Refuge or Reward?
The correlation of sounds and energies within the Western Washington University Wade King Student Recreation Center provide a safe haven for students during times of stress. This facility is located on the campus of WWU in Bellingham, Washington. The gym is open seven days a week for students to use as much as they would like, during those stressful times, but also for times when excess energies needs to be burnt off so the stationary studying can begin. The building is located on the south side of Western’s campus across from student parking lots. This position sets the scene for a great active environment. The sunlight pours in through the big windows illuminating the brilliant space. Even on the frequent rainy days of the Pacific Northwest, these windows still enable natural light to seep through the building’s exterior. The design of the building allows for open air to flow freely between partially divided rooms, enabling athletes feel like they have no limits to their personal training capacity.
Healthy living is certainly not on the radar of all college students, the freshman 15 can be a real issue for college students on any campus. Therefore, personal fitness should be at the forefront of college students priorities. The students who choose to take advantage of the Wade King Recreation Center, also known as simply ‘the rec’, can use this facility to improve their overall health. When healthy practices become habits during young adult years they are more likely to carry on throughout life, providing a foundation for lifetime fitness. The majority of campuses in America have some form of recreation center and these facilities are there to assist in maintaining personal fitness.
The architect Frank Lloyd Wright (Carter) designed many buildings very similar to Western’s rec center. His designs were made with natural materials and incorporated walls of windows. His reasoning behind including such an expanse of windows was to try and merge the structures with their surrounding environment. There were also stone walls used in many of his earlier designs, this idea carries over and adds to the unique formation of the rec center. The light from outside spills in to cast light on all edges of the structure which creates different shadows throughout the day. This dynamic space lends itself to many forms of physical activity.
All students at WWU pay for a gym membership as part of the tuition fees. In addition to current Western students alumni and professors have the ability to purchase gym memberships as well. This diversifies the age range of people who participate in working out at the gym. This is just one example of Western’s commitment to healthy being and healthy living. The rec can become whatever space the community members choose to make it, a refuge or a reward. The atmosphere of the rec is always positive and alive. The subtle sounds of conversation and deep breathing from various strenuous activities make up the daily soundtrack. The vibe is supportive and enthusiastic, this makes for a very welcoming space. The members of this community must work towards creating a social movement that encourages everyone to participate in healthy activities. Living a healthy life is such an important component of our human existence.
On any given day the rec center will be filled with differing proportions of girls and guys. Each commonly target different muscle groups. For example, the weight room is almost always male dominated, as per the norm of masculinity. Girls of all body types work on stretching, running, doing squats and yoga. There are stereotypes that many students are trying to achieve in hopes of becoming a more established member of society. Can working out seven days a week really achieve this goal? Or is there more to fitting in than just fitness? There is equipment that can be used to target any muscle group, even the ones you may not have known you had until the soreness settles in.
One of the sub-communities that has been established at the rec is the variety of group fitness classes offered to all members who are willing to pay a little extra for personalized instruction. For more information about the types of classes offered go to http://www.wwu.edu/campusrec/. Participating in the group classes, offered to those who purchase the X-pass, can provide group members with an accepting community who will support them in their goal of healthy living. As a student myself, I have found that having that X-pass in hand has motivated me to go to many of the classes offered on a weekly basis. The opportunities are there, so why not seize the moment? The classes are taught by upper level students who have earned their certification in a variety of disciplines. Each instructor is personable and includes modifications for those who may have prior injuries.
A student at Western Washington University shared that she does not take part in the classes offered at the rec center because there are exercise classes offered through her major department. This student wished to remain anonymous due to the publishing platform of this article. Her intended major is in Theater and Performing Arts. The Theater department offers morning workout sessions for students in this field of study and these classes are just as strenuous at the classes offered at the rec. However, the rec classes are available to anyone with a gym membership and these theater workouts are major specific and require weekly attendance.
Exercising gently while studying has proven to be effective in rooting information in the long term memory. There are many college classes that require memorization of scientific terms or vocabulary in a new language. One noteworthy study was complete by Maren Schmidt-Kassow, a doctor and professor at the Institute of Medical Psychology at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. This study (Reynolds) showed that gentle physical activity increases the brain’s capacity to memorize. The test group that scored the highest carried out mild physical activity while memorizing vocabulary this lead researchers to conclude that gentle exercise while memorizing stimulates the brain just enough to be effective in memory retention. This study is one of many psychoneuroendocrinological studies that provides evidence for why exercise is important for student health.
Many students go to the rec regularly to get exercise, however, many of us do not stop to ponder the possibilities for our own motivation. While observing individuals interactions at the rec center I noticed subtle differences in outward appearance and actions. Some people came to use the various equipment and others came to run on the indoor track. The intramural sports teams use the first floor gyms for practices and warmups. While the clubs are practicing it can be observed that there is teamwork involved and they are using the space to facilitate their learning environment. Sometime there are students walking on the treadmills or using the elliptical trainers while they read a text book, not only are they keeping their body healthy but they are also promoting their own mental growth. There really are an infinite amount of exercise possibilities accessible within the rec center. In addition, the transformations that take place within the the walls of the rec center have tremendous affirmative potential.
The rec is a great facility to have because it not only supports living a healthy life but also makes it as simple as possible, so all that is needed is a little motivation. This holds true for any local gym where citizens hold memberships. There are common misconceptions about achieving a healthy weight and how differing body types react in distinct ways. When individuals know where they stand and what their personal goals are the community can support the achievement of these personal fitness objectives. Stepping inside the rec center proves this point. The environment welcomes everyone to come in, put all their energy into their workout and escape for a little while. Whether you use the Wade King Recreation Center as a refuge from the troubled world or as a reward after a long day, it is truly a space for everyone. There are people of all shapes and sizes, and all abilities and strengths. It is astounding that one location can do so much good for so many people.
Work Cited:
“Campus Recreation Services | WWU Student Recreation Center.” Campus Recreation Services | WWU Student Recreation Center. Western Washington University, 2016. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. <http://www.wwu.edu/campusrec/>.
Carter, Amanda. “Frank Lloyd Wright; Biography.” Frank Lloyd Wright; Biography. Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. <http://www.cmgww.com/historic/flw/ bio.html>.
Reynolds, Gretchen. “How Exercise Can Help Us Learn.” Well How Exercise Can Help Us Learn Comments. The New York Times, 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. <http:// well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/how-exercise-can-help-us-learn/>.
Student, Anonymous. “Western Washington University Wade King Student Recreation Center.” Personal interview. 23 Jan. 2016.
