School is hard on our bodies, especially in November and December. We know we’re probably not getting as much exercise as we should, or even as much as we got in the summer. The cold weather is making it easier and easier to reach for the chocolate and fries (hopefully not at the same time), and your favourite chair is really comfortable. Going outside for a run is just that much harder with the cold and dark teaming up against our good intentions. Our days keep getting shorter, and our list of things to do for school is getting longer and more urgent. We want more exercise because it’s good for our brains and bodies, but it can feel unachievable.
It’s all pretty stressful, isn’t it?
Don’t worry—if you want more exercise, there is hope. Here are two options for you to explore that can help you decrease your stress and take your mind away from the endless Scantron sheets and essay citations.
First off, for people who like going to the gym, did you know that going to a campus gym is free? Yeah, me neither. I didn’t even know there were campus gyms, but they exist at both Lansdowne and Interurban campuses. You have to pay for classes, but equipment use is free. All you need is your valid student (or staff) ID, and, voila: gym! There are even free drop-in sports sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays if you’re more of a team-sports individual. Check out the Camosun Services for Students page at camosun.ca for more info.
Secondly, if you’re like me and need someone to tell you what to do (who voluntarily does abs, anyway?), a lot of places have energy exchanges that give you free classes. Yes, free classes. This is how the exchange works: you work for a few hours (usually around four) per week and, in exchange, you get free classes.
I’ve been doing this for a year and a half at a yoga studio and love it. My goal for the last few years has been to move up closer to the poverty line, so there is no way I’d be able to afford a regular membership. Being an ambassador at my local yoga studio makes maintaining my mental and physical health so much more achievable while in school. It provides mental space and breaks from the stress of everyday life; not only that, but I’m now part of a community of people who know my name. Granted, having to smile at people at 6 am once a week can be hard, but it’s more than worth it.
Exam season is coming (sorry) and so are the treat-laden holidays—staving off their impacts on your health does not have to cost an arm and a leg.