History & Overview
Overview. Total Wellness was established in 2001 by faculty in the Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) at Texas State University to integrate and create a synergy of teaching, research, and service in physical activity and health promotion in Central Texas. Total Wellness serves as a platform that offers top students in HHP practical work experience, faculty and students research opportunities, and Texas State employees and community members access to low-cost, high-quality programs and special events designed to improve the health and well-being of children, teenagers, adults and seniors. The program is unique in that cutting-edge, evidence-based programs are specifically targeted and priced to be accessible to most all in the San Marcos area.
Teaching. While all HHP majors are eligible to observe and learn from Total Wellness programs, only the top students are hired to work in the program. Most students come from the Exercise and Sports Science (ESS) majors, as fieldwork experience is a degree requirement; however, there have also been Athletic Training, Health Education, and Recreation majors participating in Total Wellness programs. Under the supervision of program faculty and certified group fitness instructors, students enrolled in ESS 1201 Group Exercise Instructor Training, ESS 4318 Exercise Testing Practicum (pre-internship), ESS 4660 (internship), and ESS 5398 (advanced internship) apply their knowledge and develop their professional skills by observing and participating in out-of class activities offered through Total Wellness. For example, students observe and assist, when appropriate, Total Wellness employees with assessing the fitness levels of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMCISD)employees, leading group exercise classes ranging in formats from boot camp and kickboxing to water aerobics and yoga at the San Marcos Activity Center, leading seniors in Active Older Adult classes at Mariposa, engaging children in fun fitness activities during Fit Kids Club at the San Marcos Activity Center, designing incentives to encourage adherence, and marketing of new programs and services both on campus and in the community.
Research. Total Wellness is also a venue for faculty and students to conduct meaningful research related to the promotion of physical activity, weight control, and other positive healthy behaviors for people of all ages and fitness levels. For example, faculty have been successful in seeking external and internal funding to support research, student involvement, and delivery of Total Wellness services to underserved populations. From this funding, faculty have investigated various aspects of program effectiveness (e.g., on weight loss, exercise self-efficacy, and fitness), as well as seasonal weight change patterns specific to Mexican American women. Currently, faculty are conducting a multi-year study on attendance patterns in group exercise classes offered in University, K-12, and community settings. Furthermore, students enrolled in ESS 5398 (Thesis), ED 7699 (Dissertation), and ESS 5347 (Independent Study) recruit participants from Total Wellness to investigate the energy cost of yoga, the effects of caffeine on exercise, the effects of yoga training on muscular fitness, the relationship between motivation and exercise adherence, the factors that predict program retention, effective strategies to engage children in physical activity, and effective techniques for properly training teenagers.
Service. Total Wellness has forged meaningful campus-based and community partnerships to offer its program and now offers 24 group exercise classes each week to employees at the SMCISD; 2 to 4 active older adult and water classes each week to seniors living at Mariposa; 30 weekly group exercise classes, personal training, fit-kids club, and special events at the San Marcos Activity Center weekly; and 11 weekly group exercise classes, personal training, weight loss programs, health and fitness assessments, and summer camps for youth ages 6 through 18 at Texas State. This summer, Total Wellness will begin offering age-appropriate, structured physical activity classes to children ages 3 to 6 at the Child Development Center on the Texas State campus.
Teaching. While all HHP majors are eligible to observe and learn from Total Wellness programs, only the top students are hired to work in the program. Most students come from the Exercise and Sports Science (ESS) majors, as fieldwork experience is a degree requirement; however, there have also been Athletic Training, Health Education, and Recreation majors participating in Total Wellness programs. Under the supervision of program faculty and certified group fitness instructors, students enrolled in ESS 1201 Group Exercise Instructor Training, ESS 4318 Exercise Testing Practicum (pre-internship), ESS 4660 (internship), and ESS 5398 (advanced internship) apply their knowledge and develop their professional skills by observing and participating in out-of class activities offered through Total Wellness. For example, students observe and assist, when appropriate, Total Wellness employees with assessing the fitness levels of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMCISD)employees, leading group exercise classes ranging in formats from boot camp and kickboxing to water aerobics and yoga at the San Marcos Activity Center, leading seniors in Active Older Adult classes at Mariposa, engaging children in fun fitness activities during Fit Kids Club at the San Marcos Activity Center, designing incentives to encourage adherence, and marketing of new programs and services both on campus and in the community.
Research. Total Wellness is also a venue for faculty and students to conduct meaningful research related to the promotion of physical activity, weight control, and other positive healthy behaviors for people of all ages and fitness levels. For example, faculty have been successful in seeking external and internal funding to support research, student involvement, and delivery of Total Wellness services to underserved populations. From this funding, faculty have investigated various aspects of program effectiveness (e.g., on weight loss, exercise self-efficacy, and fitness), as well as seasonal weight change patterns specific to Mexican American women. Currently, faculty are conducting a multi-year study on attendance patterns in group exercise classes offered in University, K-12, and community settings. Furthermore, students enrolled in ESS 5398 (Thesis), ED 7699 (Dissertation), and ESS 5347 (Independent Study) recruit participants from Total Wellness to investigate the energy cost of yoga, the effects of caffeine on exercise, the effects of yoga training on muscular fitness, the relationship between motivation and exercise adherence, the factors that predict program retention, effective strategies to engage children in physical activity, and effective techniques for properly training teenagers.
Service. Total Wellness has forged meaningful campus-based and community partnerships to offer its program and now offers 24 group exercise classes each week to employees at the SMCISD; 2 to 4 active older adult and water classes each week to seniors living at Mariposa; 30 weekly group exercise classes, personal training, fit-kids club, and special events at the San Marcos Activity Center weekly; and 11 weekly group exercise classes, personal training, weight loss programs, health and fitness assessments, and summer camps for youth ages 6 through 18 at Texas State. This summer, Total Wellness will begin offering age-appropriate, structured physical activity classes to children ages 3 to 6 at the Child Development Center on the Texas State campus.
