The moment you enter the Center of Health and Well-being you are greeted with an enthusiastic, “Welcome!” This initial greeting can prove that the environment at the Center is nothing but welcoming. As you walk through the beautiful building you will see each staff member smile and give you a wave, trying everything in their power to make you feel at home. Home away from home is a good adjective to describe the center because of the experience, amenities, and social aspects that it brings to its members. This gives you the impression that the center is a friendly environment that cares for the well-being of everyone who walks through their door. 

           In addition to the approachable staff, the architecture of the building was another outstanding factor that distinguishes the Center from other facilities in Winter Park. The building has been structured with glass windows surrounding the building which allows the sun to beam through the whole building. The glass structure provides a way to brighten the place literally and in a metaphorical way. Each small design of the building has a meaning and purpose. After speaking with one of the staff members, Michael, as the TV/Producer he has recently interviewed the architect who built the Center. He mentioned that each specific pattern and color choice was all a purpose for the building, which created the ultimate peaceful ambiance. 

         I am so excited to begin attending the Center for Health and Wellbeing on a regular basis! Sometimes I get a little stir-crazy being on our tiny campus 24/7, but it’s so good to know I can get away to such a welcoming and positive place not too far down the road. I’m hoping that incorporating the amazing programs that the Center offers into my emotional self-care routine will help manage my stress levels and keep me accountable. I plan to take advantage of Thoughtful Thursdays, a program that supports you in achieving your short and long-term goals and encourages you to be more mindful on a daily basis. As someone who likes to express my emotions through art, I am also thrilled about the Unleash Your Creative Spirit drawing events coming up! The Mindful Meditation class is also a great opportunity to calm the mind when things get hectic in our lives. Even just being at the facility to do homework is something that I think will benefit me emotionally because everyone is so nice and it’s so bright and revitalizing there! I might even hit their gym to release some endorphins while I’m at it. There are so many ways that I can use this Center to take care of my emotional wellbeing, and it’s safe to say that I’m happy about it!

         The center has so many wonderful programs, it makes me even more excited for the future programs they will have! As a college student, trying to eat healthy can be a huge struggle. Sometimes it seems like it’d be so much easier to just eat out or have it delivered right to my door. This is where the center comes in. Armed with their vast knowledge of nutritious eating, a cooking class for college students is just up their alley. Giving college students a cheap alternative to eating healthy will benefit us in many ways.
            Cooking isn’t your thing? Don’t stress about it! The center will help you deal with that day to day stress. Life can be extremely stressful for college students. There are papers to be done, projects, student athletes with sports, and not to mention any extracurricular activities we might be engaged in. A program catered to helping deal with life’s stress will be sure to attract more students to the center.
            If you’re anything like me then a bit of activity will go a long way. Yoga has been known to help with your body but your mind as well. Getting a moment to declutter your mind as well as your body will have you feeling brand new. A program that will offer many different types of yoga will surely appeal to a broader audience.
            Come down to the Center for Health and Wellbeing and tell them what it is that you want. While you’re there, make sure you grab a coffee and take a look around.

by Samantha Anderson

The Winter Park Center for Health and Wellbeing believes that our environment affects our
inner wellness as much as things such as physical health, spiritual health, social health, etc. In
order to stimulate your senses and help you reconnect to the outside world, the center has
built seven different gardens around their property, to encourage you to get outside and enjoy
the fresh air, while re-centering yourself through an immersion into nature.

​The gardens include the Welcome Garden, the Meditation Garden, the Terraced Garden, the
Reflection Pool, the Aromatherapy Garden, the Bamboo Garden, and the Commons.
The Welcome Garden is full of edible herbs and vegetables that are all used in the café. The
Meditation and Bamboo Gardens, as well as the Reflection Pool, offer areas more secluded, to
stimulate serenity and tranquility.

​The Center also believes that the environment which you spend your time indoors is important
as well, as in the Commons, offering a space for “both passage and place”, lined with tree-like
columns, a canopy like ceiling, and a welcoming place for socialization or relaxation.
There are plenty of places located within the center that will invoke a sense of peace within
whatever space you are in.