No pain, no gain? But what are you actually gaining by slogging to the gym three to five days per week?
Experts have always lectured students to stay physically active throughout their college careers. Simply put, the rigors of study, in tandem with sleep deprivation and poor nutrition (i.e. poverty-inspired cuisine), can lead to a psychological and physical mess.
It is hard to imagine that psychological well-being vis-퀌�-vis relaxation can be had after exerting, pumping and sweating to whatever techno music is piped into the gym that day. Fighting for nautilus machines, wiping sweat from your brow and chastising yourself for your inability to do one more “crunch” hardly is relaxing at the time. But wait, there’s more!
Endorphins and other calm and centering hormones flood through the body within an hour after your cool-down. That “buzz,” as athletes call it, is available to everyone who is willing to circulate a little blood while aerobicizing to “I Will Survive.” Practically speaking, it really doesn’t matter if you jazzercise, pump weights, play tennis or even have sex as long as you are exerting a little physical energy and your blood is flowing. The same aforementioned fitness experts may all disagree on what benefits the body most, but they would all agree that a little is better than nothing at all. Take a walk down to the end of Park Blocks if that is all you can muster. It will pay off with a sense of repose that can last for hours.
For the student pressed for time, jog over to the Peter Stott Center, open your new $5-per-term locker and hit the mats; three sets of 10 push-ups and three sets of 10 sit-ups will make your heart race and will define the following two hours. Instead of having a breakdown after your group project, you can calmly interject your discontent. Instead of sneering at your professor, you can casually snicker at the absurdity of the newest inane assignment. Instead of throwing your cashews down in the student store after standing in line for 10 minutes, you will smile and thank your peers for working so quickly to move those with credit cards to the side.
It’s all about relaxation through fitness (or you could drink a bottle of wine by yourself).
Stott Center Hours:
Monday through Friday
6-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 4 p.m.-10 p.m.
Gyms close to PSU:
24 Hour Fitness Sport
1400 S.W. 5th
YMCA
2831 S.W. Barbur Blvd.
Bally’s Gym
110 S.W. Yamhill