For students dragging on Monday after the weekend, the Healthy Monday campaign is there to help — when it can. With five programs offered every Monday, some students struggle to fit the initiatives into their schedules. While the schedule may be overcrowded, the campus-wide initiative intends to promote healthy living, said Peggy Neu, president of the national Healthy Monday campaign.

 

The Healthy Monday campaign began over five years ago as a nationwide program to combat the most prevalent health concerns in the U.S., such as obesity and heart disease. At Syracuse University, the movement seeks to provide a sampling of methods to eat well and stay in shape.

 

Neu said Monday was chosen as the day for a fresh start because ‘people tend to relapse over the weekend. Campus-wide programs have been put in place to help students hit the restart button.’

Fitting in every event in one day seems unlikely, but if students have an extra minute to visit the multiple offerings, it might make the post-weekend blues feel a little less painful.

Move-It Monday

Move-It Monday offers free fitness classes in which participants can get a taste of aerobics, body sculpting, cross training, and mind and body classes that are offered year-round.

‘I didn’t even know about them,’ said Tali Simon, an undeclared sophomore. ‘But now that I know, I definitely plan on checking them out. I don’t have any classes at the time they’re offered.’

Arjun Amarshi, a junior history and psychology major, is interested but cannot fit all of the opportunities into his schedule.

‘I would go (to the fitness classes), but I have class all day. If they were offered more often or at different times, I would definitely take advantage,’ he said.

Meatless Monday

Founded by Sid Lerner, an S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications alumnus, Meatless Monday offers vegetarian options in dining halls around campus.

The initiative aims to provide alternative means of nutrition, but the campaign is not trying to push vegetarianism — just a reduction of personal meat consumption by 15 percent, said Eric Persons, SU’s Healthy Monday program adviser. Benefits range from more energy to lower fat and cholesterol intake, Persons said.

Madriqueka Brooks, a junior biology major, loves the meatless options. She frequents Sadler Dining Center, where she said she loads up on grilled cheese, stuffed tomatoes and fresh greens.

‘I’m not a vegetarian at all, but I have been trying to cut back on red meat lately,’ Brooks said. ‘I just feel better at the end of the day.’

Stress Less Monday

Nneka Ebbe, a junior acting major, shows up for a free massage every week in the Schine Student Center’s atrium.

‘The school week is busy, and the weekends are even crazier. It’s nice to just be pampered a little before it all starts again,’ Ebbe said.

Every Monday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., The Art of Massage, a massage therapy practice based in Marshall Square Mall, sets up its equipment to re-energize students.

‘There are always people there,’ said Jessica Leeds, a graduate assistant for Healthy Monday. She suggests going a little earlier, as there may be three or four people signed up at any given time.

Elizabeth Hollan, another graduate assistant, understands the excitement. ‘Who would refuse a free massage?’ she said.

Meditation Monday

Hosted by SU’s Student Buddhist Association, Zen meditation sessions give students a chance to bask in silence and reflection in the lower level of Hendricks Chapel. Catherine Landis, a State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry doctoral candidate and Zen practitioner, leads group meditations.

Five to nine students usually attend the Monday meditations, Landis said, but the sessions are open to anyone. Studies show meditation changes your brain in positive ways, which includes academic performance, she said.

 ‘Through Meditation Monday, we are hoping to provide students, faculty and staff means to start their week in a calm, stress-free way, which meditation promotes,’ Leeds said.

Restock Monday

Health Services offers free fruit and tea as healthy snacking options on campus. Supplies are set out from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but they go fast.

Tyra Jeffries, a junior public relations major, said a lot of people take the fruit on their way out the door. She frequented the table last year, but said she doesn’t have the time this semester.

knbaug@syr.edu

Published on October 3, 2010 at 12:00 pm