The Employee Wellness Program is in full swing over the summer as Titan faculty and staff are taking time out of their day to be physically active. Program members can be found lifting weights, swinging kettle bells, running on the treadmills or relaxing during yoga.
During open gym sessions, kinesiology graduate students guide faculty and staff through workouts that target the whole body. The open gym sessions are designed for all levels of experience. CSUF graduate students meet members where they are, providing guidance, feedback, exercise alternatives and encouragement to help members maximize their workouts.
Kinesiology graduate student Johnny Montes, who is studying strength and conditioning, prides himself on developing high-quality workouts for members. He uses what he has learned in classes, studying for certifications or at seminars to create workouts that are part of the open gym program.
Graduate students Matthew Nguyen and Lily Haeberle maximize members’ motivations in their exercise. In addition to leading the open gym, Nguyen will lead the FIT Together program this summer, which focuses on the mental side of exercise that is crucial for someone to be successful in regularly going to the gym. In this program, members learn how to set goals, create plans and cope with barriers to being physically active. Members of the FIT Together program not only participate in these group sessions but also participate in open gym programs. This is the FIT Together program’s fourth semester, and several members at the gym are graduates of the program.
Haeberle will continue to be a leader in the open gym time and a welcoming presence for all members who come to work out. For her graduate thesis, Haeberle explored how to build the confidence of small group trainers. During the summer, she will assist with refining training for undergraduate student interns based on what she learned.
Outside of open gym sessions, other faculty and staff take time out of their day for yoga. Yoga classes are offered midday in the Kinesiology and Health Science Building, Room 001. During this time, Alba Tucker, yoga instructor, guides faculty and staff through yoga poses designed to increase flexibility, balance and strength. Members leave yoga class feeling relaxed.
Join the Employee Wellness Program, located in the Kinesiology and Health Science Building, Room 001. Try open gym sessions free for a week or try a yoga class. Open gym is available Monday through Thursday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Yoga classes are held Monday and Wednesday from 12:05-12:55 p.m. The FIT Together program begins June 10, and fitness assessments are also available.
For more information, visit the Employee Wellness Program website, email [email protected] or stop by during open hours.