Different ways to get your workout on

Ewa Gorczyca Guest Writer

Trying to stay in shape on a college campus is definitely a workout in itself. Between the many hours spent studying and attending class, students need to get active. It’s also very important for athletes to maintain their high level of activity in the off-season.

It’s up to the individual to find their exercise preference. Many students take full advantage of the Athletic and Fitness Center. With equipment ranging from treadmills to free weights to machines, each student can find what he or she needs. The center is open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. on weekdays and until 9 p.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.

Visit Walker Field House

Primarily available to students is the Walker Field House. This athletic building contains two basketball courts, two volleyball courts, five tennis courts and the swimming pool. Sport teams, including volleyball, fencing and baseball, often hold practices there, but the public may also use the facilities.
Join “In the Pink”

One advantage of Walker is the wide variety of classes offered year-round. Water aerobics, for example, is available at the pool throughout the year. There are also different classes available at the All Purpose Room of the Gymnasium such as yoga classes, Pilates or kickboxing. Gianna Ward-Vetrano ’09, who started taking Pilates this semester, said, “Pilates is a real workout, but it feels good. You feel refreshed.” The lessons usually last about an hour, and are held once a week.

Physical education is not a requirement at Vassar, but many students take at least one class for academic credit. With classes ranging from golf to squash to flag football, this isn’t at all surprising. Dance education is a very popular area of the program. Naomi Herstoff ’09 is taking two classes this semester: low intermediate ballet and advanced beginning modern. “Dance gets you into really good shape, because you need a lot of physical strength and flexibility to master the technical moves,” she said.

Get Moving In Different Clubs

Besides the classes, there are also different clubs that students can join. For example, Aikido, a form of martial arts, is taught three times a week at Walker. With three one-hour sessions, you can take care of your excercise for the entire week.

Excercise at Your Leisure

It is not necessary to take a class in order to stay in shape, however. Walking around campus, you can always see a few joggers following their own workout schedule. Because the Fitness Center is open all day, students can formulate their workout schedules around their classes. Rachel Hite ’09 visits the Athletic and Fitness Center three times a week on her own to exercise; her top choice machines include the Elliptical Machine and the Roman Chair Exercise.

Pre-season Prep

Staying in shape during the fall is not only important to non-athletes and athletes participating in fall sports, but for those involved in spring sports as well. The majority of spring athletes find ways to work out on a regular basis. Whether with other team members or on their own, they can often be found at the Field House making use of the weight room and other facilities housed there.
The lacrosse team, for example, is currently in a form of preseason called “fall ball.”

During this preseason, they have 16 workouts and a tournament at the end. Lacrosse player Dan Feinberg ’09 explained, “The coaches test our level of skill at the beginning of preseason, which allows us to improve on our problem areas, motivates us to work hard and to become a stronger team.” The winter months are characterized by individualized workouts.

The team members lift weights and run to stay in shape. Lacrosse isn’t the only sport to get an early start; most of the spring sports begin holding practices during the fall months.
Regardless of one’s degree of physical fitness, you can always improve your athletic ability. Simple steps can be taken in the right direction, even for non-athletes, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or taking the long way to Sanders.