Keeping fit at university

Sometimes it can seem difficult to stay motivated when it comes to fitness, especially as the weather worsens and the days get shorter and the university work mounts up but exercise has so many benefits for both physical and mental health that it is really worth doing. These are a few of the things I like to do to when I'm not lying on the sofa.

Gym

Of course, going to the gym is the obvious way to exercise but it's also one of my favourites. Especially at the moment when so many facilities are shut and most group activities aren't allowed, the gym has become my main place for seeing other people and feeling like things are slightly normal. It gives me something to do every day, gets me out of the house into the real world and helps me to stay positive.

Even if you think the gym isn't really your scene, it's really worth considering. If it's your first time in a gym you can book an induction session where you'll be shown how to use all the machines and you'll get a chance to have a look round and get a feel for the place. Even better, try to find a friend who already goes to the gym or wants to join - sometimes this can make it seem a less intimidating experience and having a workout buddy is always great for motivation!

I would highly recommend signing up for some of the fitness classes as these help you to find the type of exercise you most enjoy and you're more likely to get to know people than if you're just working out on your own. There is a class for to suit everybody so don't be afraid to try out different ones until you find one you really love. People are usually very friendly and there will be options to cater to all abilities.

Walking

Walking is the easiest way to stay active at university and it comes with the bonus of saving you money on bus fares. Walk wherever you can, choose the stairs instead of the lift, do the active chores like taking the bins out, posting a letter or returning a library book - anything that gets you moving. Try taking a different route to usual, explore new streets, choose the scenic option and very quickly your step count will build up. Last year I found I was easily hitting 10,000 steps most days without even trying.

Beyond walking as a means of transport, Aberdeen also has some really lovely footpaths and off-road tracks which many students will never bother to check out. The beach is one of the most beautiful parts of Aberdeen and walks along the promenade are hard to beat. The sea is very close to campus and you can walk along the sea front all the way to the harbour where there is an old fishing village called Footdee (Fittie) which has some very quaint, old houses. If you want to go even further, the coastal path continues in the direction of Stonehaven and the views are really lovely.

Another walk I would recommend is along the path following the river Don. This goes on a fair way with a decent footpath and walking along the riverside is very pleasant. For a shorter walk I would like to go round Seaton park or Sunnybank park. Try listening to a podcast or find a friend to chat with as you go and the time will fly by.

Cycling

I strongly encourage anyone who cycles to get a bike in Aberdeen. It will save you so much time and it makes the longer journeys possible without having to get a bus. You can stay in bed an extra 10 minutes before early morning lectures, get into the centre of town at a moments notice and go to the supermarket without having to plan your whole day around it. Cycling in Aberdeen is easy: there aren't a lot of hills, there are bike racks all over the place and cycle lanes or quiet roads for getting almost anywhere.

Bring a bike from home, buy a second hand one when you get here or check out beCyCle's free bike lending scheme. BeCyCle also runs bike maintenance workshops and drop in sessions so if you're new to cycling or just don't have a clue about repairs and maintenance (like me) then someone is always able to help out.

If you enjoy cycling, there are also lots of lovely cycle routes from Aberdeen that are worth checking out. Of the ones I've tried, my favourite has been the Deeside Way which is a tarmacked path for walking, cycling and riding which runs alongside the river Dee where there used to be a railway line. This makes it very flat, easy cycling. The route goes on for 41 miles, all the way to Ballater, but I've only done the first 15 or so.

Another cycle route I really enjoyed was cycle network route 1 which follows the coast from Aberdeen southwards. It's a really quiet road, a marked cycle path and the most spectacular views.

Home workouts

I have been doing home workouts for years now and cannot recommend them highly enough. Ideal for if you're stuck at home self isolating, your normal group exercise isn't on or if you're new to exercise and you want to try out different activities before you join a class.

There are literally thousands of home workouts available free on youtube in any language you like so there's absolutely no excuse not to give it a go. There are hour long yoga classes, ten minute cardio workouts and everything in between.

My current favourites are: Heather Robertson (really good cardio and strength training without voice-over - the titles sometimes sound a bit intimidating but they're not too hard once you get going!), Fitness Blender (huge range of videos with great coaches), Wook's Story (zumba), Joanna Soh (step) and Kat Musni (cardio and strength). These are the ones I'm loving right now but there are so many wonderful creators out there that it is really important to search around and find people that suit your workout preferences.

Yoga

Yoga is something I've only got into in the last couple of months and I'm still not the biggest fan but I like to incorporate it into my week every now and then and it's really good for flexibility, stretching, strength and relaxation. If you're new to yoga would recommend trying out different types as it can vary hugely. There are plenty of free yoga videos on Youtube as well as classes run by the university yoga society and by Aberdeen sports village. Personally my favourite yoga workout I've found so far is this power vinyasa flow routine by YogiApproved on Youtube. It's very dynamic and 20 minutes is just the right length for me. I also really like videos by Yoga with Adrien and she has a huge range to choose from

Parkrun

Parkrun is sadly not running at the moment due to covid-19 but hopefully it will be back sometime in the not too distant future. Parkrun, for those who have not heard of it, is a 5km timed run which takes place every Saturday morning in locations all over the world. It is particularly popular in the UK and the Aberdeen parkrun takes place along the beach promenade. You don't need to be a runner to take part - you can walk the whole thing if you want. It really is open to everyone: any age, any level of experience. Parkrun has a very supportive community spirit that really emphasises that it's the taking part that matters. There will be athletes running it in 15 minutes, people walking it in over an hour, people pushing prams round, people being pulled round by dogs on leads, people who've got 70 years of running experience and children who seem to have unlimited energy. It doesn't matter how fast you go but your time gets recorded every week and you can try and improve on it the following week if you want to. It's run by volunteers and hundreds of runners turn up every week to take part. I find it's a good motivator to get me out early on a Saturday morning and running when I wouldn't otherwise.

Dance

Dance isn't for everyone but there are many different kinds of dance out there and if you find one that works for you it can be a really fun way to exercise. Personally I have no natural dancing ability but I love Scottish Country dance which doesn't require too much coordination or flexibility - not at the level I do it anyway! If you're not familiar, try going to a ceilidh to get an idea of what it's like. Over the summer I also discovered some dance workout videos which I really enjoyed and when you're doing it at home on your own it doesn't really matter whether you can actually dance or not - I just tried to keep moving all the time and I had a great time!

As mentioned above, the sports centre has some dance-style classes including zumba and aerobics. Personally I find even the zumba a bit hard to keep up with but the more I go the more I get to know the moves and it's become one of my favourite classes. The average age of the aerobics class is probably about 65 and the moves are very simple so I like to go along every now and then when I'm looking for something less intense.

Sports

I haven't actually had much success with joining a university sports team myself so I don't have a lot to say here but I know from past experience that team sports can be great fun if you find something you like doing. Getting involved with a club is a good way to meet new people and make friends with a common interest and it's definitely worth giving it a go if there's a sport you enjoyed at school or something you thing you'd like to take up.

Overall, the most important thing is that you find a way of exercising that suits you: something that fits with your lifestyle and that you enjoy enough to keep going with. You don't have to be a world-class weightlifter or the next Usain Bolt but finding something that gets you moving each day can make a big difference in your life.