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Adam Carter, manager of the UAMS Fitness Center, shows off the new leg press machine.
Image by Yavonda Chase
UAMS Fitness Center Is Ready to Help You Reach Your Goals
| By Adam Carter
January is the time to move out of the holiday season and into the New Year. Now is the time to focus on healthy self-care. One constant element of 2020 has been stress, and exercise is one of the better ways to manage it.
Fitness facilities have been no exception to changes in operation with the COVID-19 pandemic. To provide a healthy, sanitary and safe environment, the UAMS Fitness Center uses a disinfectant fogging machine multiple times daily to sanitize the equipment. We also adopted workout registrations for specific times and days to ensure good social distancing. Because it is only open to university employees and students, overall exposure is less than in a fully public venue. All these factors mean the UAMS Fitness Center is a healthier place to exercise. Peace of mind is only a workout away.
Many of you beginning a healthier, more active life will face two challenges: accountability and lack of direction. Without accountability and direction, beginning a fitness journey can be a daunting experience. The Fitness Center can help you with these challenges, and two timely opportunities are here now.
The first is the 12 x 12 program that begins every January. The goal is simple: Complete 12 workouts every month during all 12 months of the year. Each workout must last 30 minutes. Simple, right? Showing up consistently is the most important piece of the fitness pie. (It allows you to eat pie guilt free).
Deciding what to do on arrival is the second piece. People just beginning commonly find this question overwhelming. To help, Fitness Coordinator Lindsay Joyce offers personalized and structured guidance in creating workout plans tailored to individual needs. Once a program is created, all that is left is to show up and do the work. Like most things in life, showing up is the most important step to success.
Stress reduction starts with sweat equity. As the body becomes healthier and more resilient, it tolerates and manages stress better. As we step into the challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, let us not forget that to stay strong in the face of adversity we must develop the fortitude to withstand the storm. A stronger life for employees and students is why the UAMS Fitness Center exists.