For many students, staying in shape once meant dragging oneself off the couch for a run around the block or doing crunches in front of the TV, but with a kitchen nearby or a convenience store around the corner, distractions made getting a real workout difficult. However, as gyms become more abundant and affordable in the San Mateo area, many students have turned to a gym membership as an alternative for getting and staying in shape. Although making trips to the gym is not nearly as cheap as school sports or at-home exercise, many are beginning to see the physical and emotional benefits of a gym membership as worthy of its cost.
While there are a number of way to exercise that are free of cost, such as running around the park or doing push-ups at home, a sense of structure makes the gym more attractive to many students. “It’s very discouraging to not have a place to go,” says senior Maddy Hudak. “There are people around and machines they might not have access to at home.” For Aragon science teacher Leigh-Anne Ecklund, who attends the gym every weekday at four a.m., “It’s the convenience of having it be open 24 hours a day. It’s a safe place where you can exercise in the middle of the night.”
The gym itself can also serve as a motivator. As junior Alicia Fernandez says, “When you go, you have to [exercise].” Ecklund offers similar opinions. “It’s an appointment that I make for myself, kind of like a dentist appointment. You wouldn’t bail out on a dentist, unless you want scary teeth, so I don’t bail out on my gym appointment.”
For many, working out at a gym makes exercise more enjoyable and sometimes even something to look forward to. “We socialize,” says Fernandez of her and her friends. “We go with people. I guess it’s sort of like bonding.” For others, going to the gym is more about alone time than socializing. Ecklund says, “I listen to music [and] I watch TV. [When I exercise,] sometimes I plan for the day ahead. It’s a good time for me.”
Working out at a gym certainly pays off for students, both physically and mentally. Some students use the gym in addition to playing school sports. Hudak, who ran on the cross-country team this season, says, “I switch [between] running outside and going to the gym – it’s kind of like an enhancement to my workout. I do running for cardio and for toning I use the machines.” For junior Haley Bartlett, the gym prepares her for sports. “I wanted to start working out to get in shape for soccer.” The addition of the gym fulfills its purpose, according to Hudak. “I’ve definitely seen results this past year.” Alicia Fernandez says of her and her gym buddy, “We’re getting strong…It feels so good.” To some, the emotional benefits of going to the gym are equally important as the physical benefits. Ecklund says, “If I go in the morning, my mental outlook is totally different.” Gym trips serve as stress-relief for many. “I go a lot of the time when I’m stressed out,” says Hudak, and Bartlett agrees. “It does help a lot with my stress level,” she says. “I always go home and am proud of myself… It makes me feel like, ‘Oh I’m healthy now.’”
Many gyms in the area, such as the YMCA and 24 Hour Fitness, offer free fitness classes as a part of membership. Junior Melissa Matthews, who is a member of the YMCA in San Mateo, takes advantage of some of the amenities offered. “I like to do basketball,” she says. “It’s always fun.” Bartlett, who also attends the YMCA about twice a week says, “I do yoga. It makes you more relaxed.” Matthews, who attends the class with Bartlett, adds, “The old ladies are so much better than us!” Junior Claire McNally occasionally attends yoga classes at the Y as well. “[The class is] very slow and quiet,” she says. “I don’t like how if you make one small noise everyone glares at you…it’s hard for me to stay quiet.” She adds, “But I love it because it’s so relaxing and after one class your head is completely cleared.”
The recent popularity of gyms has transformed the lives of many Aragon students and teachers. The gym has made exercise easy, efficient, and fun for many who once disliked exercise, and physical and emotional health has become a priority in the lives of students. While it may be difficult to find the motivation or energy to go to the gym, the gym always proves itself to be worth the struggle. Says Hudak, “Once I’m actually there, I’m glad I went.”
