Health 2400 – Mind/Body Wellness - 3 Credit Hours
Fall 2011

Instructor: Michael Olpin, PhD, CHES
Office: Swenson Gym Office #125G – Hours TBA
E-mail: molpin@weber.edu
Phone: 626-6485

Class Time & Location
MWF 10:30-11:20 – Stromberg PE/Health 62

Required Materials
The World is NOT a Stressful Place. Olpin, M. (2010).  (available in the bookstore)

Suggested Materials
Stress management for life: A research based experiential approach. Olpin, M. & Hesson, M. (2010).
Stress Relief Audio CD. Olpin, M. (2005)   (both available in the bookstore)

Also Required
Students will need to be able to access the online webspace (online.weber.edu). Several of the assignments in the class will be available or completed in there. If you need help, contact the friendly technical help people at 626-7777.

Course Description
This course exposes students to the promotion of mind/body wellness and understanding the body, mind, spirit connection.

Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to give students a thorough investigation into the theories, models, methods and skills that enhance a person’s wellbeing on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Rationale
Mind/body wellness is based on how we think. Gaining greater control of our thoughts through various principles, tools, and techniques will help us gain the upper hand on our state of well-being. The result of this is greater inner peace, tranquility, and joy. These commodities are infrequently found in our society based on the percentage of hospital admissions that have a stress component (over 80%).

Objectives
By the completion of this course, the student will have the opportunity to: 

• Define and explain psychoneuroimmunology
• Identify characteristics of personality that are risk factors for disease and ill health and those that are protective factors for health
• Describe the key components of healthy relationships
• Discuss the role of spirituality in the promotion of health.
• Describe how health is impacted by perception.
• Explore peak performance and high functioning wellness as they relate to personal well-being.

Course Meetings
Due to the nature of the material presented, class attendance is essential. The class will be conducted in a workshop format in which theoretical content will be combined with experiential learning. All students are expected to participate in all class activities. Also, please dress appropriately for various types of activities.

Class Activities during the Semester

Participation
During class time, we will involve ourselves in many different types of activities. Your participation will be essential. Many of these activities will have points attached to them. These will be available only if you are in class to involve yourself in them.

MInd/Body Wellness Contract
Students will create a contract relating to high level mental, emotional & spiritual wellness. This process will be explained to you during the first week. Assessment will occur on a weekly basis.

Reaction papers
As we move through the semester we will be treating a variety of topics. From time to time, a brief reaction paper will be assigned for you to demonstrate both your learning of the topic and also your thoughts and feelings about it. Each of these reaction papers will be completed using WebCT and will be available online. The due dates for each reaction paper will be given to you at the time each one is assigned.

Stress Management Lab Visits
During the first half of the semester, you will visit the Stress Management Lab at least 2 times. During your visits, you may try any of the activities that are available in the lab. You will report about each of your visits in the online discussion area of this class. The due date for your visits is by the end of the 8th week of the semester. You can either walk in directly or you can learn all about the lab and make an appointment by going to this website: http://programs.weber.edu/relax/

The World is NOT a Stressful Place
During the early parts of the semester, you will read the book titled, "The World is NOT a Stressful Place." An online assignment will be given in which you will answer specific questions relating to the book.

Book Review
A review of a book relating to mental, emotional, and/or spiritual health will be due at a time determined later in the semester. The book will be chosen from the book list on the e-syllabus, or you may present a book to the instructor for his approval. The review should be in the following format: 3-4 typed pages, double- spaced, with one-inch margins. It should also include a cover page stating the title of the book, the author of the book, the date the book was published, the student's name, and the student's I.D. number.
Books you have to read previously or are reading for other classes will not be permitted for this book review.

The content of the review should include a thorough analysis of the following:

Main ideas of the book (Be thorough)

Why you chose the book

How the author(s) of the book approaches stress management, mental, emotional and/or spiritual health

Information that you learned

Ideas you thought were interesting

To what audience is the author writing

How you have changed after reading the book

If you would, or would not recommend this book to others, and why or why not

Any other appropriate and interesting things you might include

The book review will be graded for completeness on the book and for grammar and spelling. You will be asked which book you have chosen by the third week of the class.

