Last Minute Workout Alternatives to the Gym

With less than a week left until spring break, the gym is becoming more crowded by the day, which means more time waiting around for machines than actually using them. Whether your going to Mexico, Miami, the Bahamas or elsewhere, we’re all trying to get those last couple hours of cardio in before we jet set off to our various 2010 SB’s. Here are five alternatives to the gym that will help you achieve that bikini bod you’ve been wanting so badly.

UNH’s Indoor Pool

For those of you who never new… UNH does have an indoor pool. Swimming is a great alternative to the gym because it is a low impact exercise, burns a ton of calories, builds endurance and muscle strength, and is fun! While running works about 10% of the body’s muscle mass, swimming works 18-22% of the muscles. You put a lot of pressure on your joints, bones, and muscles when you exercise on land but when swimming, the water acts as a cushion and protects your body, resulting in fewer injuries than other activities.

If you are someone who views doing laps as mindless after about 15 minutes, try out one of the Master’s swim practices (Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm and Friday mornings from 6-7am). These practices are $25 for the semester or $5 for a one-time drop-in and provide organized workouts to all adult swimmers dedicated to improving their swimming.

Even if you just come to the pool to splash around and socialize, you’re burning more calories than you know. Just remember to get a sticker on your student id from the Whit before you come.

Pool Schedule

Wildcat Fitness

If your biggest problem with the Whit is the mass of students that crowd the machines, you might find it best to just join another gym. Wildcat Fitness is located right off of Mill Road, in the same plaza as the DUMP and Rite Aid. Wildcat offers students great deals including: a $30 – 30 day all access trial, which includes bringing a friend for free and free tanning and a $99 – 99 day Senior special promotion until May 17th, which offers unlimited tanning and special gym privileges. Wildcat now accepts Cat's Cache as a form of payment so you may even be able to convince your parents to pay for it! Wildcat also holds fitness classes at the Inn at Spruce Wood located about 2 miles from the gym.

Click Here to Learn More about Wildcat Fitness

Bikram Yoga in Portsmouth

I have to say, Bikram Yoga has become my latest workout obsession. Bikram Yoga combines cardiovascular, strength training, and stretch into a 90-minute class in a heated room. Bikram works 100% of your body’s muscle mass and is designed to improve circulation, health and function of all the body’s systems by doing 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. The average female burns 800-1200 calories per class while the average male burns 1200-1600 calories.

Students who are trying out Bikram for the first time can buy a $10 pass, which allows you to come to as many classes as you want for ten days. After that (if you become as addicted to the class as my friends and I have) you can drop in for $10 per class with your student id or buy a ten-class pass for $90.

You’ll probably sweat more than you ever have and may even feel faint during the first class but you feel so good after that you’ll just want to keep coming back for more. Just remember to show up 15 minutes before class, bring a yoga mat, towel, and bottle of water, and wear light, athletic clothing.

Bikram Yoga Portsmouth

UNH Fitness Classes

Going to the gym and using the same old machines for an hour or so tends to get a little boring after a while. UNH offers many non-stop cardio classes for 60-90 minutes including: Zumba, Cardio Boxing, Cycle and Stretch, Tighter Assets, Step, Groovin’ Cardio, and a Yoga inspired Core Class. Although the fitness studio is in the same building as the gym, you won't have to wait around to get your workout in. You'll be in and out of there at exactly the times as the schedule provides. These classes are free for students so you might as well take advantage of them while you still can.

Group Fitness Class Schedule

Go for a Walk/Run

If you're struggling to find time to exercise this week because of midterms, papers, etc. just take 20-30 minutes out of your busy schedule and go for a walk or run around campus. It has been so nice out lately and the weather is supposed to be in the high 40's all week so there is no excuse for not working out. Running will help take your mind off all the work that you have and will allow you to refocus once you start to hit the books again.

Still find yourself resorting to the UNH gym?

If none of these alternatives are appealing to you and you find yourself going back to the UNH gym just make sure have good gym etiquette while you’re there. This will make the whole experience better for everyone.

1. Don’t stay on a machine for longer than 30 minutes if someone is waiting. We all know how frustrating it is to wait for machines so just get off when your time’s up and hopefully next time you are waiting for someone, they’ll do the same for you.
2. Along the same lines, don’t throw your small towel or magazine over the time to try and hide the fact that you’ve been on your machine for longer than you should be. You all know who you are and we all know what you’re up to.
3. Lastly, be sure to wipe down the machines after you use them. Nobody wants to use a dirty machine and risk getting sick right before spring break.

Hopefully you’ll try out some of these alternatives and maybe even stick with them for the rest of the semester. If you don't have that beach bod that you're looking for by the end of the week, stick with these alternatives and you'll definitely have it by summer. Have A Great Spring Break!