Community stresses health,fitness

Every Sunday afternoon on the Horseshoe, Patricia Dowbiggin relaxes by teaching yoga to other students.

Dowbiggin, a first-year exercise science student, is one of the 46 students involved in the Healthy Carolina Living Community, the newest living community on campus.

“It’s really a way to improve one’s emotional wellness and a great way for people to feel connected,” Dowbiggin said.

Located on the sixth floor of Columbia Hall, this living community consists of freshmen as well as upperclassmen. Partnering with Healthy Carolina and the Arnold School of Public Health, the community focuses on the development and maintenance of a healthy mind, body and spirit.

“We really wanted this community to promote positive energy,” said Michelle Burcin, Healthy Carolina director. “By having students who value fitness, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, having a living community was really encouraged. Other universities around the country have these types of communities too.”

The students in this community are not only able to enjoy yoga on the Horseshoe, but they take fitness classes at the gym together. They also promote healthy eating by having a watermelon social and providing nutritious snacks while watching away football games.

There also are meetings with a nutritionist and a visit from a massage therapist, where students learned how to give a basic chair massage.
Students participate in the Farmers Market and are volunteering to help with recycling at the football games and at the South Carolina State Fair.

“This community gives me a jump start on staying healthy. It’s nice to know that others feel the same way you feel about living a healthy lifestyle,” said Nikola Kisko, a third-year art education student.

Kisko said the experience has opened up doors for her in understanding good health and the proper ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

While the students participate in activities outside the classroom, they are also required to take two classes specifically for the living community. These classes work together to promote good health, and one of the classes takes an in-depth look into stress control, personal hygiene and self-care skills.

“These classes help the students on their wellness journey,” said Alexandra Hoffman, a graduate assistant for Healthy Carolina Living Community.

Hoffman said she wanted to help build this program because of what it promotes.

“I really wanted to be apart of shaping this living community. This is a trial and error year because it is our first year. We are taking everything the students say into consideration so we can improve,” she said.

The housing application for this learning community, like all other living communities, requires a separate application. Registration for next semester or next year will be up soon. For more information about the Healthy Carolina Community, visit their Web site at http://www.sc.edu/healthycarolina/wellcomm.html.