When BikeWalk BG was founded in 2018, Lead Coordinator Karissa Lemon was looking to create a program where people could come together, participate in fitness-based activities and get educated on safely practicing healthy lifestyles. To execute her objective, Lemon relied on a strict set of guidelines that would consistently reinforce
her focus.

“There are four main pillars of BikeWalk BG. We have education, which is just teaching bicycle and pedestrian safety and skills,” Lemon said. “We choose to use advocacy to represent the community of our citizens. Outreach is the use of community events, while planning is used to work with partner agencies to build more trails for safe biking and walking paths.”
Before BikeWalk BG, there was the Greenways Commission, whose original goal was to plan and build trails across Bowling Green. In the mid 2010’s, the commission lost track of its initial vision in the community and passed all the coordination of activities to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

MPO is an organization that creates policies, regulates and funds all federal transportation plans in different regions. With the help of MPO, BikeWalk BG was formed as an effort to bring outreach and education for pedestrian and bicycle transportation.
Funding comes from the MPO’s Paula Nye Memorial Grant Foundation. These funds are accumulated by anyone who purchases a “Share The Road” license plate for their vehicles in the state of Kentucky. The money used to purchase these license plates is redirected towards the grant given to communities who apply for the fund to promote bicycle and pedestrian transportation
efforts.

BikeWalk BG staffing comes from the City-County Planning Commission of Bowling Green, as well as other smaller partners such as Warren County Parks and Recreation. BikeWalk BG does various bike ride events throughout the year to bring the community together.

“These aren’t bike rides for serious riders,” Lemon said. “We aren’t looking to break records but we want the community to enjoy an experience together by getting out on a bike and exploring Bowling Green. We’ve had anywhere from six-year-olds to sixty-year-olds attend our events. We hope that these events can change the culture around cycling and help people feel more encouraged to ride their bikes and build confidence while doing so.”

The most recent event the organization held was its St. Patrick’s Community Bike Ride on March 16, where cyclists met at the White Squirrel Brewery to embark on a 10-mile trip and were invited to a post-celebration that included a food truck and live band.

WKU fine arts professor Jason Harbison, who participated in the event, said there was a sense of community that couldn’t be ignored during the trip.

“In my small time participating with BikeWalk BG, I can already tell there’s a strong sense of community,” Harbison
said. “The old adage of ‘all walks of life’ and the diverse backgrounds of people that I met prove that it’s very rich in those aspects.”

He also noted that the companionship during the ride was very crucial in helping him complete the 10-mile
journey.

“Not only has getting out to ride my bike helped me in a physical standpoint, it’s also helped increase my mental wellness,” Harbison said. “The camaraderie and the scenery help immensely.”

Kyle Marklin, a Bowling Green resident and event participant, brought his 9- and 6-year-old sons who sported
Spider-Man and mohawk helmets for the ride.

“I’m always glad when I get the chance to mount up and get the wheels turning again,” Marklin said. “10 miles
is a long ride for little ones, but it’s also cool that there is a good mix of seasoned riders as well as newbies.”

Meets for the organization take a lot of planning and coordinating, as oftentimes BikeWalk BG partners with local businesses and other allies to give their events more exposure and activities.

Rowan Brown, a WKU alum, has worked as an intern for BikeWalk BG since May 2023 and contributes to the planning of each event in various ways.

“My work is pretty varied. I prepare for and attend events like community rides, bike rodeos, and booths at large events. I do trail inventories of the greenways to check for maintenance and map trail inspections as well as help manage the social media,” Brown
said. “Currently, our bike-ed in schools program is a big focus. I helped write the curriculum and go to the schools to teach it.”

When asked about the future of the organization, they noted an interest in the development of Bowling Green’s
trails.
“I would like to see the greenways become a connected network instead of disconnected segments,” Brown said. BikeWalk BG also allows groups to participate in their Adopt-A-Trail Program.

“Organizations, non-profits, fraternities and sororities can all adopt a trail for free. We enter an agreement with these groups to provide support in cleaning and maintaining our trails at least four times a year,” Lemon said.

WKU CHHS

At WKU, community members have also seen initiatives put in place to promote healthy lifestyles in the community. The College of Health and Human Services has recently directed this toward their students, faculty and staff.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, head staff at CHHS noticed a trend of struggles for students when coming back to in-person classes. Because of this, Tania Basta, dean of the CHHS, began developing two programs that would increase their quality of life from both a physical and mental standpoint.

For students, Basta and fellow contributors created the CHHS Student Wellness Experience, which was employed in the form of a one-credit hour class for the first year class of 2026 to learn the 10 dimensions of wellness, a model that charts the basic needs of each individual and community to reach full potential. The class is taught by CHHS Student Wellness Navigators Amy Wininger and Marsha Hopper, who not only taught the course to students, but could meet with them individually to keep up with distinct issues and refer them to the appropriate resources.

