Manhattan College Gains Recognition for Exercise is Medicine Program
The College is one of 63 schools to earn gold status for the healthy-living program.
Manhattan College’s newly established Exercise is Medicine program, designed to provide students with the tools needed to sustain healthy physical activity habits, has earned gold status from Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC).
Manhattan College is one of 63 institutions to earn gold status from EIM-OC, which provides an opportunity for schools to enhance their image as a healthy academic environment and highlight their commitment to creating a culture of wellness.
A group spanning the College’s School of Education and Health, Office of Health Services and Student Life division has created the following programs:
- The JasperFit Mentors program serves as a direct educational resource to help guide, encourage, and support our community members with initiating and maintaining their physical activity levels.
- The Kinesiology Talks educational seminar series focused on community engagement, walkability and public health.
- Health Services and JasperFit Mentors provide students with education material on the importance of physical activity as well as additional health and fitness resources.
- The department of Kinesiology and Director of Fitness & Wellness have also been developing new exercise programs, including walking groups and faculty/staff yoga.
Manhattan College’s nickname, the Jaspers, actually comes from an unknowing movement innovator and advocate for on-campus exercise.
In the late 1800s, Brother Jasper, Manhattan College’s first baseball coach, athletic director, and prefect of discipline, realized the students attending a baseball game were becoming restless and uneasy.
To relieve the tension, Brother Jasper called a timeout just prior to his team’s seventh inning at bat and encouraged all the students in attendance to stand up and stretch. The tradition now continues at baseball stadiums across the United States.