You Be You Wellness [UBU]

"From my coordinating position, the reason we had you in to lead some Sport For Life classes was that you provided a unique blend of physical challenges and activities, while also providing students with an opportunity to connect socially/emotionally with each other. You provided an environment and leadership presence that allowed the students to gain physical benefits while growing as individuals, partners, and groups. 

We will definitely be recommending you to schools in our division." - Kurt Davison, St. Theresa Catholic School, Sport For Life Program Lead 

WHAT: UBU offers youth space to practice overall well-being as they create a community for themselves through physical activity and conversations relevant to them. In small-to-medium-sized group settings, participants engage in fitness-related activities combined with lessons that honour the dictionary definition of "mindful" [i.e., conscious or aware of something. Focusing one's awareness on the present moment]. 

BACKGROUND: In 2018, UBU's spring and fall, weekly, girl-specific (Grade 6-8) programs began with a focus of empowerment, active wellness, and a mindful life. Host locations of UBU's 2018 sessions were The Bridge and The Spark Centre. See bios of spring 2018 guest instructors and bios provided of fall 2018 guest instructors

Two seasonal (spring & fall), weekly sessions (6-10 weeks) will occur annually in Sherwood Park, with plans to expand into the Edmonton area. Follow UBU on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the more information. 

In 2019, UBU began leading sessions for students in St. Theresa's Catholic School's Sport For Life program (Grades 5-8), which is based on the Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) model that exposes students to a variety of sport and recreation activities to build athletic skill and leadership qualities and help create lifelong active and healthy lifestyles.

UBU also worked with a U13 Phoenix (club) Girls' soccer team in March 2019 for a team-building workshop before the team's provincial playoffs.

WHO: The founder and lead instructor of UBU sessions is Michelle Lindstrom: a mom of two girls (8 and 12), wife, long-distance runner, and multi-sport enthusiast, including playing junior high and high school volleyball and competitive softball in her youth into adulthood.

CERTIFICATIONS: Michelle has her Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (AFLCA) certifications in Ever Active Kids (i.e., focusing on children and adolescent physical development; planning creative programming while being aware of physical, psychological, social, and moral factors of youth; using various positive motivational tools; and understanding physical literacy and fundamental movement skills), Group Fitness (i.e., lead group exercise classes with an awareness of trends, media, music, movement and cueing, exercise analysis, and special populations), and Portable Equipment (i.e., specific to leading group exercise classes with non-gym-machine/portable equipment focusing on class structure and content; planning, leadership, choreography, movement combinations, safety, and providing alternate movements).

Michelle is also a trained journalist (SAIT print journalism diploma) with more than a decade's worth of writing about many people and topics including youth and fitness, interviewing local leaders, gathering research, and editing for publications including Avenue magazine (Edmonton), YEGFitness, IMPACT, METRO Edmonton, LEAP, Heroes, Calgary Herald, and more, giving her the practical knowledge of how journaling is a useful tool for youth to express themselves and be mindful.

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PROGRAMS FOR YOU: If you are a coach/team leader looking for a team-building boost for your sports team, custom workshops can be created for your group | Youth groups and school programs interested in trying something new to help get youth moving and feeling the positive effects of physical activity, sessions can be created for you | Parents looking for a girl empowerment program for your Gr. 6-8 daughter, UBU's seasonal programs run every spring and fall.

Connect with Michelle of You Be You Wellness for more information about any of the options noted above.

 "Thanks for organizing and running this program! I think it's really needed in our community!" -Amanda, parent of 2018 fall program participant.

"It shows us that girls are strong and we can do anything." - Avery, 2018 fall program participant.