure beloved pets continue to receive the care they need when their owners are no longer able to provide it. Participants will learn how wills, pet trusts, and durable powers of attorney can be used to name caregivers, provide funding for ongoing care, and outline detailed instructions for a pet’s well-being. By creating a plan, pet owners will gain peace of mind. Join us on Thursday, August 20 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET. Learn more and register for the webinar.
Prepare for Your Next Chapter
Join us Wednesday, August 26, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. Eastern for a free GreenPath webinar on navigating the financial, lifestyle, and emotional transitions to retirement. Gain practical strategies to manage retirement risks, assess your readiness, and build confidence as you prepare for this exciting new phase of life. Reserve your virtual seat.
Freedom from Smoking
Join the Freedom From Smoking program, a free 7-week virtual smoking cessation course led by trained coaches to help you quit for good, with support, educational resources, and referrals for free nicotine replacement therapy. Sessions are held Wednesdays, September 2–October 14, plus Friday, September 25, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. on Zoom and are open to patients, families, friends, and the community. Offered by Suburban Hospital- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Learn more. Call 301-896-3844 to reserve your seat.
NIH Clubs (Bethesda Campus)
Interested in joining fellow employees and guests in NIH Club activities, on and off-campus? Check out our clubs:
We all know there is a need to take pause during the workday, and yet sometimes it seems hard to step away. If you’d like some new ideas, or you are not sure what to do for your well-being when you take a pause, this guide offers five tips to reset and nourish yourself.
NIH Clubs (Bethesda Campus)
Interested in joining fellow employees and guests in NIH Club activities, on and off-campus? Check out three new clubs:
Recent Recordings
8 Dimensions of Well-being: Emotional Health
A workshop on key principles for supporting your emotional health every day and during uncertain times. View slides and recording.
The Art of Intentional Communication (January 2024)
A workshop on active listening and conscious communication to benefit your work and personal well-being. This webinar will highlight and demonstrate the key aspects of being fully present, observant, and purposeful in our words and actions with others. View slides and recording.
Preventative Care Guidelines (December 2024)
Learn the importance of preventing, finding, and managing health problems with an array of tools to support your preventative care. Recording.
Menopause 101: Supporting the Shift with Sleep, Physical Activity & Nutrition (November 2024)
For many women, the array of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms can begin up to ten years prior to menopause and continue during the post-menopausal years. A community approach can support us all. View recording, download PPT slides or three-page flyer.
Reading The Food Label (October 2024)
Kaiser Permanente's Health Educator teaches NIH staff how to read the USDA food label, practical tips for portion control, and understanding key ingredients. View the recording.
Wellness Workshop: Stress Management (September 2024)
Learn tips and tricks for managing stress and burnout - explore the effects of stress and how to mitigate them in your everyday life. View the recording.
Nutrition & Meal Planning for the Whole Family (August 2024)
Speakers from NIDDK and ORS discussed eating for your microbiome, recipes that support gut health, and meal planning to benefit the whole family. View the recording. Download a PDF of the slides, or view the PPT. Staff also shared recipes with one another during the workshop. Check out the (anonymous) Google doc for more meal-planning tips from your NIH community!
Setting Boundaries and Seeking Work-Life Balance (August 2024)
Connect with the Wellness@NIH community about the importance of balancing personal and professional life. Learn tips and tricks for communicating and setting boundaries and ways to maximize work-life balance this summer. View the recording and the workshop slides.
Unlocking the Door to Men's Health - Webinar
(June 2024)Panelists from NIMH and Wellness at NIH discussed the importance of taking care of ourselves so we can take care of others. We addressed societal norms, despair, stress, coping skills, and the importance of preventative health, among other topics. The event has passed -
view recording.
