Physical Well Being
A "strong sense of community and service" is evident in Dr.
Lisa Farley's course, Walking, Wagging, and Wellness. This
course assists students in developing life-long habits of good
health and multidimensional wellness by integrating physical
activity, civic awareness, and community service. Students partner
with the Humane Society of Indianapolis to provide physical
activity and play for the animals, learn through service to the
community, and improve their own fitness and awareness that health
and wellness are central to living a good life. "All
students,"Farley says, "need to understand that wellness can be
honed in a wide variety of ways." In this course, she
continues, students work on their own physical, mental, social and
emotional wellness "in a realistic setting that demonstrates our
ability to focus on helping others…. Working in a place that has no
obvious connection to schools or wellness and demonstrating the
real-life application of both wellness and servanthood is a win-win
for all."
Dr. David McCullough, Director of Athletic Bands, also saw
that the pursuit of physical health and wellness can occur where
you might least expect it. The "physical warm-ups and
stamina-increasing exercises by Marching Band members, as well as
the use of 'The Breathing Gym' program for wind players, makes us a
better sounding band," he explains. And the investment that
students show in the Band, and the leadership skills they develop
as section coordinators and drum majors, are significant. "In
the long run," though, McCullough explains, "we hope they come to
realize how the life-long addition of music and music-making can
add to a healthy and satisfying life."
Course Structure
A one-credit, two contact-hour, pass/fail course selected from a
menu of courses devoted to physical and health education and
activities, taken any time in the first to fourth years.
Learning Objectives
- To develop life-long habits of good health and physical
activity.
- To increase awareness of the centrality of health and wellness
for pursuit of a good life.
Some examples of courses currently offered in
Physical Well Being include:
Israeli Dancing
This course reflects cultural diversity and dance infusion of
Israel. Dance as a lifetime movement activity is the primary
emphasis with additional focus on a variety of dance performance,
dance as a socially constructed pastime, lyrical interpretation,
dance history, biblical and liturgical connections, and Hebrew and
Arabic languages.
T'ai Chi
T'ai Chi is a traditional Chinese system of stress relief and
exercise rooted in the martial arts. Recognizing and relieving
stress in conjunction with increasing strength, balance, and
coordination contribute to body and mind development. This balanced
approach to wellness promotes good health, encourages lifespan
physical activity, and an overall quality of life.
Weighing in on Optimal Health
Many college students battle body weight and body image issues.
Optimal health requires more than exercise and proper nutrition.
This course takes a holistic, quality of life approach to promote a
physically active lifestyle as a healthy and sustaining approach to
weight management across a lifespan.
Wagging, Walking, and Wellness
This course is designed to foster life-long habits of good health
and multidimensional wellness by integrating physical activity,
civic awareness, and community service. Emphasis will be on
personal and social responsibility for optimal quality of life.
Students will partner with the Humane Society of Indianapolis to
provide physical activity and play for the animals, learning
through service to the community, improved fitness and awareness
that health and wellness are central to living a good life. Click
here to
view a media article highlighting this course.