York students will have an extra reason to make good on their New Year’s resolution to get fit in 2012. For the month of January, York’s Health Education & Promotion team will be hosting the Active Living Challenge, which aims to get them more physically active – and they’re offering prizes to inspire their resolve.
By registering with YU Connect starting Jan. 4, students can log their physical activity during the month and be eligible for challenge prizes. The first 50 participants to register will receive a start-up package that includes deodorant, a resistance band, pedometer and more.
This is the first time the challenge has been promoted campus-wide, said co-ordinator Richmond Lo. Previously the challenge was open only to students in residence since that was where designated Health Education & Promotion residents could track their challenge activities. “Now, we’re using YU Connect,” Lo said. “It made it possible to go campus-wide.”
Within the sign-up form, students will be asked to have a witness/buddy to help them keep motivated throughout the month and to help verify recorded activities. The event will use the honour system, where all participants are expected to report their activities honestly and fairly. Health Education & Promotion reserves the right to remove suspicious activities from YU connect and the event.
The new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, in 10-minute bouts or more. Therefore only activities at moderate to vigorous will be accepted within the event to encourage a healthier and active lifestyle. Heart rate and the Talk Test are examples to determine whether an activity should be considered moderate, moderate-vigorous or vigorous.
The point system will be calculated based on the length of exercise (per 15 minutes) and also the intensity recorded (moderate, moderate-vigorous or vigorous). Additional points will be awarded by participating in Health Education & Promotion events, such as Wellness Wednesdays, Walkabouts, Library Body Breaks, etc. Additional points will be awarded by submitting photos of the physical activity being performed.
Categories for prizes will be awarded to:
- First 50 students to sign up
- Most active student within each college affiliation
- Most active varsity athlete
- Most active college for Torch Points (pending approval)
- Five random draws within all participants
For more information on the Activity Challenge, visit their website.