CCU is an Exercise is Medicine on Campus university, but what does that mean?

Healthy living isn't just for people; it's for campuses, too.

In 2017, Coastal Carolina University became an official Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) university, an initiative launched by the American College of Sports Medicine. The initiative is meant to get faculty, staff and students involved in making the campus a healthy environment, said Marcia Rosiek, lecturer of kinesiology.

"This requires an attempt to make physical movement a part of our campus lifestyle," she said. "It means providing health information at student health visits and the dissemination of educational materials so everyone can begin or maintain healthy physical activity habits."

Part of Rosiek's plan to help spread the word was a yoga/walking break lunch event originally scheduled for Nov. 14. The event was postponed until the spring due to the weather, but Rosiek said the event included yoga sessions and informational tables and invited all faculty and staff to stop by during the lunch break to take a short walk or try a few minutes of yoga.

"I think sometimes we forget that we are a community and not everyone knows what each department may be involved in, so it is a good way to share what we know and learn about our colleagues," she said. "After all, we do know that physical activity improves cognition and we also learn through social interactions. So, a walk that is social is better for our brain than one alone! It improves our focus, our mood, and our self-esteem."

For more information about the EIM-OC initative or the rescheduled fitness break, contact Rosiek at mrosiek@coastal.edu or ext. 6619.