As college students, we all know that we encounter stress through school and our daily lives. I thought I would take this opportunity to shed some light on resources around campus and within Madison that help make those stressful moments a little more tolerable.
I always like to work through my stress with some sort of physical movement! Here are some of the free resources to utilize on campus for physical health. As a student, your access to any of the on-campus gyms is completely free. There are four fitness locations on campus: The Nicholas Recreation Center, The Shell, Nielsen Tennis Stadium, and the Holt Fitness Center. If you are in the market to get a good run, lift, walk, or shoot some hoops and you are located on the east side of campus, the Nicholas Recreation Center AKA “The Nick”, is the right place for you! The Nick is home to 30,000 square feet of fitness space, 8 courts, 5 studios, an Olympic size pool, and more! It has all your needs for both cardio and strength! With full lifting platforms, rows and rows of benches, a vast array of cardio equipment, and a track on the top level - the Nick has anything you may need for your workout. On top of all of its resources, the Nick is also home to racquetball courts, a turf area, and an Olympic-sized pool to get some laps in. If you feel as though you need some guidance in your journey, the Nick has various ways to help out! They offer various fitness classes, such as yoga, cycling, and strength, along with personal trainers. There is always someone to touch base with or lean on for support at the Nick! You can sign up to attend a class and pay a small fee, or get a semester fitness class membership.
The Shell and Holt Fitness center may be a bit less glamorous than the Nick, but they have so many resources for students to get a good workout in, on the east side of campus! The Shell is attached to the side of Camp Randall and is a resource for lifting platforms, various cardio and lifting equipment, basketball courts, and an ice skating rink! Although it is a bit smaller, it is still a great resource for students! The Holt center gym is located in the center of the lakeshore dorms, just behind Showerman hall (A hall that is part of the Kronshage dorm system). It is the smallest fitness space of the four gyms and hosts a range of cardio and strength equipment! It caters to those in the lakeshore dorm area and is an extremely convenient workout space with the rebuilding of the previous gym that used to be located in that area!
In the market for a friendly game of tennis or squash? That is where the Nielsen Tennis Stadium comes in handy, located near Dejope Residence hall ! Are you a beginner? No worries, with the 12 indoor tennis courts, two squash courts, equipment rental and racquet services, and a system to help you find a tennis partner, the Nielsen Tennis Stadium is here to support you in your fitness journey! Working out does not have to be running until your lungs burn or lifting the heavy weight until your legs burn- fitness can be a friendly (or not, your choice) game of tennis with your best friends! The Nielsen Tennis Stadium is always a great reminder of that!
Are you looking for some outdoor options? I know it is tough to think about right now, but in the warmer months, there are so many options to choose from around Madison! Starting with the lakeshore path, you can go on a casual jog, walk, or bike through the beautiful Lakeshore Nature Preserve. If you are looking for something that is a bit more group friendly there are various tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, and a large turf area for use by students and community members alike. The majority of the outdoor sites are located on the east side of campus, with a few volleyball courts located over by the Kohl Center! In addition to the Lakeshore path, there is also the Madison Southwest Bike Path that is great for longer, bikes, runs, rollerblades, etc. The entirety of this path is paved, unlike the lakeshore path, so for those of you who like rollerblading, this is the path for you. This path offers a wide array of scenery ranging from greenery to campus buildings, all the way to lake Monona.
However, I want to make it clear that although we have all of these wonderful resources for physical wellness, your mental wellness should always take the forefront. Physical wellness can help with the release of endorphins and can be a good way to work through some stressful emotions, but always remember to take care of your mental wellness!
By Molly Nooyen
Campus Community Engagement Director