Students and the DeKalb area community gathered together to experience exotic yoga poses, fix their posture and meet counselors at the 15th annual Health & Wellness Fair.

The fair was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom and Capital Room.

The fair was free and open to everyone in the community. Scrrenings, blood pressure checks, and chair massages were provided. Healthy lunch options were sold.

“It’s my first time here, and I think it’s amazing,” said KP counseling representative Sheila Higgins. “I’ve been to fairs before, but not with this many people.”

KP counseling offers individual, child and family counseling. It also offers intensive outpatient treatment and therapy services.

“We came to spread what we’re doing at KP counseling,” Higgins said. “We’re definitely accessible to young people, especially in the Rockford area.”

The Health and Wellness fair was not only for those in search of physical health. Legal Shield provided information about the variety of legal services it offers.

“I like to educate people on services we provide,” said independent associate director Amy Karges-Siegel. “I think the health fair is great. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people. I’m excited to be here and get information out.”

For some people, like building service worker Terry Wolber, attending the Health and Wellness fair has become tradition.

“It’s my fifth or sixth time here. I just come to get my blood pressure checked,” Wolber said.

Attendees got the chance to try out gym equipment, yoga poses and vegan food samples. They were able to meet therapy dogs.

Quizzes, games, surveys and 50/50 raffles were also held.

The fair was sponsored by NIU’s Campus Recreation and the Employee Assistance Program. Aside from these two on-campus orginizations, 83 other health and wellness providers also informed the community on healthy living and personal development.

“Over the past few years there’s been really good information,” said Mary Baker, outreach and engagement associate. “I’ve taken advantage of services vendors have provided. It’s a great way to see what’s out there.”

Aside from physical and mental health information, the fair also promoted environmental health. There were two recycle collection sites throughout the fair. The DeKalb Noon Lions Club collected eyeglasses, hearing aids, ink cartridges and cell phones.

The Task Force on Sustainable Campus Environment collected pens and markers, batteries, ink cartridges/toners, light bulbs, cameras, portable DVD players, and small hand-held electronic devices.