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University of Sussex Media Release.
. Staff And Students Get Fit For Nothing

10 January 2001
For immediate release

Free fitness sessions, exercise classes, blood pressure and lung check-ups, dietary advice and spiritual healing events are being offered to staff and students at the University of Sussex in an initiative to promote health and well-being on campus.

More than 40 sessions have been planned for Health Week, which runs from January 15 -19 at the University's Falmer site. As well as the various courses already being run at the University's two sports centres, there will be group jogging sessions in nearby Stanmer Park, meditation groups at the Meeting House, and talks on feng shui in the workplace and how to prevent RSI.

There will also be beginners' classes in trapeze, African dance and street dance, while everyone is being encouraged, at the very least, to have a lunch hour.

"A lot of people already take advantage of the facilities on campus," says head of sport Karen Dunster. "But we want to reach a wider spectrum. We particularly want to see people using their lunch hours to think more about their health."

The initiative is part of a longer term project to promote health and well-being on campus. It was inspired by an international drive to make universities 'healthy' environments in which to work and study. Sussex social psychologist Professor Charles Abraham will be leading some research to analyse aspects of the week's success.

In support of the initiative, University registrar Neil Gershon said: "The health of students and staff is a vital component for a thriving university community. This is a demonstration of this University's commitment to promoting positive health in every sense for all its members."

 

Notes for editors

For further information, please contact Karen Dunster on 01273 606755 ext. 3947, or contact Jacqui Bealing or Alison Field, Press Office, University of Sussex, Tel. 01273 678888, Fax 01273 877456, email J.A.Bealing@sussex.ac.uk or A.Field@sussex.ac.uk.

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