Musical Motivation

Whether you’re into the catchy tunes of Top 40 hits or the classic beats of 70s rock, music is something that everyone loves. That’s why this week the Rec wanted to give you some last-minute musical motivation to finish the semester strong!

via NorthShore University HealthSystem

1. Reduces stress

Finals week is perhaps one of the most stressful times as a student. Not to mention, the pandemic has thrown a wrench into an already challenging week. But don’t fret (haha get it), just throw on some tunes to trigger biochemical stress reducers and dance it out!

2. Stimulates memory

Finals week is perhaps one of the most stressful times as a student. Not to mention, the pandemic has thrown a wrench into an already challenging week. But don’t fret (haha get it), just throw on some tunes to trigger biochemical stress reducers and dance it out!

3. Elevates mood

In addition to stress, finals week can bring up other negative emotions, and with the pandemic putting restrictions on the holiday season, times can be hard. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room for some holiday cheer… listen to your favorite songs to turn that frown upside-down!

4. Increases workout endurance

Music isn’t just good for your brain, it can help your physical health too! Listening to music while you sweat it out has been shown to increase endurance and boost physical performance. 

5. Heart healthy

Listening to music can also increase blood flow which is fantastic while you’re working out! So turn up the speakers and get your sweat on!

Want some music recommendations? The Campus Rec marketing team has got you! Here are some of our favorite songs:

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Rams Take Care of Rams

Rams Take Care of Rams written by Lily Peterson

The holidays are right around the corner, which means celebrating with family, friends and pets! It is also important to remember that here at CSU and Campus Rec, Rams Take Care of Rams. This means traveling safely, wearing your mask, and getting tested to ensure that you are keeping you and your loved ones healthy. 

As the semester comes to an end, many of us are getting burnt out with being online. It is so important to take care of yourself during this time. Taking breaks is helpful and makes you more productive in the long run. It is key to keep your mind healthy! Campus  Rec is here to help with that. Check out the CSU Rec Youtube channel to find mindfulness, meditation and yoga videos to help take care of business. 

Taking care of yourself physically will help take care of you mentally. Many consider exercising to be essential during these uncertain times. Going on walks around the neighborhood, or even just getting up to walk around the house, helps keep your body and mind stimulated. CSU Rec Instagram has Trainer Tip Tuesdays where the Rec trainers give you at-home workouts to do during break!

Make sure to eat consistently! It is so easy to get distracted with video meetings and forgetting to eat breakfast in the morning. However, eating keeps yourself energized while working on the computer. CSU Rec Youtube offers fun recipes to keep your eating interesting! Also check out the recipes the Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center offers to stay happy and healthy. 

Remember, give yourself grace. These are challenging times and it is important to be kind to yourself! You are allowed to take breaks during your busy day. Your life does not revolve around a computer, so remember to be gentle with yourself! CSU Rec is always here to help you navigate through these times.

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Rec Ramble Recap

Read on for more Rec Ramble content!

Rec Ramble came out with a new episode on October 22nd! In this episode, Lily and Sarah talked about their survival guide to Zoom University. The Outreach Assistants know that this semester is an adjustment to what everyone is used to. However, we might as well lean into this situation as a community!

The hosts opened up the podcast with a fun segment called “You Can’t Do That!” Sarah asked some of the Rec employees to submit some of the oddest rule-breaking scenarios that they have seen at the Rec. Sarah once saw a little kid build a fort out of weights in the weight room! Luckily no one was hurt… but you can’t do that!

The hosts then proceeded with some fascinating facts about “Zoom fatigue”. This kind of fatigue is defined as feeling worn out with having to be “on” all the time during the many virtual meetings we endure each day. It is hard to feel on top of your game all day while on the computer, so Lily and Sarah gave some tips on what works for them!

Sarah suggests scheduling in 5-10 minute breaks between meetings so you don’t have to stare at a screen for hours at a time. Lily suggests eating breakfast and taking walks around your house in order to get your energy up! Remember, we live in uncertain times right now so it is important to take care of yourself and give yourself some grace! 

Tune in for more tips about surviving Zoom University. On the next episode, the hosts will talk about the awesome rock climbing wall and everything that the department offers! We even get some input from patrons during our fun segment “Would You Rather: Rec Edition”. 

