Wellness event encourages pledge to live healthy life

Beka Cagle
Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:30:17 +0000
Arts & Life, Events, News, American Heart Association, exercise, fitness, health, How Do You 150?, RPAC, Student Life Recreational Sports, Study of student life

Group fitness instructors will be at the How Do You 150? event to teach students ways to stay active. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Office of Student Life

Student Life Recreational Sports is encouraging students to strengthen more than just their muscle mass this week through a campaign and event.?

The event, called How Do You 150?, will feature wellness activities, games, prizes and free food Thursday at the RPAC, with a goal of teaching students different ways to become more active, Marci Shumaker, senior associate director for administration and programs, said.

Studies conducted by the Ohio State Center for the Study of Student Life in 2018 showed a correlation between using campus recreation centers and a higher GPA, Shumaker said.

“There seems to be some strong reasons why coming to someplace like the RPAC can benefit your academic success and mental health,” Shumaker said.

The American Heart Association recommends incorporating at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise into each week, which can be achieved through simple lifestyle changes, Ali Talcott, campus programs coordinator, said.

“It can be taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking a little bit further away,” Talcott said.

Attendees can choose to participate in a 30-day challenge alongside their peers to motivate them to stick to a routine and healthy habits. Students interested in the challenge can sign a pledge card during the event, stating ways they will try to incorporate 150 minutes of physical activity into their schedules in the next 30 days, Shumaker said. The pledge cards will be displayed in the RPAC, and students will be entered to win prizes when the challenge is complete.

Ohio State group fitness instructors will be leading demonstrations showcasing different classes offered by the recreational sports department. The Ohio State Jump Rope Club and Team Handball Club will help students find different ways to stay active and reach 150 minutes of physical activity each week, Talcott said.

Attendees will have the chance to play a variety of games, including pop-a-shot —? a competitive, carnival-style basketball game — have a chair massage and take a ride on a mechanical pumpkin, Talcott said.

Raffle prizes will be awarded throughout the event, including FitBits; recreational sports items such as T-shirts, water bottles and bags; and InBody 570 Testing, which is a consultation for overall health, including body fat percentage, amount of lean muscle tissue and diet and exercise, according to the recreational sports website, Talcott said.

Thyme & Change, an on-campus food truck, will serve free tacos for attendees, Talcott said.

Shumaker said staff in the department hope the event will show students that although 150 minutes of weekly physical activity may seem daunting, it is achievable through small lifestyle changes and fun activities that can be incorporated into a daily routine.

“Hopefully the connection is that activity can be fun,” Shumaker said. “It doesn’t have to just be an intense workout on the fitness floor.”?

All events hosted by Student Life Recreational Sports can be found at recsports.osu.edu.

How Do You 150? is 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the Larkins Plaza and lower main space of the RPAC. Admission is free for all with a valid BuckID.