Life is not merely being alive, but being well. For ASU Head Baseball Coach Skip Fite, physical activity is basic to being well today and in the future.

"Exercising is something we not only can do now, but the benefits can continue to carry over throughout our lifetime. The better one feels about oneself, the better the overall attitude toward life in general," says Fite.

In the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science where Fite serves as assistant professor, students work on their physique, and they also learn to manage the stress of having to juggle work, classes, and their personal life.

Whether it is walking, jogging, hiking, or backpacking, people become so involved in the physical activity that for the moment they may forget about the relaxing benefits of exercise.

"A personal concept of mine is that when students work out or participate in a wellness class they feel good about themselves."

"With exercise, a person gets an excellent effect as far as relieving stress and tension. This is because as our body works out during exercise, we are also mentally relaxing ourselves," says Fite.

Building self-esteem is an added benefit of exercising and a very important goal for the overall success of a wellness program.

"Self-esteem is very important and it is something that is taught in our wellness 1000 classes. This course serves as a framework for all other wellness classes. It integrates the physical, mental, social, and environmental aspects of wellness and encourages hands-on behavior to base lifetime decisions."

It is also important to learn to balance nutrition with exercise. Once a person becomes obese, then they are no longer healthy, and this can have an adverse effect on how a person thinks and feels about himself," says Fite. He offers the following advice for building healthy activities for life:

1. Find an activity you enjoy. If you like the activity – whether it's running, walking, or whatever – you are likely to continue it.
2. Make exercise a habit now. As we get older, we tend to find excuses not to exercise. If it is a habit, it is likely to be repeated on a regular basis when we age.

Students, faculty, and staff may use the fitness facilities at ASU for free with a valid ASU ID. The fitness equipment rooms at the Physical Education/Athletic Complex are open from 2 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. The indoor walking track is available from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. (7 1/2 laps equals a mile). The swimming pool on the main campus is available from 3 - 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 8 - 10 p.m., Monday through Friday.