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Feb. 11, 2010

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TAX HELP ON CAMPUS

By Claire Fenton Weal Writer

When April rolls around, the last thing on students minds is their income taxes. However, SAITSA offers to do the work for busy students with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. SAITSA president Colin Rose said the tax program is simple but effective and benefits both users and volunteers. Students can bring their tax information forms to a booth

outside the SAITSA Student Services Centre from March 22 to April 1. The necessary forms, both T2202A and Releve8, can be found on the mySAIT website. T4 tax slips are sent in the mail at the end of February. For students who have money in RESPs, T4A slips are a must. Be sure to bring in this years 2009 T1 package as well as a return package from last year. The deadline for income taxes is April 30, 2010. SAITSA is also looking for volunteers for the program. Volunteers receive training from

Canada Revenue Agency and will earn a certificate. Duties include processing the taxes and printing out the final package, but students must mail it themselves. Its usually pretty popular with the volunteers, said Rose. Especially with accounting and finance majors from business because it shows you went above and beyond, you did a bit extrabut we will train everybody at no cost. Volunteers can apply until Feb. 26. Application forms can be found at saitsa.com.

Womens Self Defence

This course is for women only and will empower women to avoid and manage confrontational situations. This interactive course will teach women safety awareness, risk reduction, power in self defence and support systems. Sample topics include: self defence techniques, awareness and assertiveness skills, anti-abduction techniques, basic striking drills, escapes, holds and ground work. Instruction provided by experienced female black belts
The Canadian Health Measures survey found only 49 percent of Canadians are active in their leisure time. Dont be lazy. Get to the SAIT gym.
Weal file photo

Feb 16 - April 6 Tuesdays 7 pm - 9 pm $49 for 6 hours

Be the first to experience this new class specifically designed for womens health. In this class you will learn ways to address the physical and emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, menopause, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, stress and the nervous system. The physical practice combined with breath awareness offers an experience with the source of healing in the body itself. No yoga experience required.

Young Canadians less active, prone to health problems

By Erin McCarty News Editor news@theweal.com

Yoga for Womens health FREE DEMO

Wed, Feb 17 at 4:30 pm Class starts March 3

To find out more check us out online at sait.ca/recreation or call 284.SAIT to register for class. To talk to someone, make your way over to the Campus Centre, and our Recreation staff can give you more information.

SMITA ACHARYYA
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNA OF THE YEAR
Shortly after graduating from SAITs Cinema, Television, Stage and Radio program in 2000, Smita Acharyya became a member of Women in Film and Television Alberta, serving for ve years on the board, including one term as President. She has mentored other up-and-coming lmmakers, and engages SAIT students and alumni in her projects. Smita Acharyya is the rst recipient of SAITs Outstanding Young Alumni Award for graduates within the last 10 years, who are 35 years or younger, recognizing leadership, exceptional achievement, outstanding contributions to the community, and support for SAIT. Congratulations to Smita Acharyya.

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A new report found Canadians have become less fit over the past 25 years, and young Canadians are putting themselves at risk for disastrous health conditions through their sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle choices. The Canadian Health Measures Survey found only 49 per cent of Canadians are considered active in their leisure time. These findings were based on data from 2004, and the number of active people is down from 56 per cent in 1981. Within the age group of 2039, the percentage of men and women with a waist circumference that placed them at a high risk for health problems more than quadrupled from 1981. Weve become an increasingly sedentary society, said Jeff Osadec, exercise physiologist at SAITs Peak Power. We look for the fast, easy choices for both fitness and dietary choices. Twenty-five years ago, people used to prepare meals, and now we choose whatever is easy and microwaveable. Megan Riffel, a first-year dental assisting student, said she started working out when she was 18. She recently signed up for kickboxing at SAIT because she wanted to try something challenging and different. I wanted to get healthy, tone up, and lose some weight, said Riffel. Now she tries to workout between six and seven hours a week, typically doing something every day if she can. She said she tries to eat healthily, but some days she eats a lot of sugar. Its expensive to eat healthy (food) and prepare proper meals, said Riffel, who lives in residence. I think unhealthy foods are often more promoted and convenient. The Heart and Stroke Foundation has found people in their 20s and 30s are now the group most at risk for heart disease,

due to their rates of inactivity, smoking, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. More than 250,000 Canadians in this age group have high blood pressure. Riffel isnt surprised to hear the health statistics for her age group. I dont think students or people our age really understand or think forward to what will happen to them when theyre 40. I dont think people consider the health problems they could develop. Osadec recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. He said its really important to set healthy lifestyle habits sooner than later, so you dont dig yourself into a hole. You have to think of it as debt-paid, he said. Paying that debt off early equals less interest gained. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, over time that unhealthy interest load drives you into a hole. Osadec said healthy living involves lifestyle changes, and nutrition is 70 per cent of the equation. Workouts can be broken into blocks if youre trying to fit them into your day. He said misinformation perpetuates unrealistic ideas about fitness. Those who appear skinny arent necessarily healthier than someone who appears to be heavier or less fit, he said. And it doesnt have to be difficult, complicated, time consuming or expensive. Walking is the cheapest and easiest form of exercise. People always drive to the mall and look for the closest parking spot. Theyd park in the mall if they could. Its as simple as parking further away and walking. Osadec recommends students find a social group or a workout buddy, and if they are looking for a class to take, they should find qualified instructors who know what theyre doing. If youre serious about fitness, youll make the commitment.