Research from UK Active concludes that students who exercise regularly excel academically, are more likely to be employed following their studies and are happier overall. Exercise has a wealth of mental and physical benefits alongside the above, so it is important to find something you love that fits in with your studies. You may find that you reap the benefits yourself.
UK active Student Exercise Stats
What will this blog post do for you? If you’re unsure of cost-effective ways to keep fit, or simply different methods of keeping fit, this post will provide you with a number of ideas. Remember, it is important to find something you love and are excited about. This is your free time, so it is important to enjoy it. For the last 11 years, I have helped many students get fit through fitness classes, PT sessions and programmes, so I always like to research various methods and explore different class formats to keep everyone motivated.
ABOUT ME
Following on from the above, I wanted elaborate on my background and my career for the last 11 years. I began working in a small leisure centre in 2010 and during that time I qualified as a level 2 fitness instructor and level 3 personal trainer. As my confidence grew, I started training clients in a group setting and on a 121 basis, helping members of the community to achieve their goals. In 2013, I started working for the YMCA gym as a member advisor/fitness instructor, and through my hard work and determination, I was promoted to the position of Duty Manager. Again, as part of this role, I taught a large range of group fitness classes and this time, I managed the administrative team. I am currently studying Sports, Fitness and Coaching with the Open University as an undergraduate course with ambitions to become a PE teacher.
TIME EFFICIENT WORKOUTS
There are many time efficient workouts that you can take part in if you are struggling to balance your studies and a part time job perhaps. HIIT workouts are a fantastic way of putting in a high amount of effort over a short time period. Some gyms have 30 minute HIIT workouts as part of their class timetables, and YouTube have a wealth of free workouts from many fitness personalities and experts, with workouts with an even shorter duration. You could even take part in a 10 minute core workout or yoga practice. Some channels even run Yoga monthly challenges to ensure your commitment. Why not give them a browse?
JOIN A GYM
Look out for Student Promotions in September and October if you are still at university. Many gyms across the country offer promotions and students can take advantage of gym memberships at a reduced rate. This may include access to classes too but please check with your gym as to whether this option is available.
WORKOUT BUDDY
If you are not naturally a fan of fitness, it might be a good idea to team up with a friend to attend a fitness class together or simply get out for a walk. This will help with your mental wellbeing and your adherence to fitness. According to everyone active, this could also encourage friendly competition, will promote accountability and may even give you new ideas if you do work out on your own in future.
GET OUTDOORS
Fitness is not just limited to a gym. Remember, walking is classed as exercise – why not set yourself a step challenge. The team here at Step are currently raising funds for the 1 hour project, whilst aiming to complete 2 million steps over 1 month. It is certainly creating a lot of friendly competition in the workplace!
There are many young walking groups you can join that are completely free – why not speak to your university to see if there is a dedicated walking group. Or, you and your friends could plan a route locally. Get on those walking boots and breathe in the fresh air! Getting outdoors is so refreshing and can help you unwind from the stress of studies.
Running is another great way of keeping fit whilst not spending a lot of money. Again, you could run with a friend and talk along the way or you could complete a program such as couch to 5k via an app. A lot of the apps are free. You could even seek out a local parkrun, which is again completely free. parkrun has become immensely popular in the UK for a large range of age groups as it enables inclusivity for all and is another time effective method of exercise.
FITNESS APPS & YouTube Channels
If you are not a fan of the gym and prefer working out at home, there are a number of options, one of which are fitness apps. Why not do some research and seek out the best fitness apps? These could revolve around home workouts, home programmes or even Yoga. These became popular over lockdown in particular as they kept the nation moving, all whilst being cost effective. Some are completely free, such as fitness trackers, but others, whilst having a cost, consider minimal equipment, having on demand class schedules and even meal plans too! Do your research and find ones that not only you enjoy but offer the most to you. Pay attention to ratings and reviews too. Some apps are quite glitchy and can affect the use of them. Note that some apps do offer free trials also – this gives you a good opportunity to see whether any fitness app is right for you without costing you a thing.
There are many time efficient workouts that you can take part in if you are struggling to balance your studies and a part time job perhaps. HIIT workouts are a fantastic way of putting in a high amount of effort over a short time period. Some gyms have 30 minute HIIT workouts as part of their class timetables, and YouTube have a wealth of free workouts from many fitness personalities and experts, with workouts with an even shorter duration. You could even take part in a 10 minute core workout or yoga practice. Some channels even run Yoga monthly challenges to ensure your commitment. Why not give them a browse?
Here are some links to get you started –
Day 1 – Ease Into It – 30 Days of Yoga
Morning Yoga Challenge: 10 min of Morning Yoga for 30 DAYS! (DAY 0 MORNING YOGA MOVEMENT)
NEW!!!! 20 Minute FAT BURNING Cardio & Abs HOME HIIT Workout | The Body Coach TV
10 min FULL BODY FAT BURNING HIIT (No Equipment)
At Home Core Workout | Clutch Life: Ashley Conrad’s 24/7 Fitness Trainer
In conclusion, physical activity can be accessible in many ways to students and provide both physical and mental health benefits. According to UK Active, a study conducted in 2019 showcased many of these benefits seen by students such as rare feelings of social isolation and boosted confidence in their own abilities. I hope that this blog post has encouraged you to get active and perhaps given you some alternative ideas to getting fit. Getting fit doesn’t have to cost a tremendous amount of money nor does it have to take up a lot of your time.