After a year of implementing the Student Wellness Experience, Basta realized scholars weren’t the only ones struggling with the transition back to traditional schooling.

“It hit me in summer 2022 that faculty and staff were struggling as much as, if not more than, our students. We needed to do something to help them take care of themselves as well. So, we created the CHHS Faculty and Staff Wellness Hour,” Basta wrote in a freelance article for “The Academic
Leader.”

The wellness hour is a paid hour each day, in addition to lunch, that allows every faculty and staff member to participate in an activity that correlates to any of the 10 dimensions of wellness.

Grace Lartey, public health professor and coordinator of the department, likes to spend her hour with fellow staff.

“Sometimes we go out walking on campus for an hour,” Lartey said. “Other times we engage in painting. It’s beneficial to get away from the office for physical health as well as giving our minds a break from work.”

Lartey said the wellness hour benefits everyone on the job, not only her.
“A sound mind is in a sound body,” Lartey said.

“The wellness hour is dedicated for staff to take care of themselves. I can’t tell you how much support our staff and faculty provide to us, and I can’t function without them. If they aren’t well enough, my students and I will suffer.”

Since the implementation of both programs, CHHS has found success in the moods and production of students and staff alike. Basta voiced that one student from the 2022-23 academic year made great strides in just a semester difference.

“Last spring, one student wasn’t turning in assignments and was being bullied by her roommate. Her professor referred her anonymously to one of our [wellness] navigators. After meeting with the navigator, the student was able to move to a different dorm and learn better time-management skills,” Basta said to the Herald. “She made all A’s last semester, was on the president’s list and returned to campus this fall.”

For faculty and staff, Basta found that those who participated in the wellness hour reported they were more likely to
continue working within the college.

“We’re trying to prioritize the right thing to do,” Basta said. “When you’re in the College of Health and Human
Services, we want everybody to feel welcome, know that they belong and feel that they’re able to take care of themselves.”

News Reporter Larkin Ivory can be reached at larkin.ivory045@topper.wku.edu.

Tinius is the project lead and CEO of “BumptUp”, a mobile phone app designed to fight obesity.

“There’s lots of fitness apps out there, but pregnant and postpartum women don’t know what to do with them,” Tinius said.

Tinius received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from WKU before going to Washington University in St. Louis in 2011, where she wrote and published her dissertation on pregnant women and physical activity. 

She returned to WKU in 2015, where the idea behind BumptUp began to take root in her mind.

“It was in the back of my mind [then] that I wanted to do interventions at some point,” Tinius said. “The app came out of this idea of, ‘okay I have this magic pill to help all of these things that are causing our maternal morbidity mortality, or at least a lot of the things that are causing it.’ That’s where the idea of the app came from – how do we get women active.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, the United States’ maternal mortality rate for 2020 was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, up from a rate of 20.1 in 2019.

Tinius said this is the fourth year of the app’s development, with the team receiving help from folks like Tinius’ mentor from the University of Kentucky along with WKU students. The app’s development is now aided by Codelab303, based in Denver, Colorado.

The app includes videos of exercises, articles and helpful information for pregnant women. Tinius said the videos, which show pregnant women doing the exercises, were made with the help of students.

“We came up with all the exercises, but again we didn’t make them up,” Tinius said. “A squat is a squat, but we show how to modify it if you have a belly, or if you’re having balancing issues. We put our own spin on every exercise to make it relevant to the population we’re working with.”

An important feature of the app, Tinius said, is that it continues to serve women past delivering the baby.

“So many pregnancy apps, you have the baby and all the attention shifts to the baby,” Tinius said. “Mom has a baby, gets discharged from the hospital and she’s kind of on her own, so that’s one thing that’s been really important to us from the start, making sure we keep mom during that time.”

Tinius said BumptUp is designed to help mothers “transition back to being active” when they are ready to do so.

The Bumptup team has conducted a clinical trial with 38 women, which showed significance, but Tinius hopes to conduct a bigger trial in the summer of 2023 if she can get grant funding.

“It was scored well but I don’t think we’ll get this one,” she said. “We’re probably going to have to resubmit in February.”

BumptUp should be available by the first quarter of next year, Tinius said. For the first week of use there will be a free trial period before users choose between a free version with advertisements or a subscription-based model.

“So many people view [pregnant women] as this vulnerable population […] I view it as an opportunity,” Tinius said. “ These women are motivated by something other than themselves. You tell them ‘what you do now matters for this baby.’ We have studies that show what happens in utero can predict outcomes at 10 years, 12 years, 15 years. But women are super motivated by that. So even if they weren’t someone who cared about activity before, they’re listening now.”

