By Curtis Gordon

The second COVID-19 lockdown has forced students to get creative with their exercise routines.

Due to further restrictions put in place by the stay at home order, the Laurentian Residence Team had to close the recreation facility created for students in West Residence. 

The facility, which opened in September included physically distanced cardio, weights, and other equipment. Students were able to sign up for time slots throughout the day, as a maximum of eight participants were able to enter at one time.  

In a statement, Residence Life Coordinator Kayla Dibblee said “As always, our focus is on student support and the student experience. Due to the lockdown and Stay at Home order, fitness facilities are not permitted to open and this facility will re-open following provincial guidelines and directions of public health.”

In the meantime, the Residence Team has made efforts to help students stay active.  

“We have partnered with the AEF to offer equipment rentals such as snowshoes and ice fishing kits which are great physical distant outdoor activities,” Diblee said.  

The Residence team has also continued to engage with students virtually through the use of “fitness challenges” on social media. In November of 2020, Residence created a “pre-exam fitness challenge” which started with a yoga mat giveaway. 

The challenge focused on beginner-friendly, no equipment, and time-sensitive exercises that could be done in a residence bedroom or apartment common area. 

“There will be a secondary fitness challenge launched in late February/ early March,” said Dibblee.

Dibblee added that students are encouraged to contact residences@laurentian.ca if they have ideas or suggestions on ways to help the community stay active.

Students react to fitness facility closure

Students have been struggling with the lack of a reliable place to exercise, causing disruptions to their daily routines.  

“It has affected my routine quite a bit,” Sahir Nagi, a BBA Masters student said.  “[The gym] was a bit of a social thing too because you’d see people you know at the gym. Now that doesn’t happen anymore.”

Nagi said that having a facility to exercise in helps with stress relief.  

“It’s something to be proud of and a stress relief. Even if you go to the gym for an hour, you feel like you’ve done something.”

Nagi said he now works out with one of his friends using shared equipment and a bag full of books.

“It’s definitely not the same,” he added.  “It’s more just like slowing down the loss of gains.”

Despite the closure of the fitness and recreation facility, students are appreciative of the effort that the Residence team has made to make activities accessible to students.  

Eria Byrne, a second-year biomedical biology student, said that with the blur of online classes, she would use the gym as a way to structure her day. 

“The lack of structure stresses me out a little bit,” Byrne said. “I definitely have been a lot more sedentary since this started and I have a lot more excess energy that I have nothing really to do with, so it’s not great for my mental health.”

Students have started to rely on creative, at-home training methods.  However, this does not fully make up for not having a more formal space on campus to go.  

“I have a yoga mat in my room, so I do bodyweight and yoga. It really just isn’t the same as lifting weights,” Byrne said.

Kelsie Bartolucci, a second-year Concurrent Education (ConED) student majoring in law and justice said “the gym was something I could count on to give myself a break from studying and relieve stress.”

For Bartolucci, the gym was also a reason to get out of the house and socialize. 

“Now with the gyms closed, I feel claustrophobic being cooped up in the house all day. The gym was also a social activity, it’s hard not seeing people in person anymore.”

“I’ve managed to use the resources around me,” Bartolucci said.  “I use the stairs as a great cardio workout and I go on daily walks and runs in Kivi Park.”

Bartolucci says that her online classes are mentally and physically draining, with some days spending up to 10 hours in front of a computer screen. 

Despite the looming pandemic, students have continues to put their physical and mental health as a priority. They hope their patience pays off and gyms reopen once the lockdown is set to end on February 11th.