Health, Fitness, and Lifestyle Courses

This course is designed to help students improve their fitness levels in accord with their own personal physical fitness goals. With the help and approval of a fitness instructor, students will  develop and execute their individualized physical conditioning program. Students will receive regular input and feedback from the fitness instructor, and the importance of proper warm-up, cool down and stretching will be emphasized.

This online course is designed to provide the basic knowledge for setting up a marathon training schedule and setting individualized goals for marathon participation. Students will also learn proper running form, warm-up and cool down exercises, and stretching exercises. The role that nutrition plays in marathon training will also be addressed.

This course is for students interested in learning how to incorporate walking into their fitness program. The course will cover proper form for fitness walking as well as warm-up, cool-down and stretching exercises appropriate for walking.

This course is for students interested in learning how to incorporate running into their fitness program. The course will cover proper form for running as well as warm-up, cool-down and stretching exercises appropriate for running.

In this class, students will learn how to incorporate a mix of Barre exercises, which blend the latest exercise science with the Lotte Burke method (the genesis of the Barre movement), into their fitness routine. Barre delivers a fusion of ballet, Pilates, yoga and strength training movements designed to strengthen the muscles and enhance overall flexibility. A focus will be placed on proper alignment and improving posture, and class will utilize a mix of both class instruction and student participation.

This course is for students interested in learning the basics of tennis. The course will cover the rules of tennis, keeping score, forehand, backhand, volley, overhead and serve. Students will practice strokes and play both singles and doubles matches throughout the class. Students will be required to purchase a tennis racquet and one can of balls for each course.

This course is for students interested in learning the basics of basketball. The course will cover the rules and basic skills of basketball. Students will practice skills and play recreational during class time.

This is a physical activity course designed to instruct students in the fundamentals of snow skiing and snow boarding. The class is conducted at a local snow sports recreation facility.  Students will be responsible for an additional fee that includes lift pass and rental of all necessary equipment.

This is a beginning swimming class. Basic swim strokes will be taught and students will use classtime to practice the strokes. Students are required to be in the water for all class periods.Appropriate warm-up and cool-down activities will be stressed and students will be expected to follow all water safety rules both in and around the water. Students will be required to purchase goggles for this course.

This class is intended to teach students how to use swimming as a conditioning exercise. Each student will develop an individualized swim work-out plan with the assistance of the course instructor. Class time will be spent improving swim strokes and swimming for improved physical fitness. Students are required to be in the water for all class periods. Appropriate warm-up and cool-down activities will be stressed and students will be expected to follow all water safety rules both in and around the water. Students will be required to purchase goggles for this course.

This online course provides a historical and analytical study of a sport through social change and cultural assimilation into American society. As they relate to baseball, such themes as urbanization, education, race, ethnicity, legal issues, literature, mass marketing, and popular culture will be discussed and defined. Baseball will be examined in terms of American and global issues from the 19th century to the present, including war, economics, religion, health and recreation, and community development. This course does not focus on sports trivia, nor does it glamorize sport. Rather, it considers baseball, and sport, as integral parts of human culture and as important aspects of American life.

This online course examines the varieties of sport throughout the world and in the United States, showing how sport is interrelated with race, gender, politics, religion, urbanization, education, economics and cultural assimilation. It is not a course on sports trivia, nor does it glamorize sport. Rather, sport is examined as an integral part of human culture and as an important part of global life. In particular, this course explores current themes that form contemporary issues in several countries, such as educational programs, health concerns, violence, global stages for sporting events, gender equity, and the treatment of ethnic minorities within nations.

This online course examines the idea of "community" in a local geographical context and how sport contributes to social cohesion. How sport functions in terms of boundaries and divisions at all levels of society, and how communities are formed and re-formed in response to the integration of sport into the lives of individual and social groups, are explored with a view to the function of sport as a method of education.

This online course examines concepts related to the institutionalization of sports. Included will be an assessment of the cultural history of American sports from the age of folk games to the era of the spectator and the on-going development of the media and television age. The course is accompanied by a series of recorded interviews of professionals in the world of sports including coaches, institutional administrators, athletes, media professionals and representatives, and professional sports figures. Consideration is also given to contemporary print and electronic materials. Under review are the concepts of competition, winning and losing, game, violence, hero, and legend among others and the dimensions of every day life and the human experience.

This class is for beginners who have little or no experience in yoga. The philosophy of yoga, importance of breathing, and various yoga poses will be covered in the class. Each yoga pose will be carefully introduced and students will be given the opportunity to practice the pose throughout the term. Students are required to purchase a Yoga mat for this course.

This class is for individuals with intermediate to advanced-level experience in practicing yoga. Students will learn how to incorporate correct postures and breathing techniques into performing more complex yoga poses and movement sequences. Students will also be introduced to a variety of types of yoga practices, such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Yin. Recommended prerequisite: HFL1062C (Yoga I). Students are required to purchase a Yoga mat for this course.

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness to one's thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surrounding environment in the current moment. In this class, students will learn how to incorporate mindfulness techniques into their daily lives to improve various dimensions of personal well-being and life satisfaction.

In this course, students will be introduced to a physical yoga practice called the Ashtanga Modified Primary Sequence.  Students will be expected to explore their physical journey in class, as well as commit to journaling and practicing yoga outside of class.  Students will also learn other practices such as yin yoga, rocket yoga, mindfulness and meditation.  This course will not only focus on the physical postures, but also the vast benefits yoga has to offer in daily life.  Students will read and journal about self and ethical observations, as well as explore yoga skills off the mat to look at the world with a more positive lens. Students will be required to purchase a Yoga mat for this course.

This course will introduce students to a gentle Yin Yoga practice that focuses on stretching connective tissues and physical energy.  Most of the postures are from the floor and are held anywhere between 3-5 minutes.   With focused breathing and allowing gravity to do the work, students are taught ways to release stress. Along with class time of practicing yoga, requirements include reading in a group and journaling around yin topics.  Students will also learn other yoga practices such as vinyasa yoga, mindfulness and meditation.  Yin Yoga studies will not only focus on postures for the physical body, but also the vast benefits yin yoga has on the organs and emotions. Students will be required to purchase a Yoga mat for this course.

Hot yoga is a physical practice which includes asana (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), and meditation. It stems from hatha yoga which is a practice intended to support the health and balance of the physical body systems. This class will consist of standing and floor postures coupled with breathing exercises in a heated studio with temperatures ranging from 95-102 degrees and room humidity around 40%. Each week we will work to build strength and flexibility throughout the body and relax the mind. Class will be held at a hot yoga studio near campus, therefore students will be responsible for an additional fee that will include studio use and equipment required for the course.

Finances can be one of the top personal stressors, both in college and beyond. With a focus not only on personal finance concepts and knowledge, this course employs practical application that leads to behavior change which can positively influence personal wellbeing. The material enables to students to save, budget, avoid debt, and spend wisely.

This course focuses on applying the science of happiness to everyday life. Students will learn how to develop action-oriented strategies and implement research-based skills for improving their own happiness. It is intended that through this class, students will gain a better understanding of the science behind experiencing a meaningful life, while heightening personal well-being and reducing stress.

This course will provide basic cooking knowledge and skills to promote a healthy lifestyle.  Students will learn how to read recipes and scale them (e.g., cut them in half or double them), measure ingredients properly, use knives efficiently and safely, and use a variety of cooking techniques.   Information about healthy eating and cooking will also be provided so that the student can plan healthful weekly menus and navigate the grocery store to identify the healthiest choices.

This course provides a basic comprehension of human stress including definitions, effects on the body, and a variety of techniques to help control and manage stress.