Student Lifestyle Programme
What's it all about
* The lifestyle programme has been developed at AIT to provide a safe pathway for students with various health problems to become more active and healthy.
* It's a positive partnership between the institute Medical Centre and the Fitness Suite.
* If you have not been active for a long time we understand that you may have concerns about your health and about how to start being active.
* With this programme you will be exercising with a plan developed to suit you and a qualified exercise professional to advise and encourage you throughout.
How do I take part?
If the Institute GP thinks that you will benefit from regular exercise, he/she will fill out a referral form for you and will explain the details of the programme to you before you agree to take part. If you choose not to do so, this will not influence any future care you receive at the Institute medical centre. Your referral form will be sent to the life style referral programme co-ordinator based at the fitness suite. An appointment will be made for you introductory visit, which will take place in a private consultation room. This will involve a general health screen, including - some simple measurements to assess your current physical capacity and some questions about your lifestyle, activities and general well being.
This will be used to ensure that your activity programme is tailored to your individual needs, ability and lifestyle. All information provided will be confidential.
What types of activities and when?
Your programme can be a mixture of gym exercises such as walking and cycling and other exercises depending on what you prefer. Don't worry if you have never been in a gym before as you will be shown, at your own pace, how to use any equipment on your activity programme and the fitness suite staff will always be on hand to help.
* The program does not have to be in the gym, it can involve swimming, walking and cycling.
* It can be great chance to meet other people. If you are interested in having a "gym buddy" to exercise with let the fitness suite staff know.
* Your co coordinator can also provide you with general information on your diet.
* Ideally the programme will last for 12 weeks however this will be flexible. The fitness suite staff will meet/communicate with you regularly during your programme and will help you make any changes that they/you feel are necessary.
When happens when the programme is complete?
* You will have a one to one visit with your coordinator to see how you got along.
* At this stage we hope that your new active lifestyle is something that you would like to continue and you will be given advice on how to approach this.
* You can contact your coordinator at any time during the programme for advice on your activities or any news ones you would like to try.
* By the end of the programme we hope that you will feel the benefits of exercise and notice that you have more stamina, feel stronger and more flexible, feel more confident and less stressed.. we also hope that you will have enjoyed the experience.