More than 50 students, faculty and staff descended on Baun Fitness Center on University of the Pacific’s Stockton Campus for a recent yoga class, filling the room to capacity as part of a new health and wellness initiative called Exercise is Medicine.

The American College of Sports Medicine program promotes physical activity through fitness classes, educational workshops and other events to improve students’ health and prevent disease.

Pacific achieved silver-level recognition in the program’s first year on campus. Schools are judged based on how they integrate health and exercise into campus life and ways in which they make those resources readily available to students. Pacific is one of about 160 universities in the country registered with the program. 

“Exercise is Medicine at Pacific provides students with the unique opportunity to prioritize their health while building a sense of community,” said Assistant Professor of Health and Exercise Sciences Alexis King, who brought the program to Pacific last year.

“By integrating physical activity into daily campus life, we’re helping students establish healthy habits that can support both their academic success and long-term well-being. It’s more than just exercise. It’s about creating a culture of wellness that extends beyond the classroom.”

The university is aiming for gold-level recognition this year with new initiatives, including a referral system that links students with campus clinicians to assess whether they are reaching fitness goals.

Pacific alumna and graduate student Mary Alzammar ’21, who teaches yoga classes, said she is inspired by the program’s collaborative nature.

“I see students and others supporting one another,” Alzammar said. “So many people think if you’re not sweating, then you are not working out. It does not have to be that way. Stretch each day or go for a walk. Be consistent in what you do. And take time for your body.”

Pacific student-athletes, who already work out regularly, have also found benefits by expanding their routines.

“As a baseball pitcher, it’s good to open my body up and release tensions, particularly before a game when I am scheduled to pitch,” said Ethan Shaver ’25, who attended the recent noon-hour yoga class. “I am glad the university offers this to everyone. That says it cares about students.”

Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate as well.

King and other Exercise is Medicine leaders have reached out for partnerships on and off campus, including the university’s department of Counseling and Psychological Services, which integrates mental health wellness screenings into its interactions with the program.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton provides access to structured exercise regimens and free exercise classes for students with Type 2 diabetes, cancer and other chronic conditions.

“Regular exercise can make such a difference in the treatment of these and other conditions,” said Paul Vosti ’89, work-health promotion coordinator at St. Joseph’s. “We are pleased to work with Pacific on these and other important community health matters.”

Health and Exercise Sciences students at Pacific are among those working with patients.

Exercise is Medicine also has health clinics. At a recent “Five steps to fitness” clinic on the Stockton Campus, nearly 60 students and faculty members—including College of the Pacific Dean Lee Skinner—received testing for blood pressure, flexibility, muscle strength, aerobic endurance and body composition.

“We have a very close-knit Department of Health and Exercise Sciences, and that’s one reason we are so successful with the Exercise is Medicine initiative,” said alumna and graduate student Addisen Azevedo ’21, who along with Alzammar are graduate assistants helping run the program. “This has the potential to be a very successful program.”

Exercise is Medicine participants are encouraged to attend fitness and wellness events at Baun Fitness Center.