With the wide array of clubs to join on campus in addition to a full academic schedule, it was easy for me to forget one very important thing: exercise! Going to the gym or out for a run was the farthest thing from my mind as a freshman. I was more interested in trying out new things and making new friends. However, by the end of the first semester I was feeling sluggish. Not wanting to put myself in danger of the Freshman 15, I decided to do something.
The gym seemed a little intimidating to me at first, so I opted to try some Bodywise classes instead. Bodywise, located near Putnam dining hall, holds a variety of classes, from spinning to ?Butts and Guts? to yoga. I decided to try a spin class. I took the Blue Line up to Hilltop and signed in using my Husky One card. Every class is free with your UConn ID! The class was hard, but was also really fun. The instructor had an awesome pump up playlist and we changed the speed and resistance on the bikes when the tempo would pick up. We did ?hill? workouts and speed intervals and at the end the instructor led us in stretching. I left completely exhausted but surprisingly energized for the day ahead. Since then I?ve taken many more spin classes and tried Zumba (not for me!) and a ?Butts and Guts? class as well.
Group shot at the bottom pre-hike
Another non-traditional thing I do for exercise is rock climb at the indoor climbing wall in the Student Recreation Facility. There are a number of ?routes? set up, for everyone from beginners to advanced climbers. Learning an entirely new sport was really fun and I met a lot of great people at the wall who were eager to teach me the climbing lingo and give me tips to help me improve. I?ve found climbing to be a great way to release stress and whenever I am feeling bogged down I make time to go to the wall (which conveniently is only right across the street from my dorm) and forget about all the reading and studying I have to do. I can?t wait for spring to come so I can try some outdoor climbs!
Last spring I discovered the UConn Outing Club, another excellent way to travel, make friends, and stay in shape. The Outing Club meets every Wednesday and people pitch ideas for future trips. Last February I did my first outing club trip and climbed Mt. Monadnock? in the snow. The club has a huge variety of gear and outfitted us with crampons and snowshoes for the climb. It was a little treacherous at some points but we all made it up and down the mountain safely (despite me stumbling every five seconds on the way down).
This fall, the Outing Club traveled to New Hampshire to the Tuft?s Loj where we hung out with students from the Tufts Outing Club at night before waking up early to climb the Franconia Ridge. It was great to meet students from another school who were interested in the outdoors as well and the hike was fantastic. The Franconia Ridge is definitely at the top of my list for best hikes in New England now.
One of many waterfalls on the trail
On the way up we climbed alongside waterfalls and crossed streams. Despite it being slightly rainy and foggy, the views from the top were still breathtaking. We all agreed that it looked like we were in a Lord of the Rings movie. The roughly mile long hike across the ridge was unlike anything I?ve ever done. On the way down, we stopped at a cabin where people hiking the Appalachian Trail can stay (something I would love to do someday). All in all, the hike took about 8 hours! We were exhausted and most of us fell asleep on the ride home but trip will definitely be a lasting memory for me.
Since freshman year I have learned how to make time for exercise and have discovered many fun and alternative ways to do so! I also made it to May without gaining the dreaded Freshman 15!
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Source: http://uconnwelcomemat.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/staying-in-shape-at-uconn/
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