Mason Recreation

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GMU Women’s Club Lacrosse — Jiordan Carter

Before college, I had played lacrosse for about 11 years. I played from middle school up until I graduated high school. I was always extremely athletic. Some years I participated in a sport every season just to continuously stay active. However, after I graduated high school, I wanted to take some time away from sports because I had felt like sports had become more of a routine instead of an activity I truly enjoyed. I decided to use the time that was dedicated to playing sports to try and develop other hobbies I have always been interested in but just haven’t had the time to do. I spent my freshman year reflecting on who I was and what being an athlete meant to me. I wanted to find out how much of an impact sports actually had on my life, now that I completely had the choice to continue to compete or not.

After a whole year of not competing in sports, I realized how much I missed being a part of a team. I missed that feeling of excitement you get when you make an awesome play or win a big game. I wanted to experience that again, so I decided to join the GMU Women’s Club Lacrosse team. The club lacrosse team was a good way for me to be a part of an actual competition again without too much of a demanding commitment. The practices were necessary and insightful, but very fun and relaxed as well. We didn’t have a very long season but every game we played, everyone put their all into it. We all worked well as a team together and it felt great to enjoy playing a sport I loved. I felt that it was amazing to play a sport I loved without too much pressure about being the best or not making any mistakes. I could feel at ease while playing the game.

I realized how much I had been missing out on when I took that year off. To anyone who loves to play sports for the passion of the game but also wants to simply have fun without the games/practices being too much of a burden, I recommend joining a club team of your favorite sport. You will get to have fun representing Mason by playing a sport you love. Our lacrosse team ended with a record of 2-2, and I am extremely proud to be a part of the team and will continue to be a part of the team in the near future.

 

By: Jiordan Carter

How to Get Excited about Working Out

By: Destany Martin

Sometimes, it seems like working out is the absolute last thing you want to do. Not everyone genuinely likes working out (like myself), and often times we are very busy which can drain our energy and make us less likely to want to go to the gym. In moments like these, some kind of motivation is necessary. From personal experience, I have to get myself “in the mood” in order to work out otherwise I just will not go, or I won’t be as willing to put forth the necessary effort. I have found out that when I am feeling this way, I have to try different methods in order to get motivated to go work out.

If the thought of being at the gym for an hour of my day is too long and unrealistic for my energy level, I will set a smaller goal. For example, I will tell myself I will only be there for half an hour. This helps the workout seem easier and less intimidating. While sometimes I only have time for half an hour, or feel unbearably tired; most times I can trick myself into setting a smaller goal, and by exceeding it once I am then in the right headspace. Another thing that I have found to be really helpful is looking at inspirational posts on the internet or social media. Sometimes, I will go on Instagram and look at health and fitness pages that post inspiring quotes about healthy living and it really helps excite me about the benefits of working out. Sometimes I’ll even watch YouTube videos of weight-loss stories that help me stay motivated. I find that this is my most helpful method of getting workout ready, and also helps me stay motivated long-term within my own fitness journey. Lastly, I found that if I absolutely have to, I will have a pre-workout coffee or snack that provides energy. While I do not necessarily like doing this, caffeine definitely does the trick.

Whatever works for you, use it! Be aware of what helps you the most and try to lean on that when necessary. The simple fact is, most of us are not always excited to work out. We’re human. However, with a little extra push, we can do it.

Reasons Why You Should Work Out With Friends More Often

Before college, I always thought I did not like working out with people. Personally, I did not see the benefit of it. The best way of explaining the feelings I had back then are that I simply felt it was my own personal journey, and I genuinely liked the time to myself. However, after being in college for a while, I have realized just how much I actually like working out with my friends and how much I benefit from doing so. I have compiled a list of reasons as to why I believe people should work out with their friends more often.

  1. They Keep You Motivated

While I would say that most group exercises have the power to keep you motivated, I think there is something about working out with friends that is extraordinarily motivating. Personally, when I work out with my friends, it is not only that their presence itself is motivating, but they give me words of encouragement as well. It feels good to have your friends encourage you during your workout as it pushes you to do more especially when that encouragement comes from them.

