In an effort to combat the growing obesity epidemic, students from Azusa Pacific University (APU) created a hip hop class to educate middle school girls about the importance of health. A collaboration between several APU offices and Azusa Recreation and Family Services led to the launch of the first Girls on the Move session in October 2009, according to APU Life.Girls on the Move aims to link the teens' love of hip hop music with exercise. Half of each session focuses on learning a hip hop aerobics routine, while the other half centers on doing a variety of fitness exercises, including core training and band work.
"Incorporating what the girls think is cool into a workout teaches them that exercise is not just about sports or running, but it can be something that you really enjoy," said Diana Rudulph, who earned her bachelor's degree in 2003 and her master's in 2005 from the university, and is an assistant professor at the school.
Feedback from Girls on the Move proved so positive that in January of 2010, Kids on the Move was launched, which targeted first- through fifth-grade girls and boys. Like its sister program, Kids on the Move meets for one hour twice a week for five weeks.
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