Staying healthy for your New Year’s resolution is easier than you think.
Spokane Falls offers many different fitness classes to help students reach their goal of a healthier lifestyle.
“Most people who make the decision for themselves to be healthier will find success,” Sheri Staudinger, Wellness Coordinator for The Falls, said.
At SFCC students have access to a fitness center, a weight room, a multi- purpose gymnasium, and an aerobic gymnasium; all of which can be used just by signing up for a fitness class.
“Keep goals small, don’t bite off more than you can chew,” Eric Denney the Health and Wellness instructor at The Y said.
The best way for a student to start exercising is to find an activity they enjoy.
“People quit exercising because they did not make the right choice for their personality,” Staudinger said.
At SFCC exercising does not just have to be done in the fitness center, there are many different classes such as dancing and yoga that do not involve the use of the machines. The alternate work out classes are also counted as a college credits just like regular classes.
“I started by running on Doomsday Hill and after that a treadmill was like nothing to me,” Kristie Friesenn, a SFCC student, said.
According to Staudinger not all students need to start their exercise routine with such a large step, the fitness center offers free counseling to students to help them create their own routine. Setting a goal is important because it helps provide motivation for the workout.
“Most people fail because of lack of motivation,” said Ben Panas a security officer at SFCC who was going to school to be a personal trainer.
Exercising with a friend is a great way to stay motivated because both people rely on each other to keep the goals in check.
“Having a friend helps keep you motivated, I could run longer and faster,” Friesenn said.
Many students also fail to keep their resolution to stay healthy because they can not afford to pay for a gym membership or fitness class. The YMCA offers a membership designed for students and people with families that is based on the income for the person applying. SFCC students can also participate in different intramural sports or fitness activities. There are teams for almost every sport for people to play on that are completely free for students. Options are available for the not so sport oriented. Different activities are offered for free like the T’ai Chi Workshop by Doctor Erik-Andreasson.
“Recommit every day; it will reinforce the decision. You want to be at the point where you can’t imagine not doing it,” says Staudinger.
Denney says, “There has been a change in people’s perspectives. People used to think you needed big chunks of time in fewer days, but now it’s found out that it is better to exercise for shorter periods of time more frequently.”
Finding the time and effort to keep exercising is a life choice that many people struggle to keep but it is easier than they think. It requires time and effort but is possible as long as you have support and motivation to keep it up.
Staudinger says, “Life is a choice and your choice is your life.”