Crash Course in College Fitness

College students’ schedules are filled with classes, dorm meetings and study sessions. Yet all these activities are sedentary and only burn mental - not physical - energy. If you are a college student, it’s crucial that you get a dose of physical exercise in order for your body to function optimally. Start by taking advantage of all the resources your college campus has to offer. Instead of ordering in another pizza, why don’t you:

1. Skip the campus bus. Walk or bike to class instead. Walk to the dining hall on the far side of campus instead of the one in your dorm. Park your car far away from the library, and walk the rest of the way.

2. Join an intermural sport like softball, rugby or football. You’ll make new friends as you burn calories.

3. Take a fitness class for credit. Enroll in aerobics or weight lifting to stay in shape as you raise your GPA.

4. Take advantage of student perks. Most colleges have a gym that students can join for free or at a reduced price. If you hate the monotony of the bike or treadmill, try a class like yoga or Pilates. Check out the campus’ tennis, racquetball or squash courts. (Some schools even have golf courses or ski or horseback riding trails.) Take a class or a lesson to burn calories as you meet new people.

5. Bring those coffee conversations to the road. Go for a walk or throw around a baseball as you chat with friends.

6. Live on the fifth floor of your dorm? Ditch the elevator for the stairs. And take every other step to work out the legs and rear.

7. Take advantage of all that time spent in lecture halls and libraries. While sitting and breathing naturally, contract your abdominal muscles for 30 seconds. Do this throughout the day as a technique to tighten the tummy.

8. Take advantage of your campus’ rolling hills. Go for a hike, check out the trails for jogging, or bike ride through the fall foliage. Just be careful to avoid traveling alone in isolated areas or at night.