Laker Life

GVL / Taylor Raymond
Sophmore Erica Cesarz signs up for Rock Climbing events during the Health and Wellness Expo held in the Grand River Room on Wednesday.

Annual fitness, wellness expo to promote healthy habits on campus

By Tracy Gershon GVL Staff Writer
1/17/2010

People often resolve to drop holiday weight in the new year. In January, the Recreation Center fills with students who hope to slim down before spring break.

To encourage continued use of fitness facilities, Campus Recreation will host the sixth annual Fitness and Wellness Expo from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Kirkhof Center's Grand River Room.

As Campus Recreation's signature event, the expo boasts free food, free massages and prize drawings for fitness tools: an iPod, a group exercise pass and a massage gift certificate.

"We want to expose the campus community to what fitness and wellness resources are available to them either right here on campus or in the local area," said Amy Campbell, assistant director of Wellness for Campus Recreation.

Local businesses, campus departments and student organizations will provide information tables focused on nutrition and fitness.

"This event provides a great opportunity to learn something new to benefit an individual's health and well-being," Campbell said.

The Health and Wellness Center, the YMCA, the Counseling Center, Pre-Dental Club, Campus Recreation, Student Nurses Association and other organizations will answer questions, provide information and give away prizes.

"A healthy community is very important," said sophomore exercise science major Nicole Molaro. "We as students are the future, and we have so much potential. To have the power to educate through teaching and doing is something we all need to take initiative on."

Organizations will offer demonstrations, including Capoeira, a Brazilian artistic self-defense technique, and TurboKick, a fitness class that mixes kickboxing, boxing and hip-hop dance.

Meijer Healthy Living dietitian Shari Steinbach will offer a nutrition workshop, which will provide participants with healthy snack options and recipes to cook nutritious meals at home.

"As an exercise science major, fitness is very important to me and the career I'm pursuing," said sophomore Cody Smith. "Fitness is something that must be maintained far beyond high school physical education classes."

tgershon@lanthorn.com

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