Amit Sekhon

Amit Sekhon, 5th year Kinesiology, Interdisciplinary Stream.

Amit demonstrates true altruism. Recognizing the need for healthy coping habits during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he took the initiative to provide free online home workouts for people to follow.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down our communities, I began to notice that friends and family felt like they could not exercise due to the closure of their local gyms. This behaviour was coupled with other negative coping habits, such as eating unhealthy foods and excessive consumption of alcohol in order to deal with the stress of our current situation. I was able to show some of my family how they could still exercise without having a gym to go to by creating a home workout program for them. Many friends began asking for workouts as well, so I teamed up with fellow UBC Kin student Michael Fan (4th year Kin) to create a digital platform where we could post home workouts for people to follow.

We have just launched the Instagram page “@isolationworkout”, where we aim to provide at least 3 home workouts a week for people in the community to follow. The goal of this page is to provide an exercise resource library on an easily accessible social media platform. We are trying to keep the equipment used to a minimum, as we understand that the general population does not have equipment at home.

I have also been volunteering with the BC Brain Wellness Program exercise group, which aims to provide wellness support programs for individuals living with brain disorders. With facilities being shut down, I continue to volunteer in exercise classes through online Zoom classes three times a week. I am also creating instructional exercise videos that are sent to participants in the program so they can access exercises made specifically for them from home and keep a sense of normalcy in their lives.

Shaena Randles

Shaena Randles, 4th year Kinesiology, Interdisciplinary Stream.

Shaena went above and beyond to adapt core facilitation skills for PASS, and devised a novel, virtual study session. She was able to quickly transition an engaging learning system online in order to help other students’ academic success. In a time where social isolation is mandatory, she made sure that fellow students didn’t miss this learning opportunity.

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I have served as a PASS leader for the past two years. The PASS leader role combines my fascination with physiology and anatomy with my ambition to connect meaningfully with others, especially in a learning environment. This has motivated me throughout my journey as a PASS leader and continues to motivate me during this globally pressing time of the Corona Virus (COVID-19).

I feel extremely grateful for the online resources available today that allow me to continue working despite our emergency response to Covid-19. Still, moving my PASS sessions to the Collaborative Ultra online platform has proven to be a challenging transition. So far, I have found my success by adapting the core facilitation skills that I have developed with my team to the novel, virtual classroom. The essence of PASS is that it gives students the opportunity to promote each other’s learning through interaction and collective knowledge. In a time where social isolation is mandatory, students might miss this learning opportunity if not for the online transition that our team has committed to. At this early stage of the process, I feel excited about the positive response that our online PASS sessions have received from the first-year students. In fact, more students logged in for the first online session than I have seen at my most recent in-person sessions. With final exams in sight, it is truly inspiring that these students continue to prioritize their learning despite the dramatic shift in lifestyle and community health that Covid-19 has provoked.

Sam Vila

Sam Vila, 4th year Kinesiology, Health Science Stream.

Sam’s passion for anatomy and physiology led him to volunteer for the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) to help other students practice the skills necessary for success. When COVID-19 hit, he worked quickly to innovate and bring PASS to an online system to ensure continued support and success amongst his peers.

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My name is Sam Vila, I’ve been a PASS leader for the past two years and have loved every step of the way. I have always had a passion for anatomy and physiology and after learning about PASS, I thought giving back to my cohort, hopefully instilling that same passion in a few students would be more than worthwhile. It has been such a great experience meeting, and working alongside, some incredible people in the Kinesiology department while honing my skills as a facilitator.

The COVID crisis has required that we all work remotely and so Shaena Randles and I have worked quickly to ensure that students could still receive coaching via a move to a new online system. Learning about, and applying, the many tools of the online platform was a new challenge but I enjoyed designing the session to take advantage of each tool. The chat function is my favorite because I think students are much more willing to contribute when they don’t have to physically raise their hand and speak; the barrier to participate is a lot lower.

Now that we’re over the initial change things are running pretty smoothly. I’ve learned that working with humor and understanding to help combat social isolation during this time and has worked well to get us all feeling more comfortable with the new platform. One thing I miss is having the student community physically in front of me, as the feedback I get is much more visceral and immediate. Stay healthy!

