Ole Miss Students Spring Into Fitness

Whether working to drop those pounds, tone up summer abs or continue a workout habit from a New Year’s Resolution, the students across the Ole Miss campus are “springing into fitness” through personal workouts and group fitness classes at the Turner Center.

The Turner Center is the primary workout facility for students and the surrounding community, found in the center of the university’s campus. It provides a variety of programs, equipment and staff to help each individual reach their health and wellness goals. Recently, this campus perk has students taking advantage.

Students and facility staff alike have noticed an increasing trend of “gym-goers” surrounding these weeks after spring break. Regular attendee, Natalie Balkan, has noted this trend occurring in her second year of being a student.

“I noticed after spring break, it was actually way busier than it was before, honestly, which shocked me. Usually everyone is just here before spring break, not after,” Balkan said.

Alesi Escobedo, fitness center supervisor agreed with Balkan by saying, “The first week was really busy after spring break because I feel people feel like they need to workout, because they feel gross from spring break vacationing.”

“Gym-rat” Tanner Johnson has even adjusted his daily schedule to fit around the current crowding of the gym.

“When the machines are packed, that’s why I have to go at six in the morning, then go late at night,” Johnson said. “Those are the times it’s empty. During the day, it’s packed with people.”

Whether the reasoning is due to gained weight from vacationing on spring break or just the desire to start a new healthy habit, these students are making the right choice. Group fitness instructor Celeste Shanahan stressed the importance for people to make that promise to their health.

“I personally think a majority of college-age adults underestimate the commitment it takes to not only achieve fitness and a certain level of health, constant discipline is needed to create lasting results, but more importantly to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Shanahan said.

Johnson holds his commitment strongly and even though he may have needed to adjust his schedule to attend a more open gym, that has not slowed him down.

“I attend the Turner Center every single day, and even twice a day, three times a week,” Johnson said. “My only rest day is Sunday, to recuperate before the next week of fitness begins.”

Johnson works out on his own with individual lifting circuits and cardio plans, which he can fulfill with all of the equipment provided, but the facility also offers a variety of fitness classes.

“We do our best to offer as many different options to meet each individual’s desires and needs,” Shanahan said. “All in all, it all depends on what motivates you, and personally I like a mix of both.”

Meaghan Snell is a senior broadcast journalism major at The Meek School of Journalism and New Media. For questions or comments, email callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.

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