Name: Sarah Gaines
Year: Senior
Hometown: Florida
Major: Communications
Since sophomore year, Sarah has had a blog called Fit University (if you haven’t checked it out, click the link! It’s amazing). However, now Sarah is spreading fitness awareness to NU through her new club FitNU!
How did you come up with the idea for FitNU?
The first thing I noticed is that we really don’t have fitness clubs at Northeastern. There are sports teams and the running club, but nothing about physical and mental health awareness. I originally wanted to grow this awareness by adding fitness programs to the new student orientation, such as how to eat healthy in the dining hall. However, from talking to Lisa Commendatore, who is now our current advisor, we decided to expand my initial idea into a whole club, which finally became officially recognized at the beginning of November.
What impact do you want FitNU to have on Northeastern?
I really want FitNU to become a large community of supportive students who are all fitness – oriented. It is a low commitment club, people can just show up without registration and fees, however I want to spread physical and mental health and wellness around the campus.
What do you have planned for FitNU for the rest of the year?
For this semester, there will be a Healthy Holiday Potluck and Recipe Swap December 4 at 6 P.M. and then a yoga class to destress for finals in the Sacred Space on December 7 at 4:30 P.M! I am in the process of teaming up with fitness studios around Boston for other events after winter break as well as planning healthy cooking demos. Once it gets warmer, I would love to have Yoga on Centennials and do pop up workouts.
How do you want FitNU to grow once you graduate?
I hope for the VP or another board member to run for President and see the club grow and expand. It would be great if every time someone came for an event, they brought someone new. Eventually, I really want FitNU to have multiple chapters all over the country and even the world!
How can students get involved?
If someone is interested, then they should join the Facebook group as well as like/follow FitU on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. FitNU will have Twitter and Instagram accounts soon. Or, they can contact me!
What do you want to do post graduation?
I want to do free lance social media so I can grow Fit University into a business. I am interested in doing life and health coaching and want to spread the LifeFit initiative and build my blog into a whole brand. Right now, I am the only person running my blog and I would eventually like to get FitU ambassadors on college campuses who would write one blog post a month and post on social media.