For almost three months, Marlborough, as well as most other schools in the United States, have been temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus. During this time, many students’ workout schedules have been greatly changed.
It is important for students to stay active and healthy during this time, even though many students’ workout schedules have drastically changed. When asking the Physical Education coaches if students are more or less active during quarantine, Coach Lindsay Yocum responded with, “Some people may find that they have more time and are more motivated to be active, while others might take this as a much-needed break from the rigors of sports. Others might be coping with this situation by resting more.” Coach Chris Rodgers answered, “I think it has caused an inconvenience for most. The inability to go to the gym, a sports practice, or simply outside has forced everyone to be creative with their workout regimen. The additional free time has aided in their chance of getting a decent workout 2-3x a week.”
This explains that all the students’ workout schedules during quarantine are different; some people may have more time to work out, while others may be spending more time resting and not engaging in as many physical activities as they regularly would.
Marlborough has gone ahead and started helping students stay active and fit by having pre-filmed workouts students can follow, zoom classes, at-home challenges using items you would regularly find in your home, and making sure to keep the physical classes such as self-defense and yoga in progress. Coach Rodgers and Coach Yocum have suggested that students should look up some workouts that they can enjoy at home, as well as take the many classes provided by Marlborough.
We should make sure to stay active as a community to maintain a healthy lifestyle during quarantine because it can improve not only our physical health, but also our mental health by decreasing stress and anxiety levels. According to HelpGuide.org, “regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, ADHD, and more. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood.” This shows the impact that working out and staying active can have. Also, a recent study done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health concluded that running for an average of about 15 minutes a day decreases the risk of severe depression by 26%.
Overall, the Marlborough community should make sure to stay healthy and continue to work out during this quarantine to keep some regularity in our lives as well as to improve our mental and physical health.
