A new semester can bring on many new challenges for students. New schedules can be difficult to settle into. However, this does not mean that students should not find time for physical activity.
The RecPlex here on campus is an amazing space to take a break from the stressors of academic life and get some exercise. There are many options to choose from for your workout. They have treadmills, stairmasters, weights, yoga mats and so much more.
However, one of my personal favorite offerings is the classes. The workout classes in the RecPlex are great opportunities to connect and get active with groups of people looking for a similar gym experience. There are workout classes offered such as spin, pilates and yoga. Many of these classes are also taught by student instructors, who dedicate time out of their days to offer other students the chance to exercise together.
Staying fit as a college student can be difficult at times because academics tend to take over. Many students try to make time for the gym but it can be hard to balance with their workloads. However, it is important to get exercise because it can help in so many other areas of a person’s life, including academics. After asking some student instructors how they balance their classes and gym time, I learned a lot about what helps them manage their busy schedules.
Junior Emily Gale, who teaches spin classes at the RecPlex, has said that a Google Calendar is what she uses to help organize her time and find opportunities in between classes and other commitments to get some exercise. Her workload can often get to be too much so she turns to physical activity to relax and get her mind off of it.
“As a nursing major and spin instructor, I find exercising to be an excellent outlet for when I feel stressed and overwhelmed.”
Gale also finds music while working out on her own or teaching a spin class to be a great motivator to focus all of her energy on the exercise she is currently doing.
“Working out helps me clear my head so that I can feel centered and refocused to be able to continue on my daily routine feeling energized and motivated,” she stated.
This advice is amazing for those who are easily overwhelmed or stressed. Many students can feel the pressure from school, but Gale does not let it get in the way of staying fit. The importance of exercise in her life helps keep her leveled and focused in times when her academics can get to be too much.
Exercise helps many students here at Fairfield to focus in class and when studying and to keep a clear mind during the school week, including Maisy Cline ‘26, a student and pilates instructor on campus.
“Starting my day with movement, such as teaching pilates in the RecPlex, has a ripple effect on the way I feel and how productive I am for the rest of the day,” expressed Cline.
She believes that making time for the gym in college can be difficult at times, but it greatly benefits a person’s mental and physical health.
“Excelling in academics and being confident in the topics we are studying comes from being confident within ourselves, something I believe is the reason in which we exercise,” Olivia DeNardo ‘27 expressed perfectly.
DeNardo is a spin instructor at the RecPlex. She uses physical activity as a way to improve her studies.
She also shared that, “as a college student it is just as important to prioritize academics as it is to prioritize exercise, with a healthy body comes a healthy mind.”
She loves to teach spin classes and just exercise in general because she understands the importance of moving your body daily.
College academics, and college life in general, can be so busy and hard to navigate at times. Hearing from these student workout instructors has made it clear just how much exercise can affect a student’s academic performance and daily life. All college students should make time in their schedule for physical activity to be able to focus and put their best foot forward in their academics.
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