Author: jewelpts
How to balance education and fitness effectively
By Vendat Patel, Edited by Paula Lacsena
How many times have you heard the phrase “I don’t have time to work out because of school”? I bet more times than you can count. What if there was a way you could do both and excel?
Here are some tips to consider in order to exceed in education and fitness simultaneously:
1. Plan your sleep schedule appropriately
A lot of students tend to avoid working out due to a lack of time, but they can plan their sleep in a way that gives them more time for exercise and alternative activities. Waking up early (between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.) gives you more time in your day, allowing you to focus on your daily tasks more productively.
2. Plan and prepare quick work outs
College and university students can use their time between classes more fruitfully by exercising, preparing quick work-outs that require little to no equipment to stay in shape. You can start by finding yourself a quiet place to plan and complete a cycle of body workouts.. To ensure that you don’t overexert yourself, you can start off with a low-intensity work out plan then gradually move your way up to moderately-higher intensities of a faster pace.
Here is an example of a workout cycle that can be done in under 30 minutes:
- 10 Push-ups
- 15 crunches/sit-ups
- 10 Squats
- 15 Lunges on each leg (30 Total)
3. Follow a consistent daily schedule
To maintain proper balance between school and exercise, it’s important that students commit to a daily schedule structured reasonably around their goals. Planning your day makes you accountable for accomplishing the goals you have set for the day, especially if you have a physical list you want to accomplish. To maximize your time, you can start by separating your school goals from your physical goals; that way you can set time aside to complete one goal and follow with another. Prioritizing exercise for at least 30–45 minutes a day will enable you to maintain balance on top of school.
Trust me, your body will thank you!
Exercising for the body and mind
By Mariana Rosa, Edited by Rachel Petersen
The first thing a lot of people think of when they hear the word “exercise” is weight loss. They’re not wrong for making this connection, but exercising can improve your health and well-being in many different ways beyond weight loss. What very few people realize is that when you exercise, you’re not only taking care of your body and reducing the risks of developing chronic diseases, but also looking after your mental health.
Studies have shown that staying active helps our brain to produce serotonin and hormones such as endorphins, which have been proven to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. In some cases, exercising can work just as effectively as taking medication to treat these conditions. According to a study published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2018, any type of exercise carried out between four to five times per week resulted in participants experiencing improved mental health. In addition to this, the study also determined that certain activities such as team sports, cycling, and aerobic/gym workouts are the most effective when it comes to improving mental health. These activities have the most benefits as they get participants out of the house and often into group dynamics where they can socialize, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
It’s important to understand the link between physical and mental health to get the best results out of your work out, but this also includes knowing your limits. The Lancet Psychiatry study also found that too much or excessive exercise can have a negative effect on people experiencing anxiety and depression. The trick is to start slow and listen to your body when working out. So long as you’re acknowledging and respecting your limits, exercise will have some great benefits for body and mind.
Rebounding for Health
Rebounding has many health benefits. Rebounding increases both blood and lymph circulation. Comparing the circulatory system to the lymphatic system, the average person has 5 – 6 liters of blood circulated through the heart. and the lymphatic system has three times that much fluid. The circulatory system has the heart to pump the blood throughout the body. The lymphatic system has to work against gravity and needs to rely on you to move it through your body. The lymph systems one way valves can be increased by about ten times bouncing and jumping than at rest. Thus you are removing toxins at a higher rate and allowing the white blood cells to get to areas of the body where they need to be – increasing your immunity!
This is one of the reasons why less active people are more susceptible to illnesses. Poor diet can burden the lymph system as well with more accumulation of toxins and waste in the body.
Almost anyone can benefit from using a rebounder. You do not have to jump on a rebounder in order to gain benefits. You can bounce, or if limited mobility can sit or if more limited even just rest your feet on the rebounder while someone else is doing the bouncing can still have an impact on lymph flow.
Rebounding can produce up to 2 – 3 times vertical gravitation. This can serve as a bone strengthener while remaining low impact. It is gentle on joints, cartilage and vertebrae. It increase lymphocyte activity, strengthen your muscular system, development, and endurance, helps to improve balance and proprioception, strengthens cells, improves cardiovascular function, and can help to improve the effects of other exercises. There are also some other benefits such as mixing up your routine, working on coordination, rhythm and boosting your mood!
WANT MORE INFO?
Making your New Year’s Resolutions
For those of you who have been training, you will likely have started hearing in November about Reverse Resolutions where you are trying to accomplish a goal by New Years Day! I encourage having continuous goals throughout the year. However, stats show that the majority of Canadians will make at least one New Years Resolution. The general outline goes as such: 55% are aiming to eat healthier, 50% resolved to exercise more, 38% wanted to lose weight. On average less than 20% actually keep the resolutions.
Choose an Obtainable Goal. A model/celebrity/athlete is simply not realistic for the majority of people. Resolving to include daily physical activity in our lives could be very realistic and obtainable.
Avoid Choosing a Repeat Fail. A resolution that historically has not gone well for you should be analyzed and altered. Often this will mean that you need to break it down into smaller shorter term goals- and take immediate action.
Create a Game Plan – Starting right now, write a comprehensive plan for the next week, each month. You wouldn’t start a trip without knowing which direction to go, your personal plan will help you to succeed. Write it down where you can see it regularly or set a reminder in your phone.
Reward yourself for your Accomplishments – Include a reward as part of your plan. A reward involving self-care is ideal.
Limit your Promises Trying to do too much at once can be overwhelming and set one up for frustration and discouragement.
Ask for Help – You may need to set limits to the “help” that you get from friends, family, but have someone to be accountable to. If you can include those around you in your goals. Including a coworker in your goals to take a short walk with at lunch could mean packing a more health conscious lunch and getting in activity.
Get more Help- Sometimes friends, or family are not objective enough. Research studies show that assistance from a fitn3ess professional will greatly improve one’s success rate.
Regenesis Fitness 