By: Taylor Spill (SLA ‘24)
No matter where you go this Spring Break, you can always find a way to stay active and on track with your fitness goals. Here are six tips you can try for an active twist to your break.
1. Try a pre-recorded workout through the Campus Rec Website
If you haven’t familiarized yourself with the resources that Campus Recreation offers outside of the Reily Center, now would be a great time to introduce yourself to them. As a senior at this school, I had quite a few interruptions to my typical workout routine at the gym (Covid outbreaks, Hurricane Ida, longer than expected breaks, etc.) Despite this, the virtual workouts on the Campus Recreation website came in handy, when I couldn’t use a treadmill or attend a cycling class.
You can access the Wave Fit Virtual Fitness Workouts here. Some of the videos target body weight, lower body, cardio, and more. In addition, there are also guided yoga offerings. Whatever your fitness goal is, there is a way that you can make it work, and these workouts are one of the ways to make it possible. The best part is that these workouts can be done practically anywhere, so don’t be afraid to turn your hotel room, childhood bedroom, etc. into a mini gym.
2. Go on a walk and explore the area you’re visiting
Walking is a form of exercise that is overlooked but also something we do every single day. In fact, walking is noted to improve mood, increase energy levels, improve fitness, decrease stress, strengthen muscles, and more. Whether you are visiting your family or on a tropical vacation, walking is easy to do and occurs naturally. And it is a great way to become acquainted with the area you’re in or explore something new if you’re back at home.
For example, if you are visiting home and you want to drive somewhere, try walking there instead. If you are not in a hurry, this allows you to notice things you wouldn’t while driving, such as trees, paintings, sidewalk chalk drawings, new restaurants, etc. My dad and I try to walk to a destination once a week, and even though we have spent most of our lives in the same area, we always discover something new and feel rewarded after.
If you are traveling for spring break, there are many ways that you can go on a walk. For example, if you are going somewhere tropical, you can take a walk around your resort during sunrise, or take a sunset stroll along the beach. If you are going to a city, find an area that has different shops, restaurants, galleries, etc. that you would want to visit and walk around.
3. Use the fitness equipment at the park
If you are in an area with an outdoor park, chances are that there will be some sort of fitness equipment that can be utilized there. It can be a little daunting at first to utilize the equipment of such a public space; however, just think of it as using the monkey bars and swings like you did as a child. It is important to keep whatever equipment you use sanitary, much like you are expected to at the Reily Center, so give what you use a wipe down before and after. These parks are more often than not free to use, so take advantage of what the park has to offer.
If you do not want to use any of the park’s equipment, feel free to bring your own (weights, resistance bands, yoga mats, etc.) if you happen to have any. Take advantage of the open outdoor space at your nearest park and embrace the spring climate. In general, it is shown that spending time outside can help improve your mental health and wellbeing, so why not take your routine outdoors and enjoy the sun?
4. Go for a swim
Swimming, in my opinion, is another criminally underrated form of exercise. Swimming is shown to build strength and endurance, help with cardiovascular health, boost mood, help quality of sleep, manage stress, and more. As the weather warms up, this time of year is the perfect time to go for a swim, whether that is at the beach, in your pool, in a lake/river, etc. For example, if you are staying at a resort, go for an early morning swim in one of the larger pools. Swimming keeps your whole body active and is a great way to also maintain strength.
Swimming is also a wonderful way to cool off, especially on days where it might be too hot to go on a run outside. Swimmable bodies of water are accessible to everybody, and it is something that can be done alone or with a group of friends. Plan a day to go to a lake or river, a friend’s pool, or the beach, and see how fast you can swim.
5. Play a sport with any available equipment
If you are coming home for spring break, you are likely to have an array of old sports equipment sitting in your garage, or storage. If you want to stay active and moving, it might be helpful to dust off your basketball and shoot hoops in your backyard. Just like swimming, you can play alone or have a friend join in if you happen to find soccer balls and goals. If you are going away to a resort or on a cruise, there is most likely going to be different sports courts and equipment available to rent. Take advantage of these facilities and go play!
Even if playing solo basketball, pickleball with an older family member, or tennis with a friend does not fit into your everyday workout regime, it is still a fun way to keep active. In general, playing a sport can be seen to improve mental and physical health and boost confidence and mood in adolescents, so why not bring back these feelings into adulthood?
6. Rent or ride a bike
Finally, I have noticed that lots of major cities offer bikes for rent. If you don’t do have the privilege of having your own bike wherever you are, you can rent a bike at a fairly reasonable rate and ride around the city. In general, cycling is an easy way to keep your body moving, it is low impact, and a good muscle workout. Some of the benefits include muscle strengthening, decreasing stress, improved posture, stronger bones, joint mobility, flexibility, and more. In addition, biking can be a quicker way to get somewhere than walking and is more environmentally-friendly than driving or taking public transport.
If you already have a bike, dust it off and go for a ride around town. Biking is a fun way to stay active and stay outside. No matter what your fitness goal is, biking is likely to benefit your targets while offering a cool way to get around and explore wherever you are. Make sure to wear a helmet and go ride!