  1. It’s Fun… and Funny

I can’t speak for all groups of friends, but I know that when my friends and I work out, we have fun. We are usually doing something with equipment, playing really good music, and singing along the entire time. We also crack jokes at each other the entire time, so we end up laughing the majority of the workout. It can make it a little harder for me to focus sometimes, but we do it and it makes it so much more enjoyable.

  1. Healthy Competition

I won’t say that when I work out with my friends that we are all trying to “one-up” each other, but there is a sense of healthy competition (whether we want to admit it or not). I think this sense of competition can be beneficial, fun, and motivating (as long as there are no hard feelings).

  1. Accountability

When you know that you and a friend are meeting up for a workout, you are more likely to actually show up for the workout. Friends hold you accountable. They are there to ask you if you are “still coming this Friday”, and what would it look like if you didn’t show?

  1. Recovery

If you and a friend go to a super intense yoga class, it’s more than likely that the two of you will be extremely sore in the coming days. You two are feeling the same pain, so you can recover together. After the super intense workout, you guys can recover together and plan the next shared gym session as well.

Tips To Make Going To The Gym A Habit

You’ve been trying to go to the gym every day of the week for months now. You are going strong for 4 days, but then you don’t make it to the gym for the next week. Not as pathetic as you think. Believe it or not, going to the gym regularly is often a goal for most people. Having the gym be a part of everyday life can be challenging, since making changes to normal behavior is not an easy task. Any type of lifestyle change (eating habits, smoking, shopping habits etc.) is hard, and even that much harder as a college student.

I personally have struggled with making the gym a part of my daily routine. My schedule is extremely hectic these days, as I am dealing with a constant state of tiredness due to my commitments. Wanting to be social with my peers also can get in the way of going to the gym. It’s not easy, but I am trying to make the gym a part of my daily life, like doing my homework or making my bed, simply something I HAVE to do.

Sometimes we are so off-put within our own fitness routines that we simply don’t know how to get back on track. I understand how hard it is to regularize going to the gym, so I have compiled a list of tips to help make going to the gym a habit.

1. Make a Schedule

For me, creating a schedule is probably the most valuable tip on the list. Making a schedule of your life and time available to go to the gym allows you to have designated times for going to the gym and keeps you on track. Think of the schedule as a daily to do list. Putting a workout on your to-do list helps you stay focused and motivated to get it done.

2. Start off Easy

With any major lifestyle change, I think starting off easy is key to staying motivated while getting used to your new schedule. You don’t want to tire yourself out before being able to create a habit of going to the gym. You try to start off by going two or three times a week, and increase as you see fit. I would suggest that you don’t try to quickly move into a lifestyle you are not used to. Any change takes time. Be patient with yourself!

3. Find a Workout Partner

Finding a workout partner may be the motivation you need in order to stick to your gym routine. Having someone there that expects you to push yourself and will motivate you to keep going can help you make that lifestyle change. Having a workout partner is not for everyone (personally, not my thing), but it can definitely be beneficial to those who need that extra push!

4. Buy Nice Workout Clothes

I know this is something that definitely helped me! I love buying clothes, so buying fashionable workout gear helps motivate me to go, because I want to wear the clothes I have purchased. This tip also is not for everyone, but if that helps, go out and treat yourself!

5. Add Classes Into Your Workout

I think a common reason as to why people may not be satisfied with their current workout is because they become bored with their own fitness schedules. I get bored very easily, and if something is not stimulating to me, I am more than likely not going to continue with it. If you find yourself with an underwhelming workout routine, try to attend some workout classes. Maybe go with friends and see if that helps make going to the gym more interesting.

6.) Focus On Going To The Gym First, Goals Second

Something that I have personally struggled with is lack of results discouraging me from going to the gym. The “I have not seen change, so why go?” mentality is dangerous and can prevent you from going to the gym long enough to even see results. In order to combat this, I try to be realistic with my goals, whether they are mental or physical, but more importantly, I tell myself “just go!” Actually making it to the gym is an accomplishment in itself.

