How SMC Students are Exercising during Quarantine

By Mark Molz
Sports Reporter

Quarantine certainly hasn’t been the most motivational tool for exercising on a regular basis.

If you're like me, finding motivation to work out when gyms are closed certainly isn’t the easiest thing to do. And as gyms are reopening many individuals aren’t ready to insert themselves in a public setting that requires heavy breathing and little personal space. Staying at home for long periods of time can pose problems for staying active on a day-to-day basis. As COVID-19 continues to loom over the heads of everyone, coming up with your own exercises calls for using anything you can get your hands on. 

Not everyone has their own gym in their garage and with the recreation center at Saint Mary’s closed to start the year, us students are figuring out how to make the town of Moraga our own workout space. Exercise is very important for health and helps us get through the days when we are sitting around wondering what we should watch on TV next. Exercise promotes good habits and can keep you motivated if you are able to set goals for yourself on a daily or weekly basis. 

Maxwell Kleeman, a senior at Saint Mary’s stated “home workouts allow me to get out of my room, off the computer screen, and allows me to get fresh air outside.” He continued, “I have been getting creative, doing workouts in my backyard, and doing mostly body weight exercises.” 

While body weight workouts seem to be the best or only option for most students not everyone is enjoying it the same.

“Working out has been difficult for me,” Blake Moser, a senior said. “I don’t have any workout equipment so it is hard making workouts fun and exciting when I am doing the same thing everyday.”

Luckily for me living with athletes has its perks and watching them turn our backyard into a home gym was quite entertaining and beneficial for myself. Although it is not much, having a few dumbbells, resistance bands, and a mix match of weights makes working out a little more exciting and bearable when you are stuck at home.

Jack Murphy who is on the baseball team at Saint Mary’s has had fun coming up with different exercises to complete. “I have enjoyed being able to take all the workouts I have learned over the years from training and coming up with my own routine.” Murphy continued to state, “I do wish we were able to use the facilities on campus, but this has been a fun challenge for me and I have managed to stay in good shape during quarantine.”

During a time where everything seems to be a bit out of your control it is important to make the best out of the situation and resources we have. Although quarantine workouts can seem monotonous it is important to stay active. Find a training buddy that wants to work out and someone who motivates you on the days you don’t want to. Staying inside all day can make you feel like you are going crazy. Even if you don’t have exercise equipment, make time to go for a walk even if it is just for ten minutes, some fresh air is better than no fresh air.