OSO Fit Program Promotes Fitness Routines for Faculty and Staff

“There is a correlation between being active and being more productive at work,” said Van Davis, assistant director of wellness. “Ultimately, we’re here at Baylor to support our students. In order to do this, we as faculty and staff, need to be at our best. Physical fitness produces a desire to do more and care for people better. As a by-product, you might also lose a few pounds and tone your muscles.”

The OSO Fit program offers fitness classes exclusively for faculty and staff, and program participants also have the opportunity to attend Group X classes open to students and Baylor employees.

The group exercise classes and gym access provided to faculty and staff are convenient options, located on Baylor campus. OSO Fit classes are intentionally scheduled at noon, 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 a.m. to provide options that accommodate faculty and staff members’ schedules.

“Making it a priority to take care of yourself means so much more than just getting in that daily workout,” said Megan Patterson, director of wellness. “There is something about taking care of yourself that translates to taking care of other people. These fitness classes are offered in the context of our workplace, which communicates that Baylor cares about you, your health, your future and your family.”

Jim Hare, senior academic consultant for the College of Arts & Sciences, Lisa Rieger, administrative associate for Museum Studies, and Julie Stahl, financial manager for the College of Arts & Sciences, have participated in the OSO Fit program since 2012. Their choosing to make fitness a routine was a direct result of the caring atmosphere developed by the OSO Fit staff.

“I love the people, the camaraderie,” Rieger said. “The staff truly cares. It’s amazing to go to the program and know that people care about you and are there to support you.”

Alternating between zumba, circuit weights and cycling, Jim, Lisa and Julie enjoy the variety of classes offered, the convenient times provided and the interactions with instructors and other class members. They rely on each other for accountability measures to attend classes three to four times a week.

“A lot of faculty and staff are just set in their routines,” Hare said. “But at some point, you are going to have to decide, ‘I’m sick of being big. I’m sick of not feeling right.’ It’s an individual decision to change your life. No one else can make you change, and once you decide to create a balanced lifestyle, having at least one other person to go work out with you is definitely helpful.”

Instructors and participants refer to the OSO Fit community as a family. The support, care and convenience of this fitness program create an environment conducive to a sustainable fitness routine and a healthy lifestyle.

“You can start becoming active at any time. You will see results and improvement,” said Davis. “Start somewhere. Invest in your body. God has given us one body, and it’s the best machine he created. If we don’t do something positive for our bodies today, it will directly affect our futures.”