Harvard Recreation - Blogs

By Justin Tetreault Personal Trainer at Harvard Recreation        When the reality of quarantine really set in, I asked myself, “How will I maintain a consistent routine without a gym?” It seems like such a simple question, but it’s one I haven’t had to ask myself in almost a decade. I am a Personal Trainer and I pride myself in my health and wellness, but I am still a human who struggles with momentary lapses of motivation - just like everyone else. How do I combat such a tall task of being stuck at home trying to balance my job, social life, and exercise. This is especially important when I don’t want to work out and I feel lazy. The secret comes from having the proper mind set. More specifically, a strong mind! A strong mind begins with having the confidence in yourself and the belief that you can take on all challenges. A strong mind has the potential to take you places you never thought you could go. A strong mind means being able to believe in yourself...

By Matt McDowell, CSCS  Personal Trainer & Group Instructor at Harvard Recreation         Today, I am looking deeper into the ways of overcoming stress. We have all been dealing with changes to our routine due to COVID-19, from adjusting to day-to-day life of being ultra-hygienic and adopting governmental mandates for things like masks, to altering travel or life-event plans that had been made months in advance, or even wondering when you will be able to work at your job again. We are living in tense times. Although in my previous blog I discussed how exercise can help alleviate anxiety, it may not change how you feel about the stressor. By working out you can reduce the stress hormone, but how you cope with a distressing situation can affect your anxiety. In this blog I am giving you a tool to handle stress.         In psychology, the divide is between emotional approach coping and the common conflict strategy of avoidance ...

By: Rachel Rowenhorst, NASM CPT Harvard Recreation Personal Trainer         Whether you’ve been using canned goods, text books or kettlebells to keep fit during quarantine many of us are itching to keep/get moving. Even more so, many are longing for the day to come when we can safely frequent a gym, group class, workout studio, park, etc. When that day comes for some it may be tempting to rush back into exercise; while others may approach more cautiously. Others may experience the familiar hiatus dread that occurs after spending weeks/months taking a break from exercise. To be honest, I cycle through all three mentalities.          Regardless of your mindset(s), like every other facet of life post-quarantine working out will most likely look different. Outlined below are several factors to consider when exploring exercise in a COVID exposed world.  1. (Re)Define your motivation: Entering (or re-entering) the world of...

By Dan Boyne Director of Recreational Rowing at Harvard          Several days ago, 72-year-old Graham Walters finished a record-breaking solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. He left from the Canary Islands last January and arrived in Antigua 96 days later, unaware of what was happening in the world. This remarkable feat can provide some inspiration for us all, and provide some insights about keeping fit by making a long range goal.          As a rowing coach, I've often communicated to athletes that the value of my sport lies in continuing forward toward a goal that seems impossible, by literally taking it one stroke at a time. Rowers don't keep looking ahead, second guessing when or whether they will arrive at their destination, but focus more on the effort they've accomplished and the distance they've already covered.         This philosophy can help, I think, as we move through the challenge of our current...

By Matt McDowell, CSCS Personal Trainer & Group Exercise Instructor at Harvard Recreation Controlling your stress may seem like an impossible task, but the body has many ways to regulate its tension if you can tap into its systems. To start, where does stress come from? There is a substance that builds up in your body to make you feel anxious. Cortisol, or the “Stress Hormone,” is secreted by your adrenal glands to control mood, motivation, and fear. While it has its uses, it becomes a problem when you are under constant emotional, mental, or physiological pressure. Under the current climate we all have a good excuse to feel stressed. So how do we attenuate our cortisol and reduce stress? There are many avenues to relieve tension. You can try a short-term solution to boost your mood, such as sweet foods or distractions, but those will not last long. There are mental exercises such as meditation, mindfulness training, or breathing exercises. These target the autoregulat...