COC To Host Healthy Lifestyle Resource Fair And Lecture Series

Posted by: Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch in College of the Canyons February 21, 2014 - 1:36 pm 0 135 Views

College of the Canyons officials plan to host a healthy lifestyle resource fair and subsequent lecture series in March, school officials said Friday.

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The Body-Mind-Wellness Healthy Lifestyle Resource Fair is the kick-off event for a two-month-long series of seminars that focus on teaching attendees how to create a healthy lifestyle.

“We do two fairs per year, one in fall and one in spring. The fall fair focuses on challenges to body, mind and wellness, and in spring, we focus on healthy lifestyle behaviors to promote body, mind and wellness,” said Sheri Barke, a COC sports and wellness dietitian. “Our goal is to try and raise awareness of all the wonderful resources we have both on campus and in the community of different opportunities to improve one’s health.”

Choices people make about eating, sleeping and coping with stress and conflict can have profound effects on overall physical and mental health, as well as performance in school, work and one’s personal life, school officials said.

“Time is the most common reason people give for not taking better care of themselves,” Barke said. “So this year’s series of events focuses on the theme of making time. After all, if you don’t make time for your health now, you will have to make time for disease later.”

Activities at the fair include a DJ, free food and resource tables hosted by more than twenty campus groups and local businesses. Hundreds are expected to attend, said Barke.

Scheduled to follow the fair is a series of weekly seminars and events by guest speakers who will address topics such as healthy eating, sexuality, physical activity, sleep and stress management, according to a COC news release.

Among the scheduled speakers is Bob Hall, the founder of Learning to Live With Conflict Inc., which provides education and training in the analysis and resolution of conflict.

“We are especially excited to have Bob Hall as one of our speakers,” said Barke. “His presentation on nonviolent sexuality is powerful and eye-opening. It is not to be missed.”

Hall is a three-time nominee for the National Association for Campus Activities Lecturer of the Year and has presented his seminar, “Nonviolent Sexuality: Making Peace with Passion,” at more than 1,000 college campuses nationwide, according to a COC news release.

Both the resource fair and lecture series are free and open to the public.

The resource fair is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 5 in the COC Honor Grove, located on the college’s Valencia campus.

For a complete list of lecture topics, dates and times, click here.

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