Rampants Get FitBY KENSLEY STILL ON APRIL 17, 2014
While many Rose students focus on improving their grades, others focus on improving something different: their bodies.
Whether at Fitness Connection or Next Level, Rose students focus on working out with hopes to have their desired bodies. About a year and a half ago, senior Mark Reed became dedicated to the gym. He now spends about one to three hours everyday at Fitness Connection getting in shape. “During an ideal week, each day I focus on a different muscle group,” Reed said. “Monday is chest, Tuesday is legs, Wednesday is shoulders, and so on.” Since Reed became serious, he has noticed several changes in his body. “I eat [so much] more and I’m a much better athlete,“ Reed, a Rose tennis player, said. In addition to these changes, Reed has also recognized changes in his lifestyle. ““I’ve [also] gotten better at time management,” Reed said. “The gym has made me prioritize everything.” From spending a large portion of his time working out, Reed has realized the importance of using his time wisely. “I had to ask myself, ‘What do I gain from this? How can my time be better used to be more productive?’ So the things that were unnecessary, I just stopped doing” Reed said. Reed believes that working out is a productive way to spend his time. Not only does going to the gym improve his body, but also his mind. Reed uses the gym as an escape from his busy schedule and a place where he can relieve the daily stressors in his life. “To me, the gym keeps me sane,” Reed said. “It’s a perfect outlet for when I’m stressed; it’s a place where I can better myself.” Reed is not the only Rose student who uses the gym to better himself. Freshman Caroline Kuhn goes to Next Level to improve for volleyball as well as to stay in shape. Once she began going to the gym regularly this past fall, she started to see the results she had hoped for. “I noticed I wasn’t getting as tired or as sore as I was before I started going regularly,” Kuhn said. “It wasn’t a huge difference at first, but I definitely could notice a change for the better.” Senior Christian Pleasant has also noticed major differences from working out almost everyday of the week. During fourth period, Pleasant heads over to the field house to get in a workout. “I’ve put on about fifty pounds of muscle,” Pleasant said. In addition to his workouts at school, Pleasant also spends time working out either early in the morning or late at night. When working out, Pleasant focuses on overall wellness and endurance. “I workout to stay fit and I like to be healthy, “Pleasant said. “I also workout to prepare [myself] for college football.” While Reed and Pleasant spend time conditioning their muscles, and Kuhn spends time doing jump training for volleyball, senior Tayloe Saieed spends her time at the gym doing something a little different: Body flow, a class that includes pilates, yoga and tai chi. Beginning at the start of her junior year, Saieed uses body flow to relieve her stress four times a week. “I’ve always wanted to start doing [body flow],” Saieed said. “It all calms the mind and lets you focus on your body and breathing. I recommend it to people who stress a lot.” The gym has improved many Rose students’ lives. Whether it’s stress relief, getting in better shape or improving skills for sports, there are many gym junkies at Rose. “I’m more laid back since I began training hard,” Reed said. “If anything, the gym has made me a happier person.” Superstitions haunt believers every day. HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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