The University of Lincoln has been running a Healthy Campus Week to encourage both students and staff to eat healthily, engage in sport activities and look after and care for their bodies.
Throughout the week both the city campus and Riseholme campus have been holding sporting events, master classes, taster sessions and more in a variety of activities, sports and health lessons.
Events ranged from Acupuncture to a ‘Body MOT’ where students and staff could have a 15 minute body session where they would have their Blood pressure, body fat, weight, peak flow and fitness measured by a qualified individual.
The campus were also giving away free fruit and vegetable at certain times and places throughout the week to encourage students to eat more healthy or perhaps consider the healthy options in the canteen.
The universities gym was on board allowing people with disabilities to book into having a free gym induction and taster session. This may help to encourage people with a disability to join the gym or participate in a sporting activity if they had not realised the facilities at the university can cater for their needs.
Emma Chamberlain, 21, is studying ‘Sports Science’ at the university and said: “ I think this week is such a good idea. It’s really allowing people to try all aspects of sport from gym work outs to yoga and aerobics. There’s so many ways to keep fit and healthy without making massive changes to your lifestyle and daily routine.
I think this week will show people how that can be done and more importantly how participating in a sport can be really fun and rewarding.”
The weeks programme also features a range of ‘give it a go’ activities which are perhaps sports that people may not have heard of or thought about trying. ‘Give it a go Abs blast’ and ‘box & ball’ were two such options along with a mini introduction to golf.
Callum Bruce, 19, studies Golf Science at the University, he said: ‘The give it a go sessions are brilliant because it means people can just go and try new things out. I love the fact that golf’s in there because people can be reluctant to try it because they think its boring or for old people.
‘People I have spoken to who have tried the golfing didn’t realise how much walking is actually involved and it just highlights that people can get exercise doing things that aren’t always high energy sports’
On another serious note, there are health checks also being offered for sexually transmitted diseases and also help and advice on offer for issues around safe sex and general body well being.
The Health week draws to an end on Friday, but there are occasional activities such as ‘walk to work week’ happening throughout the rest of March and April.