By Mathilda Tataw, Student Media. Edited by Chelsea Xu, UL Marketing and Communications.
On March 19, the Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus, filled with music, food, and movement – a living argument that healthy living is bigger than any single prescription. The 29th annual Health and Fitness Expo, free and open to students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding community, brought together more than 30 campus and community partners around one shared premise: a healthy life encompasses much more than diet and exercise.
This year’s Expo introduced two new additions. A “Benefits Fair” offered faculty and staff one-on-one conversations about financial security, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), mental health benefits, and lifestyle resources. The Expo also piloted a “Support Kit” — a discreet bag stocked with health products, feminine hygiene items, and travel-size necessities for difficult moments. “We hope to supply our students, staff, and faculty with a support kit filled with health, safety, and financial resources that can be stored in different offices and places on campus,” said a Human Resources representative.
Not everyone arrived expecting to leave changed. Austin Kraus, a College of Science sophomore, came for the free food, but stayed for the yoga. “The most interesting part was trying and learning about different types of yoga and medical insurance,” Kraus said.
That range of activities — from cooking to information on healthcare coverage — defined the day. Mason Dining hosted a live cooking demonstration featuring gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-sodium options, walking attendees through recipes tailored to different dietary needs. Sun and Moon Yoga Studio instructor Christine Clardy, who led one of the fitness sessions, took stock of the room. “When I was in college, I did not have events like this,” she said. “Seeing all sorts of support for human life — not just students but the local community and outreach groups too — is amazing.”
Attendees participated in raffles, health trivia, blood drives, and screenings for glucose levels and heart rate. Community partners, including CommonHealth, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Aetna Better Health of Virginia, were on hand throughout.
For Jennifer De La Rosa, associate director of Marketing and Communications for University Life, the breadth of the day was the point. “I want everyone to know this event is open to everyone — faculty, staff, students, the entire community,” she said. “It’s about showing them that they can have happy, healthy lives. And that having a healthy life encompasses not just health and food. It includes activities, dancing, singing, creativity, and fitness for all.”
The Expo was hosted by Student Health Services, Mason Recreation, Mason Dining, Human Resources, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, University Life Marketing and Communications, and the Office of Risk, Safety, and Resilience. The collaborative effort illustrates that at George Mason, the infrastructure for student success extends well beyond the classroom.