Mason hosts Health and Fitness Expo: Students challenged to get fit and stay healthy

Just in time for spring and summer, University Life hosted its 14th annual Health and Fitness Expo in Dewberry Hall on Thursday, April 1.

The expo provided a large amount of information pertaining to nutrition, exercise, stress management and more. The event also featured demonstrations, healthy exercise activities, student health challenges and screenings for things such as bone density and blood pressure for students, staff and faculty.

“There are so many indications that we are trying to be healthy,” said Carol Filak, an administrative director at Student Health Services.

The event involved more departments than any other campus event this year, and students were happy to help.

“We have about 70 vendors, and 50 student volunteers [who] helped organize this event,” said Filak. “We are trying to give as much information about healthy life styles [as we can].”

With spring in full swing, and summer just around the bend, getting in shape for the beach and pool is a top priority for some students.

“Mason has three fitness facilities that help create a healthier campus,” said Masooma Munir, a junior health, fitness and recreation resources major and volunteer at the expo.

Students these days are becoming more health conscious about their diet and exercise. The expo provided a great deal of information to help answer students’ questions about healthy living habits.

“We are trying to make students more aware of how to pick out health foods,” said Kristin Caulley, a sophomore nursing major and volunteer at the expo.

But it was not just information kiosks; activities such as swing dancing caught plenty of attention.

The expo also provided students with a large variety of free healthy snacks, specialized doctors at various vendors and dance teams to entertain the crowd.

“There are so many healthy choices out there, people just don’t know,” said Alan DeGracia, an undeclared junior at Mason.

Caulley and DeGracia both worked at the nutrition vendor that showcased healthy foods at Southside.

One of the more unique vendors was Pranic Healing, which involved students in a not-so-typical exercise.

Pranic Healing called itself a “highly developed and tested system of energy, and energy medicine that utilizes prana to balance, harmonize and transform the body’s energy processes,” according to the late founder of Pranic Healing, Grand Master Choa Kok Sui.

Students and faculty can find more information about University Life and Student Health services at http://ulife.gmu.edu/events/HFE.php