Category | Arts & Living

Walking into wellness in the new year

Published on January 27, 2009 by Heather Cook

The Wellness Center, which is a part of the WellStar College of Health & Human Services, held their first event of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

The “Welcome Back to Wellness” event was a fun and innovative way to introduce students to the Wellness Center. At the event, there was an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, crackers, mini wraps and hot chocolate.

Brittany Scott, a senior majoring in International Affairs, said that her favorite part of the event was “the variety of healthy foods.”

If you were stressed the day of the event, you were in luck because the event also included a free chair massage. Relaxing music also accompanied the experience.

Not only was the event meant to be enjoyable, it was also intended to provide helpful information on what the Center offers. “We hope students become more aware of the services provided by the Wellness Center and on campus so they can achieve a high level of wellness,” Sherry Grable, who has been a part of the Wellness Center Staff since 1997, said. “Healthy students are more likely to be successful students.”

“We have some great programs to help achieve this goal,” Grable said, “including the health fair, weight management program, and a one-mile walk entitled ‘Poker Walk,’ not to mention the ‘Learn Over Lunch’ sessions that address stress, anxiety, healthy eating, healthy relationships, body image, etc.”

The Wellness Center is offering 26 different events this semester. Events range from “The Thin Line,” which is about eating disorders, to “Condomplation,” which focuses on sexual responsibility.

The Wellness Center is also hosting a health fair on March 31. For you T-shirt junkies, a free shirt will be given to people who visit fifteen different stations. Other events include “Body Image Awareness Week” and “Love That Belly,” which is an introduction to belly dancing, and a “Safe Spring Break Party.”

One of the most popular events is “Learn Over Lunch.” As you might have guessed, a free lunch is given to the first 30 students. For those of you who are vegetarians, contact the Wellness Center at least two days before the event so they can provide food for you.

Topics include realistic resolutions (perfect for the New Year), dating, dieting, nutrition, depression, eating out and finals survival. Registration instructions can be found on the Wellness Center’s Web site and at computertrain.kennesaw.edu.

Another popular program the Wellness Center offers is “Owl Watcher’s Weight Management.” This is an eight-week program that is designed to

help students learn how to shed pounds and keep them off.

Registration is required for this event, and for the early birds, registration starts as soon as three weeks before the event. Also, if weight management isn’t enough motivation, a free lunch is provided for the first 30 students to register. Registration for this event can be found at the aforementioned Web sites as well. The first class starts on Wednesday, Jan. 28 and the program ends on Wednesday, March 25.

In most HPS 1000 level classes, you are required to take a MicroFit Fitness Test. The Wellness Center offers this for free. They measure your blood pressure, weight, flexibility, heart rate and more. It’s a great way to keep track of your personal health statistics, and it’s also a great way to get an easy A. It is a good idea, though, to schedule an appointment ahead of time because slots fill up quickly. To make a reservation, simply call the Wellness Center at 770-423-6394.

Nutrition counseling is also available. Students can meet with KSU’s own dietician and can be assessed on their current eating patterns and habits. The dietician can advise you on how to control your weight and also how to control your health conditions, such as high cholesterol. To make an appointment, call the Wellness Center.

The Wellness Center is located inside the Student Recreation and Wellness Center in room 131. Their office hours this semester are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–5p.m. They are also available for questions and information on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Any other information can found at their Web site at kennesaw.edu/wellness.

The next Wellness Center event is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 and will kick off the start of the “Learn Over Lunch” classes. This event is from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Student Recreation & Wellness Center room 131. The topic of the day is realistic resolutions.
When Scott was asked what could have been improved about the “Welcome Back to Wellness” event, she said, “I think more people would be nice.” Although the event was very well organized, there did seem to be sparse numbers. So next time, all of you who plan to attend, bring a friend. The Wellness Center is a great place for people to learn about their bodies and grow in that knowledge. It is there for you, so use it.