For some students, the allure of team sports is strong enough to draw them to long hours of practice, bus rides and games. For others, these elements motivate another kind of activity: going to the gym.

Although it lacks a team element, the gym can be more convenient than hours of sports practice. There are no schedules and no required activities.

For junior Jessica Massie, going to the gym offers multiple health benefits.

“In addition to keeping me healthy and burning calories, going to the gym gives me energy,” Massie said. “I like going to the gym after a really long day — it’s very refreshing and relaxing.”

Additionally, Massie says the gym also allows her to do her favorite activity year-round.

“My favorite thing to do at the gym is go swimming,” Massie said. “Over the summer I usually swim every day, its my favorite way to exercise. So being able to use the pool at the gym is really awesome.”

Despite the fact that most of the people at the gym are adults, Massie says she never feels intimidated.

“I actually like being surrounded by people at the gym,” Massie said. “It’s very encouraging to be around lots of other people that are working towards the same goal as you. Knowing that everyone there is trying to get healthy can be very encouraging.”

Even though being surrounded by other people doesn’t intimidate Massie, she says she is still subject to embarrassment.

“I always listen to music while I do my cardio,” Massie said, “which is usually fine. Except, one time I was listening to my favorite CD and I involuntarily burst into song. A bunch of people turned and looked at me; it was very embarrassing.”

While Massie goes to the gym for relaxation, junior Tyler Haritzalde says he works out in order to improve in his sport.

“I play football and baseball,” Haritzalde said. “Going the gym keeps me a step ahead of the competition. It gives me an edge on the other players. Because, if they aren’t getting working out and stronger as well, eventually I will pass them up.”

As a result, Haritzalde says he uses the gym to maintain his workout schedule even when a lifting partner is not available.

“I go to the gym because whenever we have a break or a weekend and I need to continue my workout,” Haritzalde said. “It also keeps me from getting lazy. The gym has everything I need for my workout. At school I need to have a lifting partner to spot me, so I don’t hurt myself. At the gym, I can lift as much as I want without a lifting partner. ”

While the gym is convenient for most people, students like Kevin Thao, ’13, are unable to attend one on a regular basis.

“I don’t go to the gym because I do not really have time,” Thao said. “I also live in the country, so I’m not very close to any of the big gyms that most people go to.”

Even though he is unable to travel to a gym, Thao says that exercise is still important to him.

“I do exercise at home all the time,” Thao said. “I lift weights and I get a lot of exercise in PE. Exercise is still important to me, even though I don’t go to the gym. Because of work my family does, I do need to stay in shape. I have to pick vegetables and lift a lot of boxes. It’s important for me to be strong so I can keep up with my siblings.”

Personal trainer Rashaan Morgan, of local gym chain GB3, which is owned by FC parent George Brown, says adequate exercise is important to maintain overall health.

“Being active keeps your body functioning,” Morgan said. “The body has an equilibrium and exercise helps to maintain it. Most exercise will improve your blood flow and increase oxygen intake. Working with weights gives you strong bones and muscles. Your body can undergo the stress of their own body weight.”

For students with a limited amount of time for exercise, Morgan says circuit training is the best option.

“With circuit training you can do full body or divide into muscle groups,” Morgan said. “You can do a number of things with circuit training. You do a set of, say, 15 reps, and move on to a different exercise. You can do it with bench press, chest workouts, cardio, etc. After you do it all once, you start over and repeat for about twenty minutes.”

For more about fitness, read the April 14, 2009 article, Weightlifting boosts fitness.