Students Sweat Out the Stress in Rodgers Rec

By: Kendra Lee
Posted In: Sports

As the end of the semester is nearing, thoughts of papers, final exams, winter break and the fact that time is running out to boost final grades fill the minds of students at Salve Regina University. To release these stresses, students head to the workout facility of Rodgers Recreation Center, an excellent place to rid the body and mind of the everyday tension in their lives.

Jessica Breslin, a junior education major from Tewksbury, Mass., works out consistently six days a week from precisely 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breslin plays soccer and lacrosse at Salve and keeps in shape during the off-season by lifting with the Nautilus equipment and keeps up her conditioning by running up and down the soccer and lacrosse fields.

Breslin enjoys her workouts in the middle of the day and says that she finds they help her clear her mind about her classes and upcoming assignments. “I’ve been really bogged down with work,” said Breslin, who is feeling the pressure of junior year. “I have been preparing for finals everyday, including weekends, which makes me mad.” She believes her trips to the gym will increase during her week of stressful finals.

Another Salve student who is stressing over finals is Jillian Walker, a sophomore education major from Bristol, N.H. Walker enjoys running on the treadmill and using the elliptical trainer and abdominal machines about three to five times a week. Walker has the same workout schedule as the majority of Salve Regina students. “I go around 5 p.m., and it is really busy at that time,” said Walker. “That is because everyone is out of classes. It is before dinner and not in the middle of the day.”

Walker will be fighting for machines during the gym’s peak periods during finals in order to release the stressful thoughts of her exams. “It is ‘my time,’ which makes me less stressed,” said Walker. Hoping to do well on her finals, Walker knows that she will need an outlet from studying during the week. “Working out will get my endorphins out and help me focus,” she said.

An avid gym-goer, sophomore Matt Winter prefers working out at night usually around 6 or 7 p.m. “I lift free weights, run on the treadmill and sometimes us the Nautilus machines,” said Winters. “It is a good way to use energy and forget about stress.”

With only one final a day, Winters feels that he will have more free time during the day and will be able to workout more during exam week. “I am definitely going Monday after my math exam to relieve stress,” said Winters, who is dreading that tough test.

Finals week can be very stressful for college students who are trying to make deadlines and cramming for tough exams. They need to find some means to relieve themselves from the pressure. Rodgers workout facility is expected to be especially packed with students sweating out their anxiety during the high-tension dates of Dec. 15-19.

The facility includes a range of free weights, Nautilus equipment and cardio machines. Gym hours during the week run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.