More healthy Be Well options available for USU employees
Sometimes being a teacher has all the perks: tenure, chances to research in a desired field of study, shorter work days and now a personal trainer.
USU teachers, as well as other university employees, have new health and fitness options available through the Employee Wellness Center and the employee wellness program, said Caroline Shugart, director for employee wellness.
Located in HPER 109, the Employee Wellness Center is a full-featured workout facility for university employees. Besides machines and weights, university employees also have the opportunity to enlist the help of personal trainer Matt Kohler, a senior in exercise science.
“I’ve definitely seen a lot of changes in people as they come in and meet with me and start to attain their goals and start to attain a level of fitness and wellness that provides them a higher quality of life,” Kohler said. “That’s one of the greatest benefits of this.”
Kohler said he gained much of his physical fitness knowledge and routines from when he played on the USU football team. He said he applies many of the same routines to university employees, while creating customized programs.
He said the idea of providing a fitness center specifically for employees came about from embarrassment by employees that occasionally came from working out at the Fieldhouse, a popular recreation spot for students.
“One of the things we wanted to do with the Employee Wellness Center was put together a place where employees felt comfortable coming and exercising,” Kohler said. “What this provides them then is to come and work out in an environment that isn’t intrusive so that they’re able to feel good about themselves as they’re working out.”
Kohler said a variety of employees visit the Center, including fit and active employees to very obese employees, and his job is to help them meet their personal goals – whatever that may be.
With anywhere between 250-300 visits a week by employees, Kohler said the Center is helpful for those who want to take positive steps to taking care of their body. Free weights, machines, treadmills, ellipticals and core-strengthening tools are all available.
To get started in the personal training program, Kohler said he puts the individual through a four-day process. The first day he provides a fitness assessment to analyze his client’s fitness level, risks that may be associated with an exercise program and the level of exercise the client will able to endure.
This assessment includes analyzing blood pressure, pulse, body fat, strength and endurance tests and stretching tests, Shugart said.
Day two, Kohler said, he works with his client to set specific goals that will benefit the client in the areas they want.
“It’s not something that I go and print off the Internet and it’s just a generic program for anybody,” he said. “It’s a program that my client, the USU employee, puts together with things they enjoy doing.”
The last two days of the process, Kohler said he sets up the exercise program and trains his client on proper form and techniques for each exercise. He also said he warms up with them and goes through upper-body and lower-body exercises.
Once the process is complete, the employee will work on their fitness plan and if they still feel they would like assistance, can schedule additional personal training time, Kohler said.
“We do have employees that want a high quality of life and this is one of the main focuses of the Employee Wellness program,” Kohler said. “It makes more productive employees, makes a happier university and a healthier university.”
Besides personal training, Shugart said a fitness club will soon be starting up. This six-week program will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. at the Employee Wellness Center.
“The concept behind this is say you had a goal and you wanted to get ready for ski season, we’ll get a program ready to get your quads ready. Getting your golf game ready, whatever, we’ll help you,” Shugart said.
For more information about the Employee Wellness Center or about how to get assistance from a personal trainer, visit www.usu.edu/wellness or contact Shugart at 797-0735.
-seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu