Physical Wellness: Physical Activity

Physical wellness allows a person to engage in activities of daily living without experiencing undue fatigue or exhaustion. The physical dimension of wellness is supported through health behaviors, which include exercise, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake, not smoking, and getting adequate sleep each night.

For more information to share with students, feel free to use this slide set: Physical Wellness PowerPoint

Physical fitness is brought about by engaging regularly in activities to improve and maintain health, including regular exercise.  Benefits of physical fitness include cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, mobility, agility, balance, coordination, and rapid reaction time. Regular physical activity helps to prevent and treat heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, helps to prevent hypertension and obesity, and improves mental health and well-being (World Health Organization, 2023).

Encourage students to be PHYSICALLY ACTIVE!

  • DURING CLASS TIME, play an exercise video for students to do as a break in the lecture. Practice balance, aerobics, dancing, etc. Encourage students to be as active as they are able, and allow for variations in participation. (See the chair, balance, and stretching resources listed below).

  • DURING RECORDED LECTURES, have students take a walk for the duration of a song or run in place during certain PowerPoint slides.

  • Consider having STUDENTS lead an activity during a BREAK in class. Activities include mini workouts or stretch breaks while sitting.

Exercise Resources

Dance Videos


Consider adding this TED TALK to your course, and discussing with students!
Wendy Suzuki (2018; 13 minutes):TED: The brain-changing benefits of exercise