When Payton Phares enrolled as a kinesiology major at the 小蝌蚪APP, she understood health, fitness, and wellness only through her experiences as an able-bodied competitive athlete.
Then she took a course with Master Instructor Lisa LeBlanc.
小蝌蚪APP淪he put a new perspective on health for me,小蝌蚪APP says Phares. 小蝌蚪APP淚 knew a lot about working out, but I didn小蝌蚪APP檛 know a lot about diet and all the other things that go into being healthy and living in a healthy community.小蝌蚪APP
Flourishing with Flexibility
As program coordinator, LeBlanc and her colleagues have designed and refined the Health Promotion and Wellness online program for more than a decade.
Students gain a complex understanding of world health issues, environmental health, stress, and nutrition, as well as business principles for success in corporate and nonprofit organizations, all through 100% online classes.
In moving to online learning, Phares learned how she could best manage online coursework and in doing so she gained insight into her natural study habits.
小蝌蚪APP淚 go in waves of productivity and not productivity,小蝌蚪APP says Phares. 小蝌蚪APP淎nd the online classes allowed me to work ahead whenever I小蝌蚪APP檇 have those productive spurts of energy so I could stay on top of my work instead of playing catch up when I felt productive.小蝌蚪APP
Having greater control over her schedule also made it possible for Phares to find work that dovetailed with her interests and complimented her studies.
By the time she was preparing to graduate in Spring 2022, Phares was working as a part-time supportive caregiver as well as a fitness coach and trainer at , a gym designed to make exercise and fitness accessible to people in every kind of body.
小蝌蚪APP淧eople that have exceptionalities, all shapes, sizes, everything,小蝌蚪APP says Phares. 小蝌蚪APP淭he gym caters to them and creates a positive environment for them to feel celebrated and welcomed.小蝌蚪APP
Building on LeBlanc小蝌蚪APP檚 lessons on the impact of many small factors over time, Phares and her team celebrate the 小蝌蚪APP渟mall wins小蝌蚪APP their clients reach.
小蝌蚪APP淓veryone wants that big capital W win, but we focus on the small wins,小蝌蚪APP says Phares.
From nutritional choices to improved form, trainers emphasize the importance of sustainable improvements.
小蝌蚪APP淚f they do push-ups wrong for a month and then one day they get their hips off the ground, we go ecstatic,小蝌蚪APP she says.
Choosing Between Paths
Just as Phares learned there were many facets to health, she小蝌蚪APP檚 also learned there are numerous applications for her skills.
小蝌蚪APP淚 feel like life 小蝌蚪APP just like health 小蝌蚪APP does not go down only one path, and I小蝌蚪APP檓 trying to find the path that I want to choose first and see where it leads me,小蝌蚪APP she says.
Phares is hopeful moving forward because she feels prepared to succeed across a range of opportunities.
小蝌蚪APP淗ealth Promotion and Wellness has given me that opportunity to explore everything really because it小蝌蚪APP檚 so broad,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t gave me that opportunity to really sit down with myself and see what I小蝌蚪APP檓 really interested in.
小蝌蚪APP淚 can work in a gym; I could work in consulting; I could further my education and go get my master小蝌蚪APP檚. I can do all these things.小蝌蚪APP