Kayaking in the San Antonio River has become a favorite wellness activity for Raymundo Rivera, MBA, MS, and his family during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being outdoors and safely away from other people, kayaking provides a combination of exercise, adventure and quality family time for Rivera, his wife, Alane Rivera, and eight-year-old son, Raymundo Rivera III.

“It wasn’t something my wife would have ever done before,” said Rivera, executive director of engineering and construction management and chief electrical engineer in the Department of Facilities Management.

father and son kayaking on San Antonio River.
Raymundo Rivera, executive director of engineering and construction management and chief electrical engineer in the Department of Facilities Management, kayaks with his son on the San Antonio River.

Mud, bugs and his wife “don’t mix.” But with their son forced to miss out on all his Cub Scout events and eager to try something new outdoors, she made an exception so she could join in on the family fun, he said. Now they hit the river about three times a month.

For Rivera, who continues to go to work on campus, the limitations of COVID-19 have brought an opportunity for him to get closer with his family and spend even more time with his son.

“I think it’s always been important to have that work/life balance,” he said. “And probably right now it’s even more important to focus on family.”

What wellness activities do you enjoy? Have you found creative ways to modify your healthy routines? Have you started a new hobby? We want to hear from you! Tell us your stories of healthy habits by submitting here.

Be Well is a series of stories highlighting how the UT Health San Antonio community is staying healthy emotionally, mentally and physically during the COVID-19 pandemic. To see more, click here.