Special to UM News

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (September 14, 2016) – #HealthyCampus Week is back and the Patti and Allan Herbert Wellness Center, in collaboration with the Partnership for a Healthier America Healthier Campus Initiative, will highlight and support healthy choices on campus September 20-23 with a variety of special events and activities free to the UM community.

Get ready to challenge yourself with the #CanesStayFit Body Bootcamp. The bootcamp features a variety of exercises and intervals on Tuesday, September 20 at 7 p.m. in the Herbert Wellness Center’s Centre Court.

“This class is a great opportunity for people to be social and stay fit at the same time,” says Michelle Kasparian, assistant director of group exercise and community classes at the Herbert Wellness Center. “We’ve enlisted our best instructors to give the UM community the most rewarding fitness bootcamp class Miami has to offer.”

On Wednesday, September 21, students will learn how to make healthy and delicious dorm-friendly dishes at the Dorm Room Cooking Demo. Held in the Herbert Wellness Center Atrium at noon, this cooking demo provides students with the tools to prepare food in their dorm room like a master chef.

“The majority of college dorm rooms are scattered with unhealthy foods like chips, candy, and soda,” says Christina WooChing, assistant director of wellness programs at the Herbert Wellness Center. “We want to help students combat their unhealthy dorm-eating habits and provide them with easy meals to make that aren’t ramen noodles.”

#HealthyCampus Week culminates with a double-header of events on Thursday, September 22. Come meet all the UM campus partners involved in making the healthy choice the easy choice at the #HealthyCampus Expo at 4:30 p.m. in the Herbert Wellness Center Atrium. Once you’ve met the partners, venture upstairs to the Main Gym and take part in UM’s Largest Yoga Class at 5:30 p.m. In celebration of Yoga Awareness Month, this yoga class is free and open to the UM community.

All week long, share how you stay fit on Instagram and attend the #HealthyCampus Week events to be entered to win a $100 Target gift card or a Fitbit Activity tracker. Be sure to tag @UMiamiWellness with #HealthyCampus and #FoundMyFit. As a bonus, attending all three events and posting on Instagram earns you five entries.

The Partnership for a Healthier America works with the private sector and First Lady Michelle Obama, PHA honorary chair, to ensure the health of the nation’s youth and end childhood obesity. By brokering commitments with colleges and universities, the Healthier Campus Initiative helps campuses adopt guidelines around food and nutrition, physical activity, and programming.

“This is the third year of UM’s collaboration with Partnership for a Healthier America and the University has made great strides to make our campus a healthier one,” says Scott Levin, executive director of the Herbert Wellness Center. “From providing healthier food and beverage services at on-campus dining venues to encouraging physical activity and movement through facilities and programs on campus, every UM partner is committed to helping students, faculty, and staff make healthier choices that will ensure their personal and professional success.”

To learn more about #HealthyCampus Week, the events at the Herbert Wellness Center or the week-long raffle, click here.