Physical Wellness

Maintaining physical wellness means eating a healthy diet, avoiding substance abuse, obtaining adequate sleep, and exercising regularly.

Resources

Healthy Shopping in Foggy Bottom

Healthy Eating in Foggy Bottom

  • Ross Hall Bistro: located on the second floor of Ross Hall, serving healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks from 7 AM till 5 PM Monday through Friday.

  • George Washington Hospital Cafeteria: located on the ground floor of the hospital, across the courtyard from the medical school. Starbucks (open 24 hours, but don't let us catch you in there when you should be sleeping!!), and, for a hospital (!), very good food selections including fresh Sushi!

  • Sweetgreen: located in the Avenue Complex on I street, half a block from the medical school http://www.sweetgreen.com/

  • Roti Mediterranean Grill: located in the Avenue Complex on I street, half a block from the medical school http://www.roti.com/

  • GW's J Street Food Court: University Student Center, located on 21st Street between I and H or access from H street between 21st and 22nd Streets.http://www.gwu.edu/explore/campuslife/livingoncampus/dining

  • There are lots of other healthy choices within walking distance of the medical school; don't live on pizza!

Exercise

The Center for Disease Control recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activity (or 75 minutes of highly vigorous activity) each week along with 2 sessions of resistance exercise (weights or isometrics). Given the convenient resources at GW and in the greater DC metropolitan area you have no excuse for not trying to meet these targets most weeks! Virtually any exercise that you like can be found easily in this area (well, maybe not ice climbing).

George Washington's Lerner Health and Wellness Center: This state of the art comprehensive wellness center is located one block from the medical school. All students are automatically members of the center when enrolled at the University. The center has extensive facilities for training, dance, aerobics, indoor sports, racquet sports, swimming, and weight lifting along with nutrition and fitness programs and assessments. http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwellness/

Intramural Athletics: The University has an extensive intramural sports program for undergraduate and graduate students. Beat the Law School!!http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwellness/intramuralsports/

Yoga: The medical school sponsors Yoga classes each semester. Enrollment is free! Watch for email notification about schedules and locations.

Running: The DC region is home to some of the best urban running in the world. Run the mall, tour the monuments (But don't run through the monuments. That's not permitted!!), see the cherry blossoms, cruise the Potomac River shore, pass the White House or Congress, and dodge the tourists. If you like trail running, don't worry, extensive cross-country trails are accessible within a mile of the school in Rock Creek Park, Dumbarton Oaks Park, Roosevelt Island, and the Potomac Heritage Trail. The medical school's Running Club runs most Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15 PM from the Ross Hall courtyard. Join the group for a run of any distance or pace: we try to accommodate all levels of runners.

Kayaking and Canoeing: The Potomac River is a stone's throw away and home to great water sports.

Climbing: Indoor and Outdoor climbing facilities are plentiful in the DC region.

Biking: Paved and off-road bike trails abound in the Washington, DC area. The C and O Canal Trail, Capital Crescent Trail, Rock Creek Trail, Mt. Vernon Trail, and Virginia's Custis/Washington and Old Dominion Trail all start within a mile of the medical school.