 

By: Destany Martin

Why You Should Take The Exercise Class You’ve Been Avoiding

The entire year you have checked the weekly schedule of exercise classes. You go to the gym wanting to try out something different since you’re bored by the same routine of your usual elliptical workout. On your way out, you look through the glass window at the Kickboxing class your roommate has been raving about that you have been too intimidated to try. You are intimidated that the class will be too intense, you will be heavily winded in 10 minutes, and everyone will see how out of shape you are.

Sound familiar? Good news is, your feelings of doubt are completely normal and typical for someone trying something new. Regardless of how normal the feelings are, you should not let your fear prevent you from trying something you may actually come to enjoy.

I completely understand and connect with these feelings of fear. After a lot of personal motivational speeches and indecisiveness, I decided to take the Cardio Kickboxing class offered at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. I arrived and was immediately intimidated by my instructor’s nearly perfect physique. The class was quite small, which I expected, but this did not make it any less terrifying. The class begun and, like I anticipated, I was quickly winded and sweating. While my journey with “gym fear” had come a long way since realizing that the payoff received from exercise and pushing your physical limits is worth more than anyone seeing you look awkward or struggling to finish a set of squats, I was a little self-conscious about my heavy breathing and my not-so-attractive expressions being made while trying to keep up with the rest of the class. However, nearly halfway through the class, I realized what I had overcome just by showing up and felt proud that I made the decision to try something new.

“Gym fear” is more common than you think. Even the most advanced gym goers are not experts at everything and would feel insecure under certain circumstances. There are some things about group classes that dedicated gym goers have to come to terms with. First being, you will mess up. Everyone in the class is going to be awkward at some

It doesn’t matter how fast you move or how you look. What matters is that you are there working.

point, so embrace it. Also, those people you think are watching you, are actually looking at themselves. They aretrying to keep up just like you, and are not concerned with how often you come to the gym. Additionally, there is a chance that this class may not be all that you expected. Not saying that it should be easy, rather, you just might notlike exercising in a group. However, not going to the class at all will hinder you from discovering what your preferences are. Not only that, but once you have attended your first class, it will be easier for you to step out of your comfort zone and try new things in the gym that you can then add into your fitness schedule. Lastly, I know the instructor is usually a super fit person who seems to do everything with ease; however, don’t let this make you feel insecure. The instructor is there to help you and is not going to judge if you cannot do everything, need a break, or want to ask questions.

 

Ultimately, your fitness journey is your own and that is important to remember while attending fitness classes. You should make the most out of the classes because it is something that you are doing for your benefit. Though it may be a personal challenge for you to be working out in a group setting, know that everyone is struggling. Feel the fear and do it anyway! Pick a class (classes are posted every week at recreation.gmu.edu) that you find to be the most appealing, and go! There is nothing to lose and an experience to gain.

 

By: Destany Martin

10 of the BEST FITNESS APPS RIGHT NOW

We are always on our phones. I mean, think about it, we are ALWAYS on our phones. You’re probably even on your phone right now. Whether that is scrolling through Instagram, or trying to catch up on sports news, something is always grabbing our attention on our phones. If nearly everything is integrated into the World Wide Web these days, it’s only certain that there are millions of ways that your phone can lead you to a healthier lifestyle (as weird as that may sound.) Here are 10 GREAT apps that can help you stay fit.


1. Nike Training Club 

This is my holy grail. This app has customizable fitness programs and workouts that are designed by professional trainers and athletes. My friends and I will hook my phone up to speakers and will play music and the Nike Training Club app will come in and out of the music to guide us through our workout (The interface is really aesthetically pleasing too.)


2. Couch to 5K 

I am always amazed in the gym at people who seem to run so effortlessly. I am talking about the people who run for 45 minutes straight and still can bounce off of the treadmill with energy. C25K (“Couch to 5K”) is for those who want to run but really do not know where to start. The app is an eight-week program designed to ease you into becoming a runner. After eight-weeks of completing the program, you should be ready to hit a 5k race.


