Ah, water: the basis of our existence and quench of our dehydration. But better yet, a recreational addition to our fitness routines!
No, this isn’t a lecture about drinking eight glasses of water a day (though you probably should). Instead, this is about utilizing water as a workout tool — whether it’s liquid, frozen or a little snowy. And all three states of matter are all accessible right here in Happy Valley.
Take a swim at one of the on-campus swimming pools. With a gym membership ($5 admission without), you can dive into the 82-degree water at the White Building and swim 25-yard laps. Race your friends or go at your own pace — either way, it’s a worthwhile cardio workout. With open hours of operation different times each day, taking a dip shouldn’t be difficult to fit into your busy schedule.
Next up: Penn State’s ice rink at the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex on campus. Public sessions are available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Passes are $5.75 and skates are only $2.00. This is a lower-intensity workout (unless you’re an intense figure skater or hockey player), but it still gets you moving. Go with friends or on a date!
As for the snow, we all know Tussey isn’t the biggest mountain out there, but it can definitely be a fun way to get some fresh air and make your muscles work. Lift tickets range from $20 to $40 depending on the day, so hop on the Cata Bus (B Route) and head on out. Never skied or snowboarded before? Tussey has group and private lessons (or you can even take a KINES course for credit). Since this is weather permitting, let’s hope to see a little more snow this season!
Use these recreational tools as an addition or replacement to a day’s workout — you’ll be glad you did. Who needs a treadmill or an elliptical when you have pools to swim in, ice rinks to skate on and a mountain to tear up?
Photo by Rhiannon Hedrick
