COM Outlook Summer/Fall 2020

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 43 First-Person Perspectives A pandemic is a life stressor many of us never thought we would encounter. It is more important now than ever before to take care of ourselves and to maintain our overall mental and physical well-being. Exercise has always been my primary stress outlet. As a regular attendee of both my local gym and yoga studio prior to COVID-19, I was forced to become more resourceful in finding ways to maintain my normal activity level once all gymnasiums and studios closed. It was easy enough to find a local park with a pull-up bar and exercise machines during the first weeks of isolation. To replace the weights I would regularly use, I filled my backpack with books and empty laundry detergent containers with water, coins, and anything else I could find. These makeshift workouts quickly established their own place in my schedule. One by one, how- ever, the parks closed to the public, and I was once again forced to remodel my daily regimen. By this time, I had purchased resistance bands that became the staple of my outdoor workouts. Easily transported and effective for both muscle building and flexibility exercises, I began bringing them to the beach every day. A friend and I established our own section of the outdoor world to call our daily gym on the corner of A1A and Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Still, there were many days that I needed extra motivation and guidance. Impressively, my regular yoga studio began offering unlimited online classes (for a small fee) encompassing three styles of workouts, such as yoga, calisthenics, and meditation, which can be completed at home with minimal equipment. Instagram has also been an extremely beneficial resource. Accounts such as @Fitplan_app and @Anatomy host daily Instagram Live workouts with well-known personnel from the body- building and fitness community. Additionally, many other fitness experts posted countless at-home workouts. While I am eager to get back into the gym, being pushed to utilize outdoor resources has been a refreshing change of pace. We are blessed to live in the beautiful state of Florida, where it is easy to get outside and go for a run, bike ride, rollerblade, or even just an afternoon stroll. I have even learned many new exercises that I plan to implement into my original programs. Whether returning to the gym or stuck in quarantine, I encourage everyone to continue staying active, healthy, and safe. Toria Gargano is a third-year KPCOM student. BY TORIA GARGANO Maintaining Mental and Physical Well-Being WORKOUTWARRIOR Toria Gargano