Following COVID-19, OU has prioritized mental health and physical well-being, determined to ensure students' voices are heard with the grand opening of the Well-Being Wing at Ping Recreation Center.
The development of the Well-Being Wing was a collaborative effort from members of the Department of Well-Being and Recreation, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Chaddock and Morrow College of Fine Arts.
Combined efforts helped shape a space that addresses not only mental health and well-being but also fosters a sense of connection among students.
Assistant Director of Ping Recreation Center Hanna Vorisek said the inspiration for the project came from what she believed was a need not being met on campus.
“This is a physical space that we can support student health (and) mental well-being within a space that's accessible by nearly every student on campus,” Vorisek said.
Located on the second floor of Ping, the Well-Being Wing offers various innovative features specifically designed to promote relaxation and recovery.
There are massage chairs with different features and settings that offer personalized wellness and muscle recovery as well as Relaxation Pods that include screens to guide users through meditations and stress-reduction exercises. There are also therapeutic tools with light therapy to help with overall stress management.
“The two hydro massage, one cryo, which is hot and cold therapy, and then a relaxed space, they’re all programmable for the person who’s sitting in the chair,” Vorisek said. “The sessions last between 10 and 15 minutes.”
Vorisek said the hydro massage can be customized to be either full body, half body, lower, top or bottom and speed and pressure. She said each chair is meant to be customizable to whoever’s sitting on the bed.
“Same with cryo, there’s eight zones, four of them are hot, and four of them are cold,“ Vorisek said. "You can program which areas are hot, which areas are cold, and it's all through the Android pad that's sitting, that's attached to the machine.”
Vorisek said in the relax space pods, students can choose from one of 30 different programs, allowing customization to suit their needs.
The total budget for the Well-Being Wing exceeds $100,000. The university allocated funding for mental health initiatives through department reserves and state support.
Wes Bonadio, director of Well-Being and Recreation, said the project is part of the larger Ping Refresh Project. New furniture seen in the Ping lobby is also included in the initiative, turning the building’s “stationary spaces” into more usable spaces.
“We worked with our vendor that is contracted with the university, Loft, for the furniture and the design and outline of that, in addition to the graphics that went in with UCM,” Bonadio said.
The department plans to utilize an additional $48,000 in state funding to establish a second well-being space on campus. This expansion aims to increase accessibility and ensure wellness resources reach a broader student audience.
The Well-Being Wing's grand opening event occured from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 9. It allowed students, faculty and staff to explore the new space, learn more about its offerings and engage with wellness coaches and staff.
Attendees had the opportunity to experience the massage chairs and relaxation pods firsthand, which provided insight into the facility's benefits.
“My hope is that we are starting to see people that are coming into Ping that are potentially not here for treadmills or weights but are coming in specifically for the relaxing area," Vorisek said.
Hailey Barnhill, a sophomore studying biology pre-med said she thinks the Well-Being Wing will improve both mental and physical well-being among students, making Ping more welcoming.
After discovering the massage chairs during a demo last semester, she also encourages others to experience the Well-Being wing.
“I definitely think that it helps with relieving some of that mental stress from academics,” Barnhill said. “Being pre-med, I have a very tightly packed schedule with a lot of tough classes that do stress me out all the time.”
Barnhill said having the Well-Being Wing available after a workout or just to allow students to take time to clear their heads is very worthwhile.
