ISDC launches campus-wide health and fitness initiative

Interested in meeting yourhealthandfitnessgoals? The Holistic Indigenous Movement, created by the Indigenous Scholar Development Center is a student-led program, where individuals are given the opportunity to set their own goals, but as a whole, the group serves a motivational, accountability role.

Each week,MondaythroughThursdayfrom3:30 5 p.m., those participating come together and decide on each weeks activities, which have ranged from playing kickball to going to the FIT together.

Each activity has one student worker who serves as facilitator, Sydnee Krenek, administrative assistant withISDCsaid. Everyone consults on the activities, and then they meet up for them in fun, free of judgment settings.

TheISDChas purchased 20 FitBits for participants to use once they pass the probationary 4-week trial. To be considered for a FitBit, students must sign an agreement stating that they will sign-in to and participate in at least three activities a week and will report their data to theISDCfrom the FitBit each week.

Those students selected will also have the opportunity to keep the FitBit should they successfully stick with the program through the entire semester.

Were working with the Kinesiology department to have studies completed on the data the students turn in, and we hope to be able to eventually do pre and post assessments on the students who are part of the program, Krenek said.

The idea of the program sprang from multiple discussions within theISDCwhen it came to talking abouthealthrisks and programs that seem to be affecting the Native American population, two of which are obesity and diabetes.

Our main goal is to foster the creation and completion of personalfitnessgoals within a healthy and constructive environment for our participants, Krenek said. If we can help people to form good, healthy habits now, we hope that they will take these habits with them for the rest of their lives.

The Holistic Indigenous Movement is open to any current NSU student, staff or faculty member. Currently, 27 students are participating. At present, the FitBit incentive is only available to a select number of students; however, theISDChopes that with the success and growth of the program, they will be able to offer more incentives to those participating in the future.

For more information on the Holistic Indigenous Movement, contact Krenek atkrenek@nsuok.eduor 918-444-3044.

Published: 2015-10-21 09:49:31.747000