274 heal-ing at harding New organization promoted healthy eating and exercising habits among students. HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) was an organization introduced in the fall 2019 semester dedicated to helping students work toward their health and fitness goals. Originally a program for elementary schools in Alabama, it was reworked to fit the needs of college students. The organization encouraged students to complete a six week program. Twice a week, students joined the male or female "heal circle" that introduced Zumba, yoga, self-defense, weight lifting and indoor cycling. Each day was different, and each program was designed to get students up and moving. SophomoreAnna Beaver,founder ofthe Harding chapter of HEAL, recalled the early stages of starting the club. "I've been approached by multiple students asking me to help them make a workout plan, or how to eat and what to do," Beaver said. Beaver and Dr. Britney Finley, assistant professor of kinesiology, were interested in creating a program to help students implement these lifestyle changes. I think it's important to learn how to eat right and to have a healthy balance," Beaver said. ''You don't have to have a saladevery meal. That's what I'vecome to learn: that I don't have to punish myself for having a dessert." She emphasized a healthy lifestyle included giving yourself grace, keeping a strong mindset and ignoring fad diets that could be detrimental to personal health. Junior Kaitlyn Francois, a vice president of the club, explained that 2019 was HEAL's pilot year, and the organization was constantly adjusting where it was most needed. Atface value, the program was aimed at creating a healthy lifestyle. They also wanted to focus on the idea that the body was sacred and emphasized the significance of taking care of it. Francois said HEAL's goal was to introduce life tyles that benefited students in multiple ways -- physically, emotionally and faithfully. "It's really all about balance." "It'sreally all about balance," Francois said."That's the main thing." SeniorHaley Grizzell, event coordinator for HEAL, expre sed similar thoughts. The sessions helped students get moving and allowed them to build relationships in an environment that was safe and free from judgment. They offered tips, questions and Bible verses that corresponded to each activity during each session, which encouraged open discussion. "It's really about drawing us closer to God," Grizzell said. "A lot of people might want to lose weight, or make themselves feel better, which is great, but HEAL's focus is to treat the temple the way God wants us to treat the temple." Grizzell said a healthy lifestyle wasnot about how to conform to society's idea of health and physicality, but how each student was different, and how to best help them grow individually and for God. story by Abigail Rezentes
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==