“I believe in a sound mind, a sound body, and a spirit that is not afraid.”

The Auburn Creed is full of lessons to learn and a useful tool to help us shape the way we live. This line in particular has always stood out to me as an important reminder, and I believe it is relevant to all of us.

As we all breathe a collective sigh of relief with the ending of a year that we wish we could forget, we have shifted our focus on making the most of 2021. However, if there’s one thing that we took away from 2020, it’s that keeping a sound mind, a sound body, and a spirit that is not afraid, should be at the forefront of our life checklist. While this may sound like something that is easier said than done, it really is easier done than said. Auburn offers up a number of resources to help students. Some dedicated to physical health, some to mental health. One that is dedicated to both is group fitness.

The Rec has been offering group fitness classes since before we even had the beautiful facility we call home today. In years past, students would flock to the old Student Act to attend the 7 classes that were offered a week. Now you can find over 70 classes a week in a variety of formats. The benefits of fitness are evident, from physical gains to just finding a release from everyday life. In short, group fitness is what you need to re-shape your 2021. “It gives me so much confidence and helps me shake off whatever kind of day I had,” says Dance Fit instructor Abby.

We all know that physical activity is important to a healthy and sustainable life, and being healthy is as imperative as ever in today’s world. There are many steps we can take in order to keep ourselves and those around us safe: wearing a mask and washing your hands are prime examples. But let’s not stop there (please don’t stop wearing a mask), let’s add in another step, light to moderate exercise. Studies have shown the many connections between exercise and immunity. Physical activity helps flush harmful bacteria out of the lungs and airways. It helps antibodies and white blood cells circulate and detect illness, and the rise in body temperature may prevent bacteria from growing. Unfortunately, not everyone is comfortable in the gym. The people standing by machines and racks, the lack of knowledge of what exercises to do or how to create a proper workout… It’s understandable if these things make you want to avoid the gym.

If you want to exercise but are not sure where to start, give group fitness a try. We have a dedicated team of certified instructors, all with a passion for helping students live healthier lifestyles and breaking down the walls between you and the gym. This semester we are striving to create the healthiest atmosphere possible. From keeping all participants 6 feet apart to deep cleaning all equipment between classes, and even offering live stream classes for those wanting to move at home, we want exercise to help prevent you from getting sick, not increase that chance.

Next: a sound mind. You don’t need me to tell you how much stress college students carry, and the global pandemic has certainly not lessened that load. So right away I want to remove the stigma that mental health should be something we keep to ourselves. If your mental health is struggling, reach out to someone — a friend, parent, or maybe a professional. Auburn Student Counseling and Psychological Services is available 24/7 at 334-844-5123.

Group fitness is also a good way to proactively take care of your mental health. Studies show that just 30 minutes of exercise can reduce stress and release endorphins that boost our mood. Aerobic exercises, such as cycling or HIIT, have been shown to also reduce anxiety and depression. I know that these forms of exercise are not everyone’s favorite, and our goal at Group Fitness is to help ALL students. Nine times a week we have our amazing yoga classes, to help find some peace and serenity, and to really breathe for just a little bit. Yoga instructor Mary said: “Yoga has helped me find balance in my life. It has taught me how to be kind to myself, and the importance of taking time to relax. Through my yoga practice, I have learned breathing techniques to help calm my body and life lessons from yoga philosophy. I am thankful for yoga because it has been a light for me in difficult times.”

Mondays you can find our Mindful Monday Meditation livestream. The current climate of society can have us feeling isolated, keeping our circle small, and staying home when possible. It’s called group fitness for a reason… having that community around us creates that feeling of security and happiness. “What I love most about exercising with a group is that we all feed off the energy of one another, having a better workout than exercising alone. Group fitness creates community and connection!” (Hope, Kettlebell AMPD).

Group Fitness takes our safety precautions seriously because we want to be able to build community. We want you to be able to look at that person six feet away from you who is just as tired but also working just as hard.

The time to take advantage of all of the different circumstances in life that we are facing is now. By being proactive and making the decision to focus on both your physical and mental health, you will see the rest of the year in a whole new light. I promise you, getting out of the house is the first step and the hardest, but once you take that step, it is a domino effect… One that leads to a sound mind, a sound body, and a spirit that is not afraid.

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Auburn Campus Rec