Dorm Room Exercises
By Sara Butler
College is full of new experiences and opportunities. You learn a lot about yourself living in a small space such as a dorm room with another person. It teaches you cooperation, understanding, and how to stretch out your dirty laundry so you only have to wash it once a month or so. But it also teaches you something really important -- how to exercise in a small space. In your life, you won’t always be able to make it to the gym, but you can always exercise in your home. If you can master the dorm room exercise, then you can exercise just about anywhere. Here are some suggestions to help you get started.
Unique Challenges
Living in a dorm in challenging in a variety of ways. First, you usually don’t have access to a ktichn, which means you’re at the mercy of your college cafeteria when it comes to meals. This lack of control leads a lot of college freshman to make poor food choices and before you know it, you’ve gained the dreaded freshman 15.
The late nights, limited space, and reduced food choices can be overcome -- start by learning a few tricks to make exercise accessible and a priority in your college lifestyle.
Exercises You Should Do
The freshman 15 is not inevitable. Make sure to exercise at least 30 minutes each day. Walking to classes will help you to stay active, but you may also want to consider adding these exercises to your dorm schedule:
- Cardiovascular exercise – If you can work in cardio exercise, it helps to strengthen your lungs and heart as well as relieve stress.
- Strength training – These exercises help to build muscle. If you forgo these types of exercises, then you may lose muscle, slowing down metabolism at the same time.
- Stretching – Staying flexible helps to reduce your risk of injury, plus it’s a nice way to relax after a long day of classes.
A Few Options
Don’t feel corny by doing a few exercises in your room between study sessions. You can:
- March in place
- Take the stairs in your building
- Jog in place or do high knees
- Jumping jacks
- Kickboxing
- Turn on your favorite tunes and dance
If you have space, a jump rope can be a good investment too. Or buy a workout video or look up YouTube workouts you can do with ease in a small space.
Staying healthy is important, even when you’re learning to navigate college.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in South Jordan, Utah.