Exercise is a key way to de-stress such as lifting weights, going for a run or taking a brisk walk around campus. One exercise that only few students are in on the secret of stress relieving and relaxation is Tai Chi.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Tai Chi, also called tai chi chuan, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. To do tai chi, you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner.”

Ashley Miller, senior Dietetics major, is the expert Tai Chi Group-X instructor and believes the class is great exercise and is a stress reliever. She has been doing Tai Chi for three years now and fell in love with it when she took a class at the YMCA in Sandusky.

“I think it’s fun and interesting,” Miller said. “Everyone should try it at least once.”

The average number of participants in her class ranges from two to six. Though Miller is enthusiastic about her consistent regulars in Tai Chi, there is still room for more participants and encourages more to sign up to enjoy a fun, relaxing and comforting.

“It’s not like the spinning or abs classes with hundreds of people,” Miller said.

One reason Miller pointed to the lack of attendance could be the change in time. Another cause for the low attendance could be a misunderstanding of the ancient exercise.

 

Tai Chi is a low impact workout, which means it does not involve cardio. Miller said Tai Chi is an exercise one might do after a high impact cardio workout. This low impact exercise has its benefits.

Miller said the benefits of Tai Chi include relaxation, body awareness, balance and blood circulation. It also helps with arthritis and joint pain. Better posture, a boost of immunity, an increase in mental awareness and clarity are also among the benefits.

Tai Chi is not for everyone though. Miller said it takes time to see the benefits and the first time may be boring for some people and then they choose not to return. However, Miller supports Tai Chi.

“It’s a real thing if you just stick with it; I actually broke a board,” Miller said. “Tai Chi helped me kind of relax and understand body awareness and special awareness.”

Miller teaches Tai Chi every Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center. There is still time to purchase a Group-X pass to join and enjoy the benefits of Tai Chi.

Students and faculty can find personal trainers every Monday night and Wednesday morning sitting at a table behind the Front Desk at the Student Recreation Center eagerly waiting conduct body composition assessments, free of charge.

The method the personal trainers at the Student Recreation Center use for the body fat testing is called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The trainer enters individual information into a calibrator including height, weight and age. Then the person holds onto the caliber for about five to ten seconds while a low-level electrical current passes through the body.

“Fat is an insulator so it sends a weak electrical signal through the body, so you can’t feel it,” Adam Levine, personal trainer at the Student Recreation Center said.

Before Levine checks participants’ body fat percentage he checks their Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a height to weight ratio; however, it is not as detailed as the body fat percentage results

“[BMI] doesn’t take lean body mass into account; it doesn’t take gender into account,” Levine said “A body-builder would appear obese on a BMI chart. And body fat percentage is the amount of fat relevant to the other tissues in the body.”

Sabreena Woods, freshman, tries to go to the Recreation Center at least four times a week and has utilized the body composition assessment twice so far this year.

“I was just curious as to what it was,” Woods said.

Matt McCarroll, sophomore, got his assessment for the first time with Levine Monday night because his friend had it done before and because he was interested in his own results.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll utilize it again,” McCarroll said.

Some students are so motivated that they try to get it checked every week; however it is not what Levine recommends.

“Sometimes I think it’s a little bit redundant because you can just do it on a scale or you can do it with your waist circumference to measure it,” Levine said. “I would say maybe once a month.”

Levine also said there are certain sources of error with the method of body fat testing such as hydration.

“Since it sends an electrical signal through your body and measures resistance, if you were to take the test when you’re dehydrated you would get certain results than if you were to chug a bunch of water and come back and take the test 10 minutes later,” Levine said. “You would actually appear leaner because the amount of conductors in your body would now be bigger than before in relation to insulators.”

Regardless of the error, Levine said he receives around 20 to 30 people in his two-hour shift of Monday nights, which he said depends on the trainer’s ability to greet and be friendly to patrons.

No matter what a person’s height or weight, anyone can come to the Student Recreation Center to have their body composition assessment on Mondays between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday mornings between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

“It’s important to stay as fit as you can when you’re young because body fat increases with age and you to set yourself up for success and make it easier on yourself,” Levine said.

Stressed out? Feeling down? The answer to these ails can be found in the BGSU Student Recreation Center.

Exercise provides a healthy way to alleviate distress, or “bad stress,” and at the same time, encourages a healthy lifestyle by promoting eustress, or positive stress which helps the body.

“We want eustress in our life as it adds excitement, zest, and thrills,” explained Dr. David Tobar, an associate professor of Sport Management at BGSU. “Exercise can provide eustress through challenging exercises and the thrill of recreational competition.”

The famous saying “too much of something is not a good thing” also pertains to exercise.

“Moderation is key,” said Tobar. “Athletes and exercisers can take it too far by training/exercising too hard and for too long. If their body does not have a chance to recover, it will begin to break down and symptoms/outcomes include overuse injuries, physiological/performance decrements, and mood disturbance.”

Having social support is another way to relieve stress. It’s documented that people feel better when surrounded by friends and family in social situations. Exercise often involves working with a partner or in some instances, a group or team, to provide the social support necessary to lead a healthy life. Tobar recommends to new exercisers to work out with a partner because not only is it fun and helps relieves stress, it assists you in committing to the program.

The Student Recreation Center (SRC) on campus has something that is sure to peak anyone’s interest. The SRC offers weight training, aerobic equipment including treadmills, stationary bikes, and an indoor track, to basketball and racquetball for competitors or those who are looking for a fun way to exercise. In addition, there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool complete with diving platforms, and a rock climbing wall for those interested in outdoor activities. Group activities are also offered to students who want to try something different like Yoga, Tai Chi, and spin classes, among others.

If you’re new to exercising, Tobar recommends finding an activity that you enjoy. It’s best to start gradually, make sure that you’re performing the exercise safely, wear the right apparel, and consult with your physician to make sure the activity is safe for you.

Whatever your preference is, the SRC and the Department of Recreation and Wellness can help alleviate the distress in your life and provide you with the means to achieve a healthy lifestyle.