Welcome to May! The wellness committee is kicking off the month with a fun challenge. This 31-day challenge is meant to encourage participants to explore several areas of health and wellness. Each day, you can select activities from each category to gain enough points for the week to earn a prize and a raffle ticket for 3 different wellness baskets! How to participate:
Print off the challenge calendar
Select 3 activities per day to complete from the lists at the top (this challenge is on your honor!)
Track each activity for the day on your calendar
Turn in your calendars the first week of June to get a prize. A full calendar is needed for a prize. Raffle tickets are given for point totals! Even if you were unable to complete the challenge every day, you can still get a raffle ticket to enter to win a basket.
40 points=1 raffle ticket
50 points=2 raffle tickets
60 points =3 raffle tickets
72 points=4 raffle tickets
Along with the challenge, we will be sending out wellness resources throughout the month to keep you motivated. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Paige Nelson in Wellness, pnelson@welia.org
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Caravan, a premier platform dedicated to improving your health and wellness in every aspect.
Caravan offers a diverse selection of video programs led by expert teachers designed to revitalize your health, elevate energy levels, mitigate stress, and boost productivity. You now have access to their library of tools and practices that promote your financial wellness, mental health, physical wellbeing, nutritional balance, leadership development, and more!
As a valued member of the Welia family, you’ll enjoy complimentary access to Caravan’s extensive resources, alongside an exclusive wellness program tailored specifically for our employees. We are proud to amplify our collective health and wellness, empowering everyone on a path to joy and vitality.
We hosted an onboarding session for a quick overview Monday! Unable to join us? No worries! Join us next week on March 17th at 10am in the meeting rooms for an overview of our new program! Or watch the recording overview HERE!
HOW TO ACCESS THE PLATFORM:
Sign Up: Click here to sign up for the All•In•One Wellbeing | Caravan platform. After submitting your email, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to log in.
Download the app: Download the All•In•One Wellbeing | Caravan app on the App Store or Google Play for best experience.
Log In via Web Browser: Prefer using a browser? Log in here and save your password in your web browser for easy access. If you forget your password, simply click “Email me a sign-in link” on the login page to regain access.
Make It Easy to Return
✅ Enable app notifications for daily wellness reminders.
✅ Bookmark the platform on your web browser for effortless access.
💡 Need help? The Caravan team is here for you! Contact them anytime at info@caravanwellness.com for platform support or any other questions!
START BROWSING:
Once you’re signed up, here are some great ways to explore the platform. Whether you’re looking for quick sessions or in-depth programs, there’s something for everyone—kids, seniors, all genders, and all abilities. Pro tip: Use the search bar for personalized recommendations!
Join us Wednesday night at 6pm for employee pickleball at the Welia Center. Please connect with Paige Nelson, pnelson@welia.org, with any questions.
We are getting a new fitness program! Instead of Wellbeats, we will now be using a platform called All-In-One by Caravan. Join us on March 10th for an educational training on the app. We will be in meeting room 2&3 at 10:15am-10:45am. We are excited to connect and share how Caravan can support your wellbeing! Here’s what the session will include: 10 min introduction to Caravan and its benefits, 5-minute overview of our newest content and features, 5-minute walkthrough on signing up and navigating the platform, 10-minute Q&A to answer any remaining questions.
Check out the new spin bikes in the employee yoga room! These are a great tool to utilize for spin classes on our new fitness program.
Enjoy the March Wellness newsletter below
Have a great month!
–Paige Nelson Health & Wellness Programs Coordinator | Welia Health | 320.225.3586
March 2025 HealthE by Medica Delightful Treat or Super Food in Disguise? If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ve probably heard — and even relished — reports that the candy is supposed to be good for your health. But is that really true? Yes, within reason. But only certain types of chocolate. And only when consumed in moderation.
Here’s the scoop: Cacao, the main ingredient in dark chocolate, contains flavanols, a group of compounds also found in tea, apples, nuts, and other plant-based foods and beverages. Flavanols can benefit the body in numerous ways, including: Lowering blood pressure Reducing bad cholesterol Improving blood flow Easing chronic inflammation Going dark Sorry to disappoint any milk and white chocolate fans, but the dark variety is the winner in this case. White chocolate doesn’t have flavanols. While milk chocolate has some flavanols, research suggests milk may block your body from absorbing them. And when it comes to dark chocolate, the darker the better — aim for bars that feature 70% cacao or more.
How healthy is dark chocolate? A 2017 American Heart Association study found that raw almonds and dark chocolate can help reduce bad cholesterol in overweight subjects. And the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published findings in 2021 concluding that a small daily dose of dark chocolate helped reduce the risk of coronary artery illness in 188,000 military veterans.
Moderation matters
All of this isn’t to say you should feast on dark chocolate. Yes, it has those healthy flavanols. But it’s also loaded with calories. Plus, it has saturated fat, which can affect your cholesterol levels. So, check with your doctor to see if it’s OK. If so, enjoy in moderation. And think of dark chocolate like kindness — a little goes a long way.
