The Portland State Academic and Student Rec Center is organizing the Nourish Wellness Fair on Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the ASRC Building for the second year in a row. The event is open to PSU students, faculty and staff, irrespective of their membership at ASRC. Participants will need to bring their PSU ID to enter.
The Portland State Academic and Student Rec Center is organizing the Nourish Wellness Fair on Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the ASRC Building for the second year in a row. The event is open to PSU students, faculty and staff, irrespective of their membership at ASRC. Participants will need to bring their PSU ID to enter.
At the fair, attendees can enroll in a drawing to win a bike; buy bike helmets for $5; get chair massages, body composition tests, gait analysis, acupuncture, healthy food samples and blood pressure screenings.
“The fair will be an interactive experience for attendees,” ASRC Fitness and Health Promotion Coordinator Erin Bransford said. “Most, if not all vendors will have activities, samples or demo services at their table. We have vendors covering all aspects of wellness, from physical to social, environmental, financial and emotional.”
Bransford is the main organizer for the Wellness Fair. She coordinates with the other ASRC interns and does outreach activities with other departments and organizations.
“There will be music, food and a plethora of wellness resources—something for everyone,” Bransford said. “With over 50 vendors expected, it will be tough to see everyone and do everything. If you really want to get the most out of everything offered, exercise attire is recommended, but is certainly not required.”
Caitlin Goodwin, a student intern, has been responsible for helping to coordinate vendors, raffle prizes and donations, with the overall responsibility of making sure the fair runs smoothly. “Students can expect to have fun, learn more about the different aspects of health and wellness, free food, complimentary chair massages, acupuncture, heart rate monitoring, gait analysis, spa services and much more,” she said.
ASRC and the Center for Student Health and Counseling will provide the bike with the help of the PSU Bike Hub. To enter the raffle and win the bike, participants need to attend the fair, get stamps from at least 10 vendors and fill out a short survey. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m. after the fair.
The gait analysis is offered by Foot Traffic, a local walking and running store. It involves a professional observing the participant’s biomechanics while walking or running to determine what type of shoe will best support. The participants will be able to see a video of their feet in motion, which will be explained during the analysis.
Body composition testing involves measuring a person’s body fat percentage. This number tells the participants what percent of their weight is lean mass (muscle, organs, bones, etc.) and what percent is fat. This number is much more useful as a measure of health/fitness than weight alone. Certified Campus Rec personal trainers will be performing these tests.
“My favorite part of the fair is the activities and the atmosphere of the event,” Bransford said. “Participating in the games provided by the vendors results in a more meaningful experience than simply grabbing a bunch of fliers and being surrounded by so many other people who are interested in wellness is uplifting and encouraging.”
“The fair creates great energy in the environment,” Goodwin said. “It is such a positive learning experience that everyone can participate in.”