3. Strava Running and Cycling 

This app is really valuable because it caters to runners as well as cyclists. It tracks calories, elevation, distance, and more in an easy-to-navigate interface.


4. Spotify Running 

Spotify Running is definitely for those like me who need music will exercising and have to have the right songs on my playlist to stay motivated. What makes this app cool is that it picks songs for you to listen to, based on your pace, and chooses a song that will match it.


5. Yoga Wake Up 

This app is for all of the yoga-lovers out there. It’s different and unique in the sense that it has 10-minute yoga sessions designed to be done right after you wake up. They offer different sequences, and the sequences offer different objectives to help you start your day off right.


6. Daily Yoga 

Daily Yoga is another yoga app, but it’s not for your wake-up needs. This app offers over 50 classes through different videos. Additionally, the app offers a library of over 500 different yoga poses.


7. Yonder 

This is not of much use to me (not an outdoorsy person), but could be beneficial to someone who enjoys outdoor adventures. By putting in your location, you are able see suggestions for your outdoor fitness needs, such as, hiking, biking, and kayaking.


8. StrongerLifts 5×5

This is a great app for the lifters out there. This app will manage your reps, and rest time. No need to try to keep up with your exercise in your head, or lugging around a pencil and paper in the gym.

9. Zombies, RUN

This is one of the most interesting and exciting apps on the list. Zombies, RUN is a very popular app that integrates a zombie apocalypse into your workout. The more you run, the closer you are to carrying out your missions and keeping humans safe. The app is free to download and will make running a lot more interesting than your usual routine.


10. Blogilates

As someone who reads blogs A LOT, I find Blogilates to be very interesting. So, for my fellow bloggers out there, this app follows Cassey Ho and her YouTube videos, as well as a forum and online workout calendar. Apps like this make me feel like my fitness journey is a shared experience and I have a personal connection with someone who can guide me.

Why Does Everyone Listen to Music at the Gym?

When I go to the gym, I have to have my headphones with me. Even if it is brutally cold outside, I will make the walk to get my headphones from my dorm. Without my music, I just don’t feel as motivated. I have tried to watch YouTube videos, or catch up on Grey’s Anatomy or Scandal, but NOTHING seems to motivate me to run a little further like having my favorite songs blaring (at a volume way too high) out of my headphones. Well, it turns out music has a much larger impact on our workouts than I anticipated.

While research has consistently supported the idea that music acts as a distraction to physical exertion, a 2009 study found that when the tempo increases in a song, you are more likely to push yourself and work out harder. As one could assume, and studies have found, music with higher tempos are the way to go during your workout. However, too fast of a tempo is not good. For those who do not prefer to fluctuate their energy during their workout (if you like interval training this probably will not apply to you), music can help you stay on pace.

Additionally, there are songs or genres of music that help us “get our minds right”, that meaning they help us focus on the task we are doing and put us in the mind frame of working out. Often times these songs have memories tied to them, and sometimes these memories can generate motivational power for us to thrive off of during our workout.

Most importantly, music makes us happy. We often listen to songs that will make us feel the way we would like to feel. It can help us feel happy, motivated, or self-aware. It can serve as a means of reflection or an escape from what is currently going on in our lives. Thus, when we listen to music during our workout, it is easier to remove any negative emotions from our minds and power through our workout. You combine the mood effects of music and the inevitable good vibes we get from exercising, and you will leave your workout feeling great!

Finally, music makes us want to move! Researchers have found that music with “high-groove” qualities help our brains get excited and induces movement. So no matter how much you hated going to the gym that day, those tunes will help you get it done.

So, why does everyone listen to music at the gym? Because it helps. Music can help us in many areas of our life, but it is very valuable when we are at the gym and trying to get through a workout we have spent all day avoiding. The next time you go to the gym, make a playlist of your favorite songs and turn it all the way up! I surely will.

By: Destany Martin