{"id":18023,"date":"2015-10-13T15:44:38","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T20:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=18023"},"modified":"2015-10-14T12:27:16","modified_gmt":"2015-10-14T17:27:16","slug":"colleges-offer-free-fitness-classes-to-increase-student-wellness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/colleges-offer-free-fitness-classes-to-increase-student-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"Colleges rev up academic success with free fitness classes"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ariana LaBarrie<\/p>\n

Students are toting sneakers and water to class instead of laptops and notebooks with the free fitness classes offered at many colleges.<\/p>\n

Several campuses, including Chicago area colleges like Columbia College Chicago, Northwestern University and DePaul University, are offering the work out classes to students ranging from aquatic workouts to Zumba.<\/p>\n

Students often come to class with their backpacks, taking a quick break in their hectic schedule to fit in a sweat before going back to the academic grind.\u00a0 Stressed out students become more relaxed both mentally and physically with these work outs that require them to take time their mind of their studies and focus on their mind and body.<\/p>\n

Students can feel a sense of community by participating in these classes, as well as improving physical and mental wellness, fitness experts said.\u00a0 These benefits can increase students\u2019 chances for academic success.\u201cStudents who attend free fitness classes can experience many health benefits including increased coordination, increased stamina and muscular endurance, improved mood and improved body composition,\u201d said Heather Hamilton, assistant director of fitness and wellness for DePaul University Campus Recreation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably a student\u2019s best tool for fighting stress, for fighting anxiety, for fighting depression.\u00a0 It helps them with their self confidence, with their self-esteem.\u00a0 It helps them sleep better.\u00a0 It helps them become more productive,\u201d said Mark Brticevich, coordinator of fitness and recreation at Columbia College Chicago. \u201cFor so many reasons, if you really want to enhance a student\u2019s arsenal, you are going to enhance their fitness levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many students agree that taking fitness classes can reduce their stress level and better prepare them for exams.<\/p>\n

Brticevich said that these fitness classes help students perform better academically because it helps improve students\u2019 mindset and allows them to perform better academically.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely think it would help [with stress and anxiety]. That is part of why we went, because we have an exam coming up.\u00a0 We figured it would be helpful to get us ready to study,\u201d said Nicola Traynor, a sophomore at Northwestern University who recently attended the vinyasa yoga class with a friend.<\/p>\n

\"NU<\/a>
Students decrease stress while dancing in class. (Northwestern University Athletics and Recreation\/Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participating at a college fitness center can also increase students grades and their likelihood to continue at a school.\u00a0 A study by Michigan State University published in 2014 showed students that were part of the recreational sports and fitness center at the university had higher GPAs than the students who were not apart of the centers. The study group of freshman and sophomores also showed that the group that were a part of the fitness center had a higher two-year retention rate than students who were not a part of the centers.<\/p>\n

Brticevich said that students are more likely to stay at school instead of transferring or dropping out because it of the sense of community that fitness classes and centers provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes you feel like you are a part of something,\u201d Brticevich said of the fitness classes.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOnce you feel a connection, through other students, or faculty members or a fitness instructor, you are more likely to stay there.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t feel that connection, you are not likely to stick around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although these classes can improve a student\u2019s chances for academic success, attendance tends to drop during midterms and finals, a time where students need the stress relief that these classes provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cMidterms and finals is when the fitness center becomes empty, and that is when it should be packed.\u00a0 That is when students are most stressed.\u00a0 That is when you need your brain needs to function the best\u2026and that is when we should be packed,\u201d Brticevich said.<\/p>\n

To help combat midterms and final stress level, Hamilton said that DePaul University Campus Recreation tries to offer restorative and stress relief yoga classes.\u00a0 The goal is to \u201chelp students refocus on the present moment and prepare for exams.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo at top: Students pose in a yoga position during class. (Northwestern University Athletics and Recreation)<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ariana LaBarrie Students are toting sneakers and water to class instead of laptops and notebooks with the free fitness classes offered at many colleges. Several campuses, including Chicago area colleges like Columbia College Chicago, Northwestern University and DePaul University, are offering the work out classes to students ranging from aquatic workouts to Zumba. Students […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":18025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,436],"tags":[192],"class_list":["post-18023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-science","category-spring-2015","tag-promo"],"yoast_head":"\nColleges rev up academic success with free fitness classes - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/colleges-offer-free-fitness-classes-to-increase-student-wellness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Colleges rev up academic success with free fitness classes - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Ariana LaBarrie Students are toting sneakers and water to class instead of laptops and notebooks with the free fitness classes offered at many colleges. 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