If you are new to campus, chances are you\u2019ve walked past Fascitelli and at least once thought, \u201cI should start going\u2026 but I have no idea what to do there.\u201d When I first arrived on campus, the gym felt like a completely different world. The machines looked confusing, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing, and I worried about making mistakes. The truth is, everyone here was a beginner at some point. If you\u2019ve been putting off your first visit to the Anna Fascitelli Fitness & Wellness Center, here\u2019s how it can go from feeling intimidating to becoming a part of your college routine <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is normal to feel overwhelmed when you walk in. The first time I went, I didn\u2019t even have a work out planned. I scanned in, took a lap around the building, and spent more time looking at the equipment than actually using it. It sounds simple, but just being in the environment once made going back a lot easier. Each time I came back, I felt a little more comfortable and a little less nervous. When you’re getting started, you don’t need a \u201cperfect” routine. Try walking or jogging on the treadmill, and maybe stretch a little. At first, it\u2019s less about fitness and more about getting comfortable in the space and building a habit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I looked at the machines, I thought there was no way I would be able to comfortably use them, but I was wrong. The machines can seem very off-putting; they look confusing, but they\u2019re not. Most of the machines will provide a QR code to show you how to position yourself or what movement to do. There are images placed on the machines showing a model of what the workout should look like as well. The cardio machines have a touchscreen where you can select what workout looks like the best fit for you. If you\u2019re still feeling stuck, try looking up a video on YouTube or TikTok for an idea on how to use the machines properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t need to go every day; start with two or three days a week and build from there. Consistency over time matters way more than going hard for one week and then giving up. Even a 20-minute workout counts. Showing up is the hardest part; once you\u2019re there, you\u2019ll be glad you went. There are also free beginner workout plans online that you can screenshot and follow along. Over time, you\u2019ll start to figure out what you actually enjoy and what works for your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If working out feels uncomfortable, Fascitelli also offers a variety of group fitness classes. From yoga and cycling to pilates and strength based classes, these sessions can be a great way to get active without having to create your own workout plan. They also provide an opportunity to meet other students and feel more connected to the campus community. For many students, myself included, taking a class makes working out feel less overwhelming because you\u2019re learning and participating alongside others, which you can sign up for using IMLeagues<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hardest part of the gym is walking through the doors for the first time. Once you do, the Fascitellim and all of our facilities, start to feel less intimidating and offer you a sense of community. What began as one of the most overwhelming places on campus eventually became one of the places I felt most comfortable. It became more than just a place to work out, it became a place to build confidence, create a routine, take a break from classes, and feel more connected to campus life. Before long, it might even become something you actually look forward to. Grab your water bottle, put your headphones in, and give it a try!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n By: Megha Sud <\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduating May 2028<\/p>\n\n\n\n Major: Communications<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you are new to campus, chances are you\u2019ve walked past Fascitelli and at least once thought, \u201cI should start going\u2026 but I have no idea what to do there.\u201d When I first arrived on campus, the gym felt like a completely different world. The machines looked confusing, everyone seemed to know exactly what they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4739,"featured_media":6748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-50"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4739"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6747"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6749,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6747\/revisions\/6749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}