UBC KIN Games team leaders Mika Fogelman, Grace Huang, Olivia Tobias report on making history at the 2020 KIN Games

A team of 16 UBC KIN students competed at Brock University in Niagara Falls, Ontario in the 2020 Kinesiology Games. Alongside 35 other teams from schools all over Canada, our team competed in four categories: Dance, Academics, Sports, and Spirit. UBC KIN placed 3rd in Spirit and 2nd Overall! This was a huge accomplishment for the KIN team, as they had been preparing for the games since tryouts at the end of September, and UBC had never placed in the overall category, nor in any other category since 2017.

In a joint statement prepared by the captains of the Kin Games team they wrote, “The biggest lesson we have learned throughout all of this is the power of Strength in Numbers which, coincidentally, happened to be the theme of the Kin Games this year. When we all work as a team to build each other up, to do our part to protect our communities, and spread a positive message throughout the UBC Kin and Kin Games community, the stronger we are in fighting through this time of uncertainty.”

KIN Games Team Members included:

Captains: Mika Fogelman, Grace Huang, Olivia Tobias

Dance choreographer: Madison Bulloch

May Guan

Aaron Harpaz

Allison Hill

Davin Hu

Brandon Lam

Jennifer Lim

Samuel Lin

Kei Poon

Veronika Scherer

Myah Sisson

Gurkeerit (Gary) Sidhu

Max Wahl

Joshua Wang

Julia Tepes on her KIN Co-op journey and pressing pause for pandemics

Welcome to the second of a series of 3 articles I’m writing about my KIN Co-op journey. I last wrote that I’d applied to the Co-op Program to find out what kinds of jobs a KIN degree might get me besides serving as stepping stone to physiotherapy, and about the workshops I took to prep me for job searches. Well, I’m back and excited to share how my co-op experience has progressed! Since my last article, I began the process of applying to jobs, interviewing, and actually landing a co-op job!

It all started when KIN Co-op coordinator, Simone Longpré, posted the first co-op job opportunity for the summer 2020 work term – a research position with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. I had never imagined working in a research position before last semester, but after completing KIN 373 I had found a new appreciation for it and decided to apply. Utilizing the skills I’d learned in the fall co-op workshops, I tailored my resume and cover letter for the job posting. I asked Simone if she would review my application. She was great! It seems to me that she’s an English teacher and thesaurus, superhero, and co-op coordinator, all rolled into one. Leah Meanwell is the assistant co-op coordinator. She is basically Simone’s twin (except she has bangs – important to mention!). I am thankful to them both for their help every step of the way.

As I was about to submit two more applications to the co-op office, I received an invitation to AN INTERVIEW for the job at BC Children’s Hospital! I was told to bring a laptop for an Excel exercise (yikes!) and that there would be both a group and solo aspect of the interview. At the interview, I sat next to another UBC KIN co-op student and two SFU students. The interviewers provided details about the research being conducted and informed us that the main job duties would consist of data collection and organization, and contacting research participants. I was excited about the prospect of working in the nitty-gritty aspects of research.

After the group portion of the interview they opened the floor to questions, and I realized that interview-nerves are a real thing! I asked one question and then continued to actively listen to what the interviewers were saying, and remembered to make eye contact with the interviewer. Simone had advised us that managers not only want to make sure you can do the job, but they also want to know whether they can work with you!

After the group interview, I was taken to a separate room for the Excel exercise. My Excel skills are beginner-intermediate at best and I didn’t have enough time to finish, but the solo part of the interview went well. I left feeling not so great about the Excel exercise, but happy about how it went overall.

A week later I received an email from the co-op office saying that I had BEEN OFFERED THE JOB! Needless to say, I accepted the offer and was scheduled to start in May and continue to the end of December 2020. Of course, everything has now been put on pause with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m disappointed my job may not go ahead in May, but I do know that doors have not been closed. All the things we are seemingly “missing out on” throughout this pandemic will still be there when it’s over. And if they aren’t, then other opportunities will arise.

I was so excited to start working in May with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, but I know that my focus needs to shift from starting work to ensuring I’m not putting myself or others at risk of this virus, so I am social distancing along with everyone else. I encourage everyone to choose to make the most of the present. It’s okay to be taking a break. Instead of worrying about the future, let’s give thanks for what we have in the moment.

Thanks for tuning in to hear another part of my co-op story! Although the summer work term seems uncertain,
I am confident I’ll be back soon to let you all know about the next step in my co-op journey. Stay safe, healthy, and continue loving others by practicing social distancing and staying at home. Thanks KIN fam ❤

Julia’s work term will begin in May 2020 as planned. She will be working remotely with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute to examine the impact of COVID-19 on students’ health behaviours. We wish Julia the best of luck on her endeavors!

