You Be You Wellness [UBU]

WHAT: You Be You Wellness (UBU) offers four streams of programming:

• UBU: Girls - Focuses on empowering young girls to be strong & self-aware in a multi-session format (in schools & independent spring/fall programs).
• UBU: Sports - Works on team-building, leadership, inclusivity & gelling on & off the court/ice/field for youth U11-U17 teams (any gender or sport). Typically in a 2-3 workshop format per team.
• UBU: Schools - Offers variety for Gr. 5-9, co-ed, Sport For Life/ Sport Fit/ Sports Performance or Phys. Ed. classes by blending fitness and mindful activities.
• UBU: Adults - Creates an inclusive space to workout at your own intensity in a bootcamp/ circuit-style setting, indoors and outdoors.

Each program offers participants 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 April 2018, UBU: Girls launched a 10-week, weekly program for Gr. 6-8 girls with a focus of empowerment, active wellness, and a mindful life. 

It was followed up in October by an 8-week program, with the same intent. 

Host locations of UBU's 2018 sessions were The Bridge and The Spark Centre. See bios of spring 2018 guest instructors and bios of fall 2018 guest instructors

UBU: Girls multi-week, weekly sessions (6-10 weeks) occur twice annually (spring & fall) 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: Schools started its sessions with 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.
"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 

Then Hillcrest Junior High welcomed UBU to lead some mindful activity sessions for co-ed Gr. 8 & 9 Sports Performance classes.

Followed by UBU leading mindful activity/active wellness classes for Gr. 7 co-ed Sport Fit classes at Vimy Ridge Academy School

UBU: Adults started in January 2019 with a 6-week, Women's only program held in the Spark Centre for those just started back into their fitness journey.

" I really like the fact that Michelle focuses on form over anything else. Getting the foundations right at the beginning is very important. Her approach is also very inclusive; I felt welcome in her classes, and did not have to concern myself with how I look, or what I saw in the mirror – because there were none! Although I am familiar with many of the exercises she taught, it was nice to have my form corrected – a good way to break some old habits." - Anna, participant in Jan/Feb Women's only adult 6-week session.

UBU: Sports started in March 2019 with a Sherwood Park-based U13 club girls' soccer team for a team-building workshop before the team's provincial playoffs.

"Michelle adapted the delivery of the program to suit the type of group she was interacting with. The girls are active, competitive, and full of energy all the time. There was a good mix of activities that allowed the girls to be active and have fun but understand the lessons and tools being given to them." - U13 Girls Sherwood Park Phoenix Soccer Coach, Mike Tennant. 

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).

Keeping Girls In Sport course certification from CAAWS.

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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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 participant in 2018 fall UBU: Girls program.

 "For many women and girls, social acceptance enhances group performance (in contrast to men and boys, for whom performance enhances social acceptance)." -Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS).