Exercise plays such an essential role in our physical and mental health鈥攅ven more so in the midst of a global health crisis. So when COVID shut down campus activities, the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education wasted no time stepping up to keep the McGill community moving.
Launched in 2018, the Kinesiology Clinic (鈥淜in Clinic鈥�) is an internship program that gives students the opportunity to put their learning into practice, providing exercise classes to McGill community members who need help working through a physical injury or issue, or who simply want to step up their fitness game.
When pandemic restrictions brought physical classes to a halt, program supervisors quickly rallied to transition the classes to Zoom.
A blessing in disguise
鈥淲hen the pandemic struck, we had to move online quickly,鈥� remembers Dr. Celena Scheede-Bergdahl, Senior Faculty Lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, which is part of the Faculty of Education. 鈥淲hile it鈥檚 been a challenge, it鈥檚 also been a blessing in disguise! It鈥檚 allowed our students to learn how to lead exercise sessions in a completely different way.鈥�
The new online format has proven beneficial for class participants, too, in a lot of ways. 鈥淚t can tackle barriers for exercise such as access to classes, physical disabilities, living in remote areas, family situations and time,鈥� Dr. Scheede-Bergdahl聽adds.
Dr. Alan Peterson, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, has been involved with Kin Clinic since day one, taking part in every 10-week course with the goal of improving his overall fitness. Having experienced both in-person and remote classes, he agrees the latter format has its upsides.
鈥淲hile I miss the treadmill, I鈥檓 very grateful that the course has continued online and feel it provides equal benefit,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have to go to the gym now and that鈥檚 not a trivial thing! It鈥檚 a 15-minute walk from my office and it鈥檚 quite a steep hill. The sidewalks are usually a mess, covered in ice, and you鈥檙e taking your life in your hands trying to get there. This makes it much easier and far less time consuming.鈥�
Reaching more people to make an impact
Pre-pandemic, students taught one-on-one, in-person sessions on campus, acting as personal trainers for clients. Now with the online classes, two students work together to teach six to eight participants at a time鈥攁 change aimed at reaching as many people as possible at a time when exercise is more important than ever.
One student leads the class in a carefully curated exercise routine while the other looks out for poor form or injury risks, always fully supervised by a certified kinesiologist. All class participants are members of the McGill community (faculty, staff and students) and understand that the interns are learning. For many of these clients, working out for 45 minutes twice a week makes a world of difference to their health and wellbeing.
Hawk Andiqwar is a third-year Kinesiology student who鈥檚 also been involved in both in-person and remote Kin Clinic classes. Right now, he鈥檚 three weeks into teaching his second 10-week course鈥攁nd already sees a vast improvement in his clients鈥� fitness.
鈥淭he majority of people I鈥檓 working with haven鈥檛 moved in months so it鈥檚 huge,鈥� he explains. We鈥檙e just three weeks in and I can already see they鈥檙e not taking breaks to catch their breath. They鈥檙e adapting to the exercise and we鈥檙e already seeing progress.鈥�
Program challenges and rewards
One of the biggest challenges for Hawk, specifically with Zoom classes, is making sure that everyone鈥檚 getting the most out of the workouts with so many people on screen.
鈥淚n my class, I have two ends of the spectrum: people who have a hard time getting down to the mat and up again, to a younger individual who鈥檚 really in shape and can handle anything. So I have to make sure I鈥檓 balancing the classes to make sure everyone gets a good workout.鈥�
On the flip side, the most rewarding aspect of the program for Hawk鈥攂esides seeing his clients progress鈥� is having the opportunity to build practical skills that he can now use to help even more people.
鈥淛ust by going through this, I鈥檝e developed skills that I can share. That鈥檚 been a huge plus of this program.鈥�
After graduating this year, Hawk plans to pursue a master鈥檚 in occupational therapy and is currently volunteering with the Special Olympics to build connections in the field he ultimately wants to work in. 鈥淢y end goal is to work with people with special needs, helping them train to be as functional as possible through more active exercise.鈥�
Building practical skills, preparing for the future
Tiphaine Colcombet, who led online Kin Clinics during the Fall 2020 semester from Paris, where she鈥檚 originally from, shares Hawk鈥檚 view that the most rewarding part of the internship experience was building practical, hands-on skills.
鈥淒oing this internship was really important for me because we learn a lot of theory in class but I really needed to practice. My confidence increased so much over the 10-week course and I really saw a difference between the first and last class.鈥�
Also in her final year, Tiphaine plans to continue her studies in Paris after graduation and is currently looking into osteopathy programs. Armed with the tangible experience she gained during the internship program, she feels well prepared for her future career.
鈥淐onfidence is the main thing for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow I can call up a future employer and show them I鈥檝e already done this. I鈥檝e worked with a lot of people at all different levels and now I can train the whole spectrum.鈥