Administration reporter Michael Crimmins can be reached at michael.crimmins416@topper.wku.edu.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the date of a proposed trial. The Herald regrets the error.

However, there are also some noises that can help you maintain hyper-focus, relax and turn off those thoughts, depending on your situation. 

White noise, brown noise and pink noises are just a few out of a long list. Here are some of the benefits of each type of noise. 

White noise

White noise sounds like a radio tuned into an unused channel. Some people compare it to the hum of a traditional fan. Regardless of how one may describe it, white noise has been effective in improving sleep quality. The buzzing sound of a radio can actually take us into a trance of focus and peace. 

How does this work?

Essentially, white noise helps us obtain environmental comfort that may not be found under certain circumstances like ongoing construction and the chatter of students on their way to class. This type of noise can be used for taking a nap or getting some deep sleep. 

Moreover, white noise covers the frequencies of sound across the spectrum. Think of it loosely in terms of wavelength. The white color covers all wavelengths of light. Similarly, white noise covers all frequencies of sound. 

Changes in sound frequency can cause you to wake up. Luckily, any change in frequency sound while you are sleeping will be blanketed by the white noise. Hence, you can continue getting sleep without waking up. 

Of course, make sure your alarm is louder than your white noise player because it may be difficult to acknowledge the alarm amidst the all-frequency encompassing white noise. 

Pink noise

Another type of noise is pink noise. This has been proven to show positive improvement in work performance. This entails a higher efficiency in doing a task. Pink noise sounds approximately like a medium rainfall or the gush of a close by river stream.

Brown noise

Brown noise sounds soothing and relaxing, much like sitting in an airplane where you can hear the plane fly. It has a much deeper sound than pink and white noise.

Brown noise is also gaining popularity among people suffering from ADHD. It has the potential to turn off your endless thoughts by helping you drown out the background noise. 

It is important to note that participants of one study did report disturbance, specifically from brown noise. Hence, be careful from listening to the colorful noises at uncomfortable levels of volume. It is important to maintain balance in everything that you do.

Another thing to note is that the descriptions of the sound will vary from person to person, but essentially, at some level, they all sound like a running fan or rushing stream of water, with subtle differences in frequency. 

At the end of the day, no research is available to prove that a specific type of sound is better than the rest because each frequency can stimulate the brain in different ways. Hence, choose the sound that gives you the most comfort.

I hope this helps you get more restful sleep or even a new way to focus during your next study session. 

Vidhi Parekh: Commentary writer Vidhi Parekh can be reached at vidhi.parekh134@topper.wku.edu.

According to the Heart Foundation, heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States–but it is preventable. With resources and toolkits provided by sites like the Heart Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, information about heart disease prevention is readily available.

Heart disease isn’t a condition that should just be worried about once you’re an older adult. According to the CDC, heart disease can begin at any age. Heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high obesity rates, are becoming more prominent among younger people and putting them at risk for heart disease earlier in life.

There are ways to take care of your heart’s health. One way to do this is monitoring your blood pressure, whether or not you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The CDC offers a toolkit of high blood pressure resources with information and handouts that can help with understanding your blood pressure.

Another major way to protect a healthy heart is to keep a heart healthy lifestyle, according to the Heart Foundation. 

Maintaining weekly aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day can help strengthen your cardiovascular system and limit risk of heart disease. Other lifestyle changes include avoiding smoking, limiting saturated and trans fats in your diet and understanding your personal risk factors with your physician. These things help prevent larger risk factors from occurring, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 

Take note of possible areas in your life where heart disease risk factors might need to be monitored. Understanding how to prevent heart disease and its risk factors will lead to a healthier life overall.

News reporter Alexandria Anderson can be reached at alexandria.anderson337@topper.wku.edu. 

SPONSORED BY BOWLING GREEN PARKS AND RECREATION

Doing his best Tiger Woods’ crouch, Shelbyville senior Casey Warner eyed the 40-foot putt on the second hole at Hobson Golf Course. He rose, took a couple of practice swings and whacked the ball with his putter. It rolled across the smooth green before smacking the flagpole and sinking in the hole. Warner dropped his rented putter and leapt in circles around the fairway yelling, “Let’s go!” over and over. He counted this as a win for his first time golfing.

Bowling Green is home to three public courses — Hobson, Paul Walker, and CrossWinds. Hobson was a center of activity on an overcast Tuesday afternoon, reflecting nationwide increases in golf play, according to data from the National Golf Foundation.

The superintendent of the course,  Jeremy Purichia, said that the number of golfers since the pandemic began has nearly doubled. While this means more work for him, Purichia said he doesn’t mind because he gets to spend the time outdoors.

