3 Workouts to Help Keep You Stress-Free During Exam Season

Whether it’s that term paper you left to the very last minute, the realization that you skipped the majority of your classes this semester and have no lecture notes, or a major case of senioritis leaving you behind in almost every aspect of school— it's easy for students to dismiss their unhealthy habits as a consequence of stress. Instead of solving your stress via a late night DQ or McDonald’s run, maybe consider a healthier option…hitting the gym.No one understands this commitment to exercise better than the Queen’s Varsity Triathlon Club. The Triathlon Club is a student-coached athletic club on campus, competing against other elite triathletes from Ontario universities throughout the school year. They host practices, swim times, spin classes, and various workshops throughout the year for both competitive and developmental members. Fun fact: the team has gone undefeated for the past two years.Giving us the inside scoop, three of the team’s members, Bryan Brodie (Run Captain), Jasmin Aggarwal (Bike Captain), and Sam Dobbin (Swim Captain), have generously provided us with three workouts designed by the team’s captains specifically for our MUSE readers. They recommend that you use the following plans as a starting point for your own practice, eventually building up your own endurance.

Treadmill Workout

For this workout, all you need to do is hop on the treadmill and follow the changes in pace depending on the time. The terms “jog”, “run”, and “sprint” will vary depending on individual running ability, so adjust your pace to fit these guidelines as you see fit.

Bike Workout

This workout aims to give people an introduction to two themes on the spin bike: sprints and endurance. Both are important to make you a better all-around biker. The workout takes ~60 minutes in total, and a spin bike is required.Part 1: Sprint WorkPart 2: Endurance WorkPart 3: Cool DownBike at an easy pace for 5 minutes and let your legs spin out. You have now completed your personalized spin workout. Don’t forget to stretch afterwards!

Beginner’s Swim Workout

This workout can cover either 1 km or 1.5 km, the 1.5 km workout involves both the regular sets and the instructions in italics. For this workout, 1 length of the pool is 25 meters.Part 1: Warm Up➢100 m freestyle➢100 m backstroke➢100 m kick (grab a kickboard for this one)Part 2: Main Sets➢ 100 m freestyle➢ 1 min break➢ Repeat 6 timesOPTIONAL:➢ 25 m kick easy (leave your kickboard over at the other side)➢ 50 m freestyle fast!➢ 25 m kick to get you back to the other side➢ Repeat 4 times**Note: Make each 100 m a bit faster than the last one; the very last interval should be sprinting for this optional set!Give yourself a minute of rest after completing each set.Part 3: Cool Down100 m backstroke100 m freestyleSo there you have it, 3 different workouts that can be adapted to your skill level and help keep you a little less stressed during exam season!If you want to get involved with Queen’s Varsity Triathlon Club, the team is always looking for new members. Even if you have little to no experience, everyone is encouraged to join. In fact, the club is structured for the development of new members, dividing up the team into two streams: the developmental team and the racing team. You can reach out to the Queen’s Varsity Triathlon Club via their Facebook page or their website. To donate, click here.Yours Creatively,Ellen Aiello, Events Coordinator