Stay updated with Julia’s KIN Co-op journey through the KINformed student newsletter and the News page of our website, or follow us on our official Facebook and Instagram pages!

Pathways Project Launches: Studying Development, Behaviours and Motivation in Girl’s Soccer

[youtube]https://youtu.be/kaQarCyOy18[/youtube]

UBC School of Kinesiology, Professor Nicola Hodges is spearheading a research study, titled the Pathways Project, which focuses on developmental activities, behaviours and motivation in girl’s soccer. The project is being conducted in collaboration with the members of the Canada National Women’s Soccer and the provincial programs along with the University of Northumbria, UK.

Funded by a SSHRC grant, Pathways studies the career progressions of female youth (ages 12-18) soccer players and the factors that help make highly skilled, motivated and committed players, and ultimately successful teams.

These aspects of skill development have been identified as important to continued involvement and success in sport. The research project is also intended to inform as to factors which lead to disinterest and drop out.

Now in Phase 1 of the study, Professor Hodges is currently recruiting girls (and their parents), via soccer clubs, to participate in the study. Through specifically designed, validated questionnaires, researchers will investigate the relationships between early soccer practice experiences, other organized sport and non-sport activities and current skill levels and motivations. These analyses will form part of a wider understanding of optimal youth sport development and the benefits and costs of early sport-specific specialization.

Because the research team has already collected data from male players in a previous research project, they will be able to study developmental differences and compare trends in the data based on sex. Following up with the same participants in subsequent years will also improve understanding of drop-out in soccer amongst youth players in Canada. Although not part of this current study, Hodges and her team hope to validate their questionnaire methods with specific skill tests (tactical and technical) and relate these to practice histories and other psychological indices. It is expected that the results of the study will contribute to the existing body of literature on the development of skill in sport and factors related to continued involvement (or drop-out). In a practical sense, these data will help foster successful and positive youth sport development in soccer, with research-based evidence serving to guide the design of effective practice environments.

If you are interested in learning more about the Pathways Project or if you are interested in having your club participate, please contact the research team at: msl.kin.educ.ubc.ca or kin.msl@ubc.ca

BC Diabetes Research Network Podcast: From Beta Cells to Bicycles with Dr.Robert Boushel

Episode 5: Dr Robert Boushel

Professor and Director, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia

Host Krista Lamb is joined by BC Diabetes Research Network researcher and UBC professor Dr. Robert Boushel, whose research focuses on the effects of exercise on diabetes and other metabolic syndromes. He describes his systems-wide approach to exercise research, and the recent studies indicating that exercise can lead to the remission of type 2 diabetes in adults.

Click Here

New Paper Out

Mar. 31, 2020 – New paper out by Katie Weatherson, Dr. Guy Faulkner, and Dr. Erica Lau, and colleagues on the importance of tailoring interventions to support physical activity and sedentary behaviours to different child care settings. Read it here!

Opportunity to participate in COVID-19 study

Mar. 30, 2020 – How has COVID-19 has impacted you and your family? The Pop-PA Lab is recruiting participants for a study on how public health measures impact physical activity and well-being. The online survey asks about your physical activity, your thoughts about exercise, and your mental well-being.

If you would like to participate in the survey, click here.

Atrial Fibrillation Lifestyle Project (ALP)

Principle Investigator:
Dr. Teddi Orenstein
Hours/Time Commitment:
Volunteering will take place at Hospital 4-6 hours/week in the Cardiac Rehab exercise gym during the month of June 2019.
Expected Duties:
Volunteers (1-2) will spend their time in the intervention group exercise classes, and be responsible for collecting data measures on participants as they exercise, monitoring and ensuring the safety of participants, and assisting with modified exercises for limited mobility participants. There is a possibility of student volunteers having additional roles in Dr. Orenstein’s office doing data entry, data management, and literature searches.
Contact Information:
If you are interested, please contact Amy Booth, Research Coordinator at amy.booth@vch.ca with a current resume and a short blurb about yourself. Students with a valid criminal record check and a kinesiology background are specifically encouraged to apply. All questions and inquiries should also be directed to Amy Booth.
Posting expiration:
06/08/2019