On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, Fitness Club and Student Activities & Leadership Development hosted a “Healthy Living in College” workshop that was held in the Sarazen Student Union.
Students were greeted by healthy snacks, juices and leaders from each organization and Sharon Lastique, a Certified Wellness Coach and the Owner of Healthy on Lark. Healthy on Lark is a health food café located on Lark Street in the city of Albany. The café prides itself on nutritious fresh pressed juices, delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine and mostly organic produce from producers in the Capital Region. Healthy on Lark’s website states that Lastique is “a long time vegetarian and is committed to sustainable practices including composting.” Lastique speaks at colleges all across the country, sharing information with students on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle amid the stressors that come with being a college student.
Laid out on a table in the back of SSU 243 were healthy treats that students were welcome to munch and sip on during the workshop. The spread included Up All Night juice, a mixture of green apples, beets, romaine, ginger and lemon, Lark Dill Dip and Buffalo marinated cauliflower. Other menu staples from Healthy on Lark include chickpea burgers, kale avocado salad, breakfast burritos, and a variety of other juices and smoothies.
During the workshop, Lastique led students through a guided meditation, talked about balancing fitness and school, how to achieve fitness goals and even prep healthy dorm room meals. Lastique hopes that these types of exercises and practices will help students learn to balance schoolwork and their health, improve energy and mental sharpness, improve self-confidence, reduce stress and learn to make healthy food choices.
When asked why Fitness Club wanted to host an event like this, President Kalynne Green ’20, said, “when you think of Fitness Club, you think of working out and exercising but we also want to incorporate all aspects of fitness such as healthy eating and habits.” Fitness Club aims to bring elite fitness to Siena while creating a stronger, faster and healthier. The Healthy Living in College Workshop definitely contributes to this goal of Fitness Club in a new and inspiring way.