Amy Garno
Staff Writer
Starting, Mon. Jan. 28 faculty, staff and student will be challenged to get in shape through the Siena Heights University’s Health Center’s Active U
@ SHU program. Pre-registration began Monday, Jan. 22, but individuals can still sign up. The 10-week wellness program is designed to increase participants’ physical activity and physical fitness. This is the third year for the program and will begin end of Jan. and end April 7.
Those who are interested can register at the SHU Health Clinic with Marlene Waldvogel, Director of Health Services. Waldvogel will do an initial assessment by taking participants blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and figuring their BMI (body mass index). Individuals will then set personal fitness and activity goals from the pre-participation assessment.
They will team up with other participants that have a similar fitness level and goals to form a team of up to six individuals, or they can form their own team. Daily workouts and progress will be logged into a personal journal.
All participants will receive a journal to keep track of their activity, and an Active U t-shirt. At the end of the 10 week period, a reevaluation of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and BMI will be done. A winning team will be determined based on the overall amount of activity. All members of the winning team will receive a Siena Heights warm-up jacket with the Active U @ SHU logo.
“I am looking forward to seeing more people get involved this year than in the past two years. It’s good to see the Siena Heights community start off the new year with healthier habits while improving the quality of their lives”, Waldvogal noted.
Health and wellness are important issues in Michigan, which was ranked fifth in a recent study by the Trust for American Health. According to the study, 31.3 percent of Michigan residents are obese and at the current rate by 2030 three in five adults will be classified overweight.
Faculty, staff and students interested in participating in the Active U program can visit Waldvogel during health center hours (Mon. through Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Faculty and staff with tight schedules may call the health center at 517-264-7190.
For more information visit the health center’s website http://www.sienaheights.edu/StudentLife/HealthServices.aspx