Mountaintop Experience

Emotions was the answer — the question was, “what does happiness look like?” The young children were asked to sculpt one another into what their perception of “happy” looks like. After this, the children gathered in a circle to begin their kickboxing exercise.

With the semester coming to a close, it can be difficult to stay focused and get motivated. University Recreation Center’s Peers Reaching Others Through Motion program (PROMotion) may help motivate students to a new level of a healthy well-being.

PROMotions’s mission is to “act as agents for change by exciting, motivating and empowering students to make positive and worthwhile lifestyle changes,” said Jill Zagora, PROMotion’s adviser.

According Zagora, the program is a peer education group that was founded and is run by Group Fitness and Wellness Instructors. PROMotion advocates self-esteem and healthy lifestyles for kids through physical and educational activities. PROMotion also presents empowering and inspiring programs to people of all ages.

Zagora said the program is entirely run by students, from the initial planning to the implementation of those plans.

Senior Kim Winn, copresident of PROMotion, explained that “the typical program begins with an interactive educational activity in order to spark the participants’ interest and help them learn and appreciate more about themselves and others.”Afterwards, participants are encouraged to join in a physical activity such as kickboxing, circuit training or yoga.

Junior Alissa Wunder, a current member and next year’s president of PROMotion, said programs generally run for about an hour and combine physical and educational components.

The PROMotion program appeals to all age groups, from elementary kids to college students to elderly adults, according to Wunder. For example, PROMotion recently hosted a program with health science and gerontology majors and with adults in the Adult Human Development Program.

“We mainly do yoga with the elderly adults, but we also do some low-impact aerobics and floor exercises,” Wunder said. PROMotion focuses on four main educational elements — personal growth, self-esteem, dealing with emotions and healthy relationships, according to Zagora.

“It’s really neat to hear what the students have to say and see how they respond to us. I think ... they’re a lot more willing to open up and give feedback,” Wunder said.

Winn says,“PROMotion is a great program and has been an awesome experience for us all.”

For more information on the program, contact PROMotion at jmupromor@hotmail.com.