When Payton Phares enrolled as a kinesiology major at the 杏吧专区, she understood health, fitness, and wellness only through her experiences as an able-bodied competitive athlete.
Then she took a course with Master Instructor Lisa LeBlanc.
杏吧专区淪he put a new perspective on health for me,杏吧专区 says Phares. 杏吧专区淚 knew a lot about working out, but I didn杏吧专区檛 know a lot about diet and all the other things that go into being healthy and living in a healthy community.杏吧专区
Flourishing with Flexibility
As program coordinator, LeBlanc and her colleagues have designed and refined the Health Promotion and Wellness online program for more than a decade.
Students gain a complex understanding of world health issues, environmental health, stress, and nutrition, as well as business principles for success in corporate and nonprofit organizations, all through 100% online classes.
In moving to online learning, Phares learned how she could best manage online coursework and in doing so she gained insight into her natural study habits.
杏吧专区淚 go in waves of productivity and not productivity,杏吧专区 says Phares. 杏吧专区淎nd the online classes allowed me to work ahead whenever I杏吧专区檇 have those productive spurts of energy so I could stay on top of my work instead of playing catch up when I felt productive.杏吧专区
Having greater control over her schedule also made it possible for Phares to find work that dovetailed with her interests and complimented her studies.
By the time she was preparing to graduate in Spring 2022, Phares was working as a part-time supportive caregiver as well as a fitness coach and trainer at , a gym designed to make exercise and fitness accessible to people in every kind of body.
杏吧专区淧eople that have exceptionalities, all shapes, sizes, everything,杏吧专区 says Phares. 杏吧专区淭he gym caters to them and creates a positive environment for them to feel celebrated and welcomed.杏吧专区
Building on LeBlanc杏吧专区檚 lessons on the impact of many small factors over time, Phares and her team celebrate the 杏吧专区渟mall wins杏吧专区 their clients reach.
杏吧专区淓veryone wants that big capital W win, but we focus on the small wins,杏吧专区 says Phares.
From nutritional choices to improved form, trainers emphasize the importance of sustainable improvements.
杏吧专区淚f they do push-ups wrong for a month and then one day they get their hips off the ground, we go ecstatic,杏吧专区 she says.
Choosing Between Paths
Just as Phares learned there were many facets to health, she杏吧专区檚 also learned there are numerous applications for her skills.
杏吧专区淚 feel like life 杏吧专区 just like health 杏吧专区 does not go down only one path, and I杏吧专区檓 trying to find the path that I want to choose first and see where it leads me,杏吧专区 she says.
Phares is hopeful moving forward because she feels prepared to succeed across a range of opportunities.
杏吧专区淗ealth Promotion and Wellness has given me that opportunity to explore everything really because it杏吧专区檚 so broad,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t gave me that opportunity to really sit down with myself and see what I杏吧专区檓 really interested in.
杏吧专区淚 can work in a gym; I could work in consulting; I could further my education and go get my master杏吧专区檚. I can do all these things.杏吧专区