Exercise comes in all forms, as demonstrated by these Bollywood dancers from a recent Faculty/Staff Fitness class at OSU. (contributed photo)

Oregon State employees who aren’t regularly exercising and who want a chance to get in shape have the chance to try out some of OSU’s best fitness resources for free next term through something called the FUN Project.

The FUN Project is a pilot program to help OSU employees get and stay active.  Any employee (.5 FTE and above) who is not currently physically active can participate and get either a free Faculty Staff Fitness class, a free term membership at Dixon Recreation Center/Recreational Sports, or participate in Beaver Strides for free.

To sign up for the FUN project, you will need to attend an orientation meeting in late November or early December 2011.  After registering for the FUN project, you will be eligible to sign up for one of the programs being offered for free next term.  Participants will also receive a water bottle, t-shirt and other prizes for continuing to participate in the activity of choice. To participate: BeWell or https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/main.aspx?SurveyID=4653. You will then receive an e-mail with dates of orientation sessions.

In order to participate, you will be asked to complete a written survey at the beginning, midpoint and endpoint of the project.  All information is completely confidential.

Beaver Strides

Beaver Strides is a motivational pedometer program that uses prizes and other incentives to encourage more movement throughout the day and to establish and maintain regular physical activity. Participants track their physical activity and other healthy habits, go on weekly “Move It Monday” walks, and take part in a variety of motivational themes and mini challenges. Get Your Move On!”

Learn more about Beaver Strides.

Faculty/Staff Fitness

The Faculty Staff Fitness Program (FSF) is offered through the College of Public Health and Human Sciences. Instructor-led group classes provide motivation and support for first-time exercisers. A wide variety of programs are offered, such as yoga, swim fitness, weight training and a back clinic. You can sign up for a one, two or three day a week class – offered in the morning, noon hour or late afternoon.

Learn more about FSF.

Dixon Recreation Center

Recreational Sports facilities are open over 100 hours a week, ideal for anyone who is self-motivated to work out on their own. Choose cardio and weight machines, swimming pool, indoor track, and more. The locker rooms have private changing and shower areas, or change at Langton Hall and walk over to Dixon. Small group orientations to equipment will help you get started on the road to regular physical activity. Less busy times are mornings, early afternoons and weekends. Learn more about Dixon membership.

Bess Nichols, a senior in Human Development and Family Sciences, tries her hand at making cotton candy during last year's Feminist Fair. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

The OSU Women’s Center is playing host to the 2011 annual Feminist Fair. This year’s theme is “Pockets of Feminism” and the event will be held Thursday, May 26 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union quad.

The Feminist Fair is a free and open event to the OSU and Corvallis community. The Feminist Fair this year will feature a Red Tent, a place of fellowship and education around menstruation. There will be information booths and activities related to women’s health, reproductive choice, international women’s issues, and more. Additionally, a special booth called “(Root) Beer with a Revolutionary” will give the opportunity for individuals to ask questions and learn about feminism.

Entertainment will include music by DJ Tab, performances by The Wild Iris Tribe – a belly dance group, OSU Faculty/Staff Bollywood Class, and the OSU Salsa Club. Individuals can also enjoy free popcorn and snow cones as they explore the fair. More information about the OSU Women’s Center and the Feminist Fair can be found online at http://oregonstate.edu/womenscenter.

More than 70 students, staff and faculty danced in a Bollywood flashmob during Beaver Fair. (photo: Darryl Lai)

Oregon State University students and staff turned the Memorial Union Quad into the scene of a Bollywood film on Friday afternoon when more than 70 people participated in a flash mob dance in the middle of the quad.

The event, which was staged as a surprise event during the annual Beaver Fair for students in the quad, drew a large crowd as the dancers tossed off their jackets to reveal bright orange shirts as they began to dance to the Bollywood song “Salaam-E-Ishq” from the movie by the same name.

Oregon State student Neha Neelwarne, a Bollywood instructor for Faculty/Staff fitness and a native of Mysore, India, organized and choreographed the dance and helped keep it a secret until Friday.

“Since October is Diversity Awareness Month I wanted to do something to celebrate diversity on campus, but also to encourage individuals to put some effort into learning something new about other experiences,” Neelwarne said. “What better way to achieve these goals than by doing a Bollywood Flash Mob?”

Oregon State student Neha Neelwarne organized and choreographed the flashmob. (photo: Darryl Lai)

“Many OSU Students, staff, and faculty members with different backgrounds and experiences put in a lot of effort to learn the dance. Students who work at many different cultural centers at OSU also participated. I hope that every individual at OSU and the community will take an interest in learning about diversity after watching the flash mob -  visiting the cultural and resource centers is a great first start!”

Neelwarne has spent the last two months training groups of dancers, most of whom had never performed publically before, and some of whom had never even heard of Bollywood until they participated in the event.

Kevin Gatimu, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering from Kenya, was excited for the opportunity to participate.

“The Bollywood Flash Mob was not only a forum that hosted different facets of diversity, but it was a form of recreation too,” he said.

His brother Brian, a junior in biochemistry, biophysics, also participated.

“I wanted to be a part of this Indian dance because I personally take interest in cultures different from mine. Learning a cultural dance, in my view, is one of the best, fun and engaging ways to immerse yourself into one’s culture,” he said. “I challenge students out there to utilize the cultural centers in OSU in learning more about the diversity that is here in OSU.”

Oregon State University has made honoring and increasing diversity on campus a high priority. In Spring 2010, there were 3,274 Oregon State students who identified as U.S. minorities, an increase of 8.5 percent from the previous year. And international student numbers rose 30.7 percent, to 1,180 students. There are currently six cultural centers on campus which offer a variety of services to students, and which host campus-wide events throughout the year.

~ Theresa Hogue

Neha Neelwarne, FSF instructor, prepares dancers for India Night this spring. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

Oregon State University’s Faculty/Staff Fitness program offers classes ranging from aerobics to therapeutic yoga and everything in between, and gives faculty and staff the chance to fit affordable exercise classes into their work schedules. But one particular class has taken FSF out of the classroom and into the community.

Neha Neelwarne, a new instructor to FSF who won an award for her work with the program this Spring, teaches a popular Bollywood aerobic dance class, and has taken some of her students to perform Bollywood numbers in several locations this year. In addition to performing at India Night on campus, her class performed at the annual FSF picnic, and just last week, was invited to give a performance to children at the Toy Factory in downtown Corvallis.

Below are videos of the two dances Neelwarne and several of her students performed, all choreographed by her. To find out more about FSF see: http://www.hhs.oregonstate.edu/nes/faculty-staff-fitness-fsf-program