“I think this pandemic has proven that being outside is a good thing,” Purichia said with a smile. “Personally, I am just thankful I get to be outside working all day and not locked up in an office with a mask on.”

Purichia noted that he has seen several more junior golfers on the course this season, such as Warner.

After a quick three-minute lesson from a golf professional on club grip and foot placement, Warner started his day with several mulligans — a golf term for a redo — but he slowly moved the ball forward. Despite potential frustrations, he managed to stay composed.

“I think my mental approach to golf is just going to be having a good time, enjoying the outdoors, and learning a new game, because there’s not many games at this point in my life that I haven’t played,” Warner said.

This attitude stems from Warner’s experience over the summer, which he spent living alone in Bowling Green.  He described having mental difficulties, especially after a falling out with a couple of close friends.

After he grew tired of being by himself in his house, Warner chose to bike to clear his head and said the exercise gave him physical and emotional strength. Similarly, Warner said playing golf is about overcoming adversity.

“Going into golfing today, my expectations were very low,” he said. “I thought it was going to be very embarrassing, and I thought I was going to end up quitting.”

Instead, Warner just enjoyed the moment. In golf, no matter how bad someone plays, it just takes one good shot to bring them back. During his first time playing, Warner was able to sink a long putt and hit an impressive 200-yard drive. He’ll be back at Hobson soon to refine his swing at their new driving range.

In a small gym tucked to the side of 31-W Bypass, people are constantly fighting. They are fighting to tie their shoes, to write with ease and to rise up on their tip-toes — all simple skills individuals without Parkinson’s disease often take for granted.

Jill Steffey, a newly-retired educator, is the head of Bowling Green’s Rock Steady Boxing gym — a nonprofit organization that offers contactless boxing-based fitness training to people with Parkinson’s disease. After witnessing both her grandfather and father battle Parkinson’s, she said she felt called to dive into research of it. She began by reading textbooks and scientific studies and even attended “P.D. School,” a class exploring Parkinson’s facts. Her studies and personal connection to the disease led to the discovery of Rock Steady Boxing, which is based in Indianapolis and has over 900 affiliates across the globe.

Parkinson’s disease is a tough opponent, but optimism is in the air at Rock Steady Boxing Bowling Green.

Motivational phrases cover the walls, and cubbies full of boxing gloves line the edges of the room. As classes ensue, Steffey encourages class participants, called fighters, with her therapy dog-in-training, “B.B.” (Busy Body), at her side.

Not only does the gym provide group physical therapy through non-contact boxing, but they also do activities like playing with balloons, arm bicycles, stairsteps and dancing. Through an array of exercises, fighters work to improve their balance, gross and fine motor skills, flexibility, endurance and strength. These exercises provide a solution for every dilemma, from improving handwriting to building the strength to get up from a fall.

Though most people associate Parkinson’s disease with motor symptoms such as tremors and feet-shuffling, non-motor symptoms can occur as well. These include problems with attention, planning, language, memory or even dementia, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. To help with this, coaches incorporate exercises for the mind including writing down answers to questions, recalling patterns, shouting chants or simply recalling favorite vacation destinations.

Along with building a strong body, perhaps the most empowering aspect of Rock Steady Boxing Bowling Green is the undeniable community. The Parkinson’s Foundation reports anxiety, depression, apathy and irritability as common symptoms, making a healthy social life even more important for individuals with Parkinson’s.

The group gathers before beginning each class to discuss prayer requests or to simply catch up since the last time they saw one another. Fighters lovingly tease and encourage their fellow participants through each exercise while vocally counting down the seconds until the timer bell rings, marking the end of the round. To end each class, they form a circle with their hands stacked in the middle as they chant, “Rock steady, rock strong.”

Family and friends of fighters have the opportunity to engage in the gym’s community by being a cornerman — someone who helps the fighter through physical, mental and emotional aid. The gym also hosts a support group for the family and friends of someone with Parkinson’s.

Rock Steady Boxing Bowling Green changes lives. As members of the gym continuously show improvement, they regain the strength to do activities that they previously viewed as impossible. Following approximately six months of training, Bowling Green fighter Howard Margolis even improved his posture enough to peer over the side of an incubator to gaze at his newborn great-granddaughter, Journi.

Rock Steady Boxing Bowling Green has complied to COVID-19 regulations by adjusting class sizes. To discuss training, pricing or arranging a tour of the gym, contact Jill Steffey at 270-799-3667. Rock Steady Boxing can also be reached at bowlinggreen@rsbaffiliate.com. Interested volunteers ranging from nursing students to fraternity brothers are welcome to serve.