Exercising Around ASU

Everyone has heard of the famous “Freshman 15.” For those who have not, they are the expected fifteen pounds college students are expected to gain during their first year of college. Even though this is considered a myth, research has shown that college students are expected to gain from two to ten pounds their first years in college. Many students experience homesickness, anxiety, sadness, and stress and over eat in order to cope with their problems. Other reasons why students tend to gain weight are due to lack of sleep, large food portion intake, and the increasing amount of alcohol they consume (Cornell 1).  Since so many students struggle with this it is important that they keep a good exercise routine. 

Even though is it sometimes hard to find the time to exercise it is important that students fit some type of workout into their daily routine even if it is just 15 minutes because it provides a lot of physical benefits. In addition, exercise has been associated with improvements in mental health. “Cross-sectional studies reveal that, compared with sedentary individuals, active persons are more likely to be better adjusted, to perform better on tests of cognitive functioning, to exhibit reduced cardiovascular responses to stress, and to report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression” (Fletcher). This is why it is important to have a productive exercise routine, especially for college students.

Knowing that exercise is an essential part of a college student’s life and being one of the largest universities in the country with over  50 thousand enrolled students, Arizona State University has provided many opportunities and recreational areas for students and faculty members to use in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Throughout campus are various areas that have the required elements that make up a great place to exercise.  This map shows all of the areas on campus that have important elements that make up a good workout spot and that are available to students to exercise in. Each one of the places is marked by a pin and opens up a full description of the place and the different activities that can be done there. 

View Exercising in ASU in a larger map

A good workout area varies from person to person but most popular areas have some things in common which include a good motivational atmosphere, plenty of equipment, spacious areas, and accessibility. People who look for an area to exercise usually expect the place to have all of the equipment they need to do the activities and get the workout they want. This is one of the reasons that the Student Recreation Center is one of the best and most popular places to go to on campus. It has multiple floors and rooms with different equipment that can be used by anyone on campus. Other elements that the Student Recreation Center and other places have that make them such great places to work out in is its spaciousness and size. This is important because since so many people attend this university places like these can get overcrowded easily, which is inconvenient because it makes people wait and makes the time they spend exercising longer. Another important element that exercising facilities need is a good, motivational atmosphere. This can vary from place to place, being that the SRC’s environment includes air conditioning and music, “A” mountain’s environment includes a great view and nature, the fields and the tennis center include a social and competitive atmosphere. The third element a place needs to be a good work out spot is availability. Since students and staff have fit schedules they need to have an area where they can go whenever they have time to work out and that is easily available to them.

With all of these elements in mind Arizona State University has provided numerous areas where students can escape from their school work and other things that cause them stress and get a good exercise. Another way students can exercise that is not highlighted on the map is by walking or biking around campus. This is an easy and effortless activity that students can do on a daily basis on their way to class or to eat. With so many health issues being present in young adults this is an important part of the university. Many people take these areas for granted and are not aware that they are available to them. This is why a lot of students do not exercise, because they think the only way to do it is by going to the gym or running. What they do not realize is that all of these areas on the map will improve their health and their self-image. 

WORKS CITED