Working Out the Benefits and How To Do It

By Cassidy Peterson
Staff writer
Email: thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com

Did you know that working out actually reduces stress and boosts memory?

According to Harvard Medical School, exercise not only reduces stress and increases memory capabilities it also improves cardiovascular health, mood, thinking, and sleep. If any of these benefits sound appealing, maybe it is time to start exercising.

Working out may sound intimidating, but it does not have to be. There are so many options for exercising and they do not all include going to a gym. Taking a brisk walk, dancing, running, swimming, biking, yoga, pilates, lifting weights, kickboxing, and HIIT are all forms of working out that anyone can try.

If you are thinking that you do not even know where to start or what some of those workouts are, the good news is that there are a lot of free resources that can be found that can help learn how to do an exercise, a guided class, or a fitness plan.

For example, ChatGPT can give users a workout schedule. YouTube is also a great resource to find workout videos or just a video of someone demonstrating how to do a Turkish Get Up or the Chaturanga. Apps like Nike Training Club and Under Armour’s Map My Run can also be helpful.

Haven freshman Zaprina Percy said that she exercises five days a week, whether it is running or lifting weights. Percy says she likes to workout because it helps her stay in shape and it is a good outlet for her emotions.

Clayton Shingleton, a Haven sophomore, also enjoys exercising.

“Working out for me is something that’s more than just lifting weights,” Shingleton said. “It’s something that allows me to escape and just have two hours to myself. That time itself just gives me peace and meaning, and I’m just grateful to have it.”

Shingleton says he lifts weights with a focus on bodybuilding type exercises five to six days a week.

If anyone has a hard time staying consistent it might be best to have a training partner or participate in a group fitness class. The YMCA and Genesis Health Club in Hutchinson both offer classes daily. There is also a dance club and pickleball club on campus that are available to join and are a great way to get your heart rate up. Whatever you may choose to do, know that in 2019 only 19.3% of the U.S. population was working out or playing a sport regularly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so you would be healthier than about 80% of the U.S. population.

Cassidy’s Circuit

This was my favorite workout in the winter, because it is short but it is a full body, no weights, cardio workout. It looks simple, but the burpees will get you.

• 10 Burpees
• 10 Pushups
• 10 Sit Ups
• 10 Squats
• 2 minutes rest and then repeat 6 – 8 times

Feel free to modify this workout, whether you do push ups on your knees or add calf raises to your squats. You can also add more sets or take less rest in between sets.

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