March 26, 2008

Fit OWU: Five-Year Synopsis

For the last five years, the “Fit OWU” program has benefitted faculty and staff around the campus community.

The program was started by Nancy Knop, associate professor of physical education; Maggie Snow, former director of human resources management; and Marsha Tilden, director of the Wellness Center. Fit OWU is designed for faculty and staff and runs from noon-1:15 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It involves five 15-minute time chunks at workout stations such as warm-up mat exercises, fitness balls, a weight section, and ladder walking.

Knop says some important elements of Fit OWU that offer participants a good core workout involve improving dynamic balance, strengthening muscles that provide stability, and improving posture.

“Most of the population is going to be dealing with osteoporosis,” says Knop. “I’m doing things in this program that stimulate the bone system to be healthier.”

Knop says that Fit OWU started because enough faculty and staff members were interested in having more options for fitness on campus.

“Our goal is to focus on the healthy population of people before they get sick, and to help them to start changing habits so that they won’t get sick,” Knop says. “By sick I mean hypertension and the start of cardiovascular disease. Being overweight often leads to obesity.We want to be a presence in trying to encourage healthy habits on campus.”

This semester, Fit OWU offers sessions on Sunday afternoons and on Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. A few of the trainers who worked with Fit OWU programming last year now run the same program for the students.

Senior Keith Simon, certified personal trainer, says he enjoys “Fit OWU” because he enjoys teaching.

“People look to me for advice and that makes it a positive experience,” Simon says. “This also stops me from eating fast food at lunch, and I get to interact with faculty and staff on a more personal level.”

Knop has about eight interns come into the program each semester. The students must take several physical education classes before beginning work with Fit OWU.  Each intern monitors the “Fit OWU” program and also works two hours of personal training each week with others outside of the program.

“This program has an amazing impact on 16 student trainers every year,” Knop says. “It gives students a better understanding of what health issues people are dealing with. When I first started I didn’t quite see it looking like this. It definitely has a very strong service component.”

Patricio Plazolles, program officer at the Woltemade Center, says he joined the Fit OWU program four years ago because he noticed it was an interactive and friendly workout.

“This program is an opportunity for physical education students to build great relationships with faculty and staff,” Plazolles says. “All the people involved encourage each other. As you see progress by changing physically it will begin to impact a lot more.”

“Fit OWU offers students interaction with faculty and staff in a leadership role,” Knop says. “It forces students to deal with their demons and get out there and be a professional. To step it up.”

– Ryan Armstrong ’09