Click here for a list of suggested books from which to choose for this project. If you choose a book that is not on the list, please run it by your instructor for approval.

Final Paper
During the semester you will participate in a wide variety of exercises and activities designed to enhance your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. At the end of the semester, you will write a paper that summarizes your experience of the activities of the class. The paper should include the following items:

• A cover page with your name, the course, the title of the paper, and the date
• The body of the paper that includes a thorough discussion of your subjective experience of the various activities we did in class that were designed to help you enhance your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness by answering the following questions:
• Which activities and topics did you find most useful for you towards gaining mind/body wellness? Why?
• Which activities and topics did you find least useful for you towards gaining mind/body wellness? Why?
• Which of the activities during the semester did you find most enjoyable and why?
• Which of the activities during the semester did you find least enjoyable and why? 
• Describe a few ways that you have changed as a result of the knowledge and experiences of this class since the beginning of the semester. Include ways that your stress symptoms have changed (headaches, sleeping habits, irritability, etc); ways you perceive things differently than before; include a brief comment or two on how others have noticed changes in you.
• If you were to take the class again, in what ways could the class be improved to enhance your experience of it?
• Did you get what you wanted out of the class?
• Add any other final thoughts that would help me improve the class, or anything you feel you would like me to know about your experience of the class.

Evaluation
Your grade will be calculated by the accumulation of points from the following items:

Mind/Body/Spirit Contract Book Review As a Man Thinketh The World is NOT a Stressful Place Stress Management Lab Class Activities/Reaction Papers Final Paper Total

100 points 50 points 30 points 60 points 20 points 70 points 20 points 350 points

Grades are based on a percentage of the total possible points earned in the class.
The following total number of points is associated with the final grades.

93% and above A	80% B-	67% D+
90% A-	77% C+	63% D
87% B+	73% C	60% D-
83% B	70% C-	Less than 60% E

Your grades scores and ongoing grade for this course are found in the webspace designated for this class. This is accessible by following the instructions at the top of this syllabus.

Class Ground Rules

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices
Please turn off, and leave in your bags, your cell phone, your laptop, or other electronic device  while in the classroom.

Starting and Dismissing Class
Please come to class on time. If you know you will frequently be late for this class, please take it a different semester when you are able to arrive on time. We will dismiss class when the class activities are finished for the day. Please refrain from "packing up" before we are officially through. If you absolutely must leave during class, please leave in a way that does not disrupt the flow of the class.

Food in the Classroom
If you must bring food into the classroom, make sure you bring enough food to share with everyone (including the instructor).

Classroom Chatter
If you need to carry on an extended conversation with someone else in the room on an unrelated topic, please be courteous and leave the room to do so.

Free Expression
A classical liberal arts education should include the free exchange of ideas. Accordingly I do not subscribe to any form of “political correctness.” Feel free to express any idea that corresponds to the course subject matter. I may disagree with you, but this will not affect your grade. As with any other right there is a corresponding responsibility when exercising the right to free expression. I expect you to be courteous and show respect to your fellow classmates. If you disagree with someone, or me, then express your opinion. But do not, under any circumstances, resort to personal attacks.

Safety Information
As with any physiological or psychological training tool that can effectively help you improve your health, you may find you need less medication, if you are taking medications for stress, anxiety, pain, high blood pressure, diabetes or other stress related disorders. It would be wise to discuss any changes in your needs with your prescribing doctor.

Academic Misconduct
Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Evidence of not doing your own work will result in an automatic zero for that assignment on the first infraction. Evidence of not doing your own work a second time will result in an automatic failing grade for the class. This rule applies for all tests, in-class assignments and outside of class assignments unless the instructor stipulates that the work may be done with partners or groups. Obviously, studying for tests and such may be done with others.

Click here to go to my new and improved website on Stress Management and Wellness