To stream the episode, search for Rec Ramble on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms. Make sure to tweet us at @csurec what your favorite part of the episode was and let us know what topics you want to hear us speak on!

Coming Up Next: Rec Ramble will discuss Zoom fatigue and study strategies that have worked for them.

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Why We Rec

Why We Rec

Hey Rams! We are excited to introduce our new blog series “Why We Rec”! Its purpose is to inspire and give hope to you all. There will be more Why We Rec content across the board, so keep an eye out on social media! In the meantime, check out our first installment with pro-staff Taylor Sidore!

This pandemic has been crazy for a lot of us and trying to find ways to make the most of what we’ve got is important. Pro-staff Taylor Sidore gave some insight on why being active is so valuable right now. 

 

For Taylor, working out has really helped her through the pandemic because it was already a piece of her identity and she already utilized being active as a form of stress management. Now, she says that’s more important than ever. Having an intrinsic value of your body and mind is crucial, and taking the time to nurture that has really helped her. 

 

Even though many of us, including Taylor, still feel the stress that this pandemic has caused, working out helps to minimize it. It helps create a routine, which is one reason Taylor says it’s so important. She says working out should be fun too… it shouldn’t add to the stress. So whether that means hitting the Rec center, going for a jog, or learning a new TikTok dance, finding a way to be active that makes you happy is just as important as simply being active. 

 

While pro-staff may not be able to use the Rec as they did before the pandemic, Taylor has still seen all the great things happening on the floor. First and foremost, following the new guidelines is an easy way to keep you and your fellow Rams safe, so no one should feel bad about working out in a mask. It’s all about finding and doing the right exercises for you and your comfort level, says Taylor. She also points out that people shouldn’t come to the Rec because they feel like they have to work out, but they should come to “stay healthy in the sense of being happy while you’re moving”.

 

You heard it here first, Rams. Come have fun with us at the Rec!

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Pandemic Profession: Group Fitness

Lexi Broz has been a part of the fitness world for most of her life, playing volleyball and basketball all through her primary education. When she came to CSU, she wanted to continue being healthy and fit but was not sure how to do so without the motivation of a sport. That’s when she discovered the Rec’s group fitness classes. Starting off as a participant, she loved the group setting. she found that she could become a group fitness instructor and jumped at the chance! Since her sophomore year, Lexi has been leading classes with the same excitement and fervor that she had when she was a class participant. 

Her passion for fun fitness is what drives her, and since the pandemic that hasn’t changed.

“I think I’ve actually become a little bit more involved, and I wanted to find ways to put classes out there so that people could work out when they were at home”

That being said, the transition was “initially kind of shocking”, she says. With strictly virtual classes on Instagram live and YouTube, she found it a bit hard to stay motivated without being surrounded by others. But now that we are back on campus and able to host outdoor group fitness classes, she is loving it. 

 

Group fitness still comes with its challenges, though. We are in the middle of a pandemic, after all. When it comes to the virtual side of things, “Of course [it] has all the technical difficulties” Lexi said. Between Instagram lives occasionally crashing and YouTubes strict music regulations. Being outside is great, but sometimes weather prevents classes from taking place, or last-minute location changes throw some people off. The bumpy ground isn’t ideal for kickboxing, one of the classes Lexi teaches. “It can create different motivation challenges for teachers and participants”. Other than that, she says it hasn’t been too difficult to make things work. The fresh air and open spaces make it a fun and exciting new experience. Life gave Lexi some weird lemons, but she is still out here making lemonade. 

 

Some of the most successful changes to group fitness has been outdoor cycling classes. “That was one option that we didn’t really have with all the online stuff,” she says. Not everyone has a spin bike, let alone the same exact one as the Rec. But with the beautiful Colorado weather, the class is packed! “Giving people that option again I think has been really successful”. 

Overall, Lexi would say that group fitness during the pandemic creates a real sense of accomplishment. The lack of motivation so many have felt during the pandemic melts away after going to a fitness class. And for Lexi, she’s excited to be around people again, seeing both new and returning faces.

Interested in group fitness?

 Check out their site here, and make sure to stay updated with the weekly schedules!

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