IHHS Wellness Suite in Berkshire Hall

History of the Suite

In summer of 2020, the Wellness Suite was moved to White Hall, Room 114, and renamed the IHHS Center for Well-being.

The Institute for Holistic Health Studies opened as the Wellness Suite in Berkshire Hall on the Midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University in Fall 2015.

It was described as a beautiful space is an oasis of peace and serenity promoting health of the body, mind, and spirit. The generous yet cozy common room was a warm and inviting space for small group workshops or activities such as guided meditation, yoga off the mat, or drumming circles. For a more private and personalized setting, there were two treatment rooms which were used for individual reiki, massage, nutrition counselling, fitness assessments or health coaching appointments.

This wellness suite provided a venue for WCSU and the greater Danbury community to experience new opportunities for wellness, participate in workshops, and attend certification programs. In addition, the space was used to support in the courses for the new Holistic and Integrative Health Option in the BS of Health Promotion Studies curriculum. This wellness suite is the result of collaboration, ingenuity and creativity from several departments at WCSU. Many of the furnishings – tables, chairs, massage tables – were surplus furniture that were no longer in use by other departments and other branch campuses of WCSU, demonstrating sensitivity and commitment to reduce/reuse/and recycle.

Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the Wellness Suite, November 12, 2015

Pictured, left to right: Dr. Jess House, Dean, School of Professional Studies, Dr. Jane McBride Gates, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Jody Rajcula, HPX Department Co-chair, Dr. Robyn Housemann, HPX Department Co-chair, Christel Autuori, Director, Institute for Holistic Health Studies, and Dr. John B. Clark, WCSU President.