Getting a New Feel For Fitness

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Many students recognize that exercise is healthy for the mind and body, and are looking for ways to get into it. Now that warm weather is on the way, being outside is the best place to start your new routine. Let’s get pumped for spring in whatever way makes you feel best!

Marci Benda has been a physical therapist at Lifestrength in Towson, Maryland for neary 23 years. She is passionate about physical fitness and is an avid runner and swimmer. For beginners, her advice is simple: find something you love to do.

“Exercise is something that you should enjoy doing and not a chore,” Benda said.

Whether it’s dance, swimming, yoga or even walking, try to identify things that you like.

Sophomore information science major Andrew Ferguson has been running since his freshman year of high school, so knowing what he loved to do was easy, but easing back into it in college was much more difficult.

“Getting back into the habit of running was difficult at first as I still had to build up the endurance to run everyday, but as time went on I got better at it and now I consistently run every day that I can,” Ferguson said.

It is important to remember to be realistic with what you want to do. Benda suggests that beginners start exercising twice a week for 30 to 40 minutes at a time. Doing so will prevent injuries and allow your body to start getting conditioned.

Muscle soreness can be expected when first starting out, but keeping up with exercise is actually better for you than resting. According to Benda, muscle soreness will be relieved more quickly by doing the same activity at a lower intensity than by taking a day off.

Sophomore government and policy and accounting double major Christie Karayianis has had a passion for fitness from a young age.

“My parents always wanted my siblings and I to have an active lifestyle. I like working out now because it’s my number one way to de-stress and get my focus back,” Karayianis said.

She likes changing up her workouts and trying something new. Whether it be swimming, running, cycling, yoga, the StairMaster or even a hike.

Do some research and find out what makes you excited to exercise. Once you find what you love, the rest will all fall into place.