BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech will host the 2016 Student Health and Wellness Fair on Friday, Jan. 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in McComas Hall. Organizers say the goal of the free event is to educate students about the many programs, services, and opportunities available that can help them with their overall well-being.

“This is an optimal time for students to establish healthy habits and to increase the likelihood these behaviors stick around for a lifetime,” said Alison Cross, interim director of Recreational Sports, which is hosting the event along with Hokie Wellness.

Cross noted physical activity is extremely helpful for improved cognitive function, and can increase mental alertness, attention, and creativity while helping reduce stress. “An exciting comment came from a participant in our small group training program. He said the challenging workouts have helped him with mental toughness, which is what he needed to succeed in the academic setting,” Cross said.    

With health screenings, workouts, and a long list of exhibitors offering information and services, the fair represents a holistic approach to wellness, which goes beyond just physical fitness by considering the whole person. “We believe in the value of helping students thrive in all areas of their lives ― socially, physically, by finding their purpose and passions, academically, and emotionally,” said Cross.

The recently released report of a Gallup survey of Virginia Tech alumni identifies five elements that work together to determine an individual’s overall well-being:

  • Purpose well-being: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals
  • Social well-being: Having strong and supportive relationships and love in your life
  • Financial well-being: Effectively managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security
  • Community well-being: The sense of engagement you have with the areas where you live, liking where you live and feeling safe and having pride in your community
  • Physical well-being: Having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis.

​Survey results indicate that Virginia Tech graduates are higher than the national average when it comes to thriving at work, having great careers, and leading lives that matter. Additionally, Virginia Tech alumni flourish in all five elements of well-being, outpacing the national average and peer institutions.

The Student Health and Wellness Fair is one of the events featured in Recreational Sports’Free Week of Fitness. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 19, students can visit McComas Hall to try out various fitness programs at no charge, including yogaZumba®cyclepilatesdeep water fitness, and many others. The Free Week of Fitness culminates on Monday, Jan. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. in McComas Hall with back-to-back 20-minute samples of different fitness classes. “During the Fitness Launch Party, students are free to come and go as they please,” said Cross. “It's the perfect way to try new workout formats for the first time without committing to hour-long classes.”

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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