Bear Down for Wellness: Lapan Students Connect with Health & Wellness

Last week, our center collaborated with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, the Global Health Institute Arts for Health and Wellness Initiatives and our community partner Lapan College and Career Club for a day dedicated to movement, mindfulness, and discovery for high school students. This event featured activities designed to promote physical and emotional well-being through yoga and introduced Lapan high school students to the diverse fields that make up the world of health and wellness. 

For more than half of the students, it was their first time trying yoga! One student shared, “I felt strong. I thought that I couldn’t do some poses, but I did.” Another expressed, “I achieved more self-awareness and calmness, “while others described it as “a new potential hobby or exercise interest” and a way to “feel more control in and with my body.”

Lapan high school students learned how the architecture of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine building connects the built environment with well-being. They also toured the public health research labs that are currently working to improve health outcomes in Southern Arizona and explored the University of Arizona Community Garden to learn about the medicinal properties of plants grown on campus. During lunch our director, Dr. Garcia, shared his personal journey and encouraged students to envision the many ways they can make a difference in their futures. One Lapan student reflected, “The Yoga and Dr. Dahmer’s talk was motivating to develop a healthier lifestyle.” 

Through these experiences, students built meaningful connections, reflected on their own well-being and began imagining new possibilities for their futures. The field trip offered Lapan high school students firsthand look at life on the University of Arizona campus, helping them picture themselves as future Wildcats. The day concluded with a Q & A session where students engaged with current UA Lapan students, sharing their own experiences and aspirations. 

About the Initiative 

The Lapan Wildcat Wellness Bear Down Day also served as a pilot for the Yoga for Youth initiative, a collaborative effort between our center, the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and the Global Health Institute. The goal of this initiative is to bring youth from the Tucson community to the University of Arizona for meaningful, hands-on experiences that expand their understanding of holistic health and well-being. 

Collaboration in Action 

This event is made possible through the efforts of more than a dozen collaborators representing University of Arizona departments, community partners, and student leaders. The Lapan Wildcat Wellness Bear Down Day reflects our center’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and youth empowerment through health education, wellness and experiential learning.