We want every Active Badger to feel welcome, safe, and able to achieve their mind and body goals. Still, we know fitness spaces can be intimidating for new #ActiveBadgers who are just starting to live active lifestyles. Read on for five ways to start small and build confidence into your routine.
1. Try a yoga class.
Yoga is a great way to ease your way into the mental and physical wellbeing scene. In a soothing, never-judgmental space, our yoga instructors demonstrate moves with several variations. This means that for every move the instructor does, he or she will give the class several options for everyone, from beginners to experts.
Yoga is also a great form of self-care. Taking an hour to focus on yourself and stretch your muscles is a wonderful break from stress and hunching over a laptop.
2. Set little goals.
Everyone starts somewhere! Make small, attainable goals when you’re just starting out in the cardio court, pool, or weight room. When you meet those goals, you’ll hold onto the motivation to keep going, rather than getting discouraged when you can’t run a marathon on day 1.
Do three sets of eight bicep curls with the 5lb dumbbells or walk a mile at 3.5mph. If you’re worried about feeling self-conscious, keep in mind that everyone is rooting for you and wants to see you succeed. 👐
3. Create a just-for-fun intramural team.
Is there a sport you’ve always wanted to try? This is the semester to go for it! We have multiple leagues for each intramural sport we offer, so you can play against other Badgers who just want to get moving and have some fun.
We’ll let you in on a little secret: playing hard is more about giving our all than it is about winning. When you’re spending time with your friends and making new ones, or taking the leap and trying something new, you’ll win every time.
4. Find your jam.
We’re suckers for a good workout playlist or podcast. This study sums up the benefits of listening to music while doing sprint interval training, and reports that “motivational music enhanced affect and enjoyment of sprint interval training.”
Our favorite songs to work out to are:
- “Hey Ya!” by OutKast
- “Good as Hell” by Lizzo (ft. Ariana Grande)
- “I Love It” by Icona Pop (ft. Charli XCX)
- “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees
- “Tokyo – Vampires and Wolves” by The Wombats
- “All Star” by Smash Mouth
- “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears
- “Juice” by Lizzo
- “I Like Me Better” by Lauv
- “Classic” by The Knocks (ft. POWERS)
5. Ignore the numbers.
At Rec Well, we believe getting fit is about being more confident in how we feel rather than in how we look. We celebrate who we are, where we’re from, what we believe, and why we’re here. We root for every body.
Meaning: Don’t worry about how many calories you burn, how many minutes you take to run a mile, or what the number on the scale says. Living well takes all shapes and forms, and we’re proud of every single #ActiveBadger who cares for their mind and body in any way they choose.
College is a stressful time, and a little self-care can go a long way in helping you stay healthy as you chase your goals and push past your comfort zone. We believe practice makes progress. And we believe in you.