The Basler Center for Physical Activity has opened its doors once more to give tours of its facilities. Though not yet operating at full capacity, offering in-person fitness classes and other services, this development seems to offer hope that the facility will soon offer more for patrons.
At the moment, the CPA only offers workouts by registration and at limited capacity in order to facilitate social distancing. Campus recreation provides important services as they allow students a healthy outlet to deal with stress.
Physical activity is incredibly important, not only for our physical well being but for our mental health as well. Participating in physical activity while attempting to remain safe in the midst of a pandemic can prove challenging. However, it is now particularly vital to stay active, as many working and studying from home will miss out on daily opportunities for exercise that we often take for granted.
Scheduling times to exercise can help create a routine and break up the stagnation of days spent indoors. When time and place begin to blend together into muddy sameness, it is easy to feel out of touch and depressed. In the early days of quarantine, when I never left my house to go out in public, I benefited greatly from my daily walks. They kept me grounded and in touch with the world outside of the four walls of my bedroom. Exercise is a way to keep in touch with our bodies when our inner worlds feel out of control.
While it may be awhile until the CPA opens at full capacity, it is never a bad idea to get out and exercise in order to take care of our bodies and minds. Students should take advantage of the services that are available, and most importantly, take care of themselves.
