YOU DON’T HAVE TO SWEAT IT
Muscles bulging. Sweat dripping. Full workout gear. And an hour of your time. That’s the amount of intensity needed for fitness progress, right? As it turns out, this fallacy is one that Tanja Totzauer (Coach T) has been working hard to dispel for both students and staff alike. “A lot of people have the misconception that if they come for a workout, they have to have all their gear, put in an hour, and leave dripping in sweat. In reality, a lot of our students and staff come to the fitness centre for 10-20 minutes in their uniform or work attire, and still get in a great workout - they’re even sore the next day!” As we approach the completion of the new Athletics and Performing Arts Centre, Coach T will be working hard to get as many students involved in fitness training as possible, not just our athletes. “It’s not just about staying fit physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. A lot of our students have demanding workloads and they come for workouts to reduce stress, especially during exams. It’s so important for students to move their bodies and make that mind-body connection.” The same goes for our staff. Encouraging and educating staff to schedule a short block of time in their day to dedicate to movement has been a priority for Coach T, as it can greatly improve wellbeing and productivity. So, what’s the vision? “My goal is to have people alter their perspective around fitness and challenge the mindset that ‘the more you sweat, the better’. I want people to understand that it’s about consistency, feeling good, moving your body, and normalising fitness to make it part of your daily schedule.” To show how quick and easy it can be, Coach T has put together a mini workout series that can be done from anywhere. All you need is a chair!
1
STEP DOWNS
Start with one foot on the chair
Slowly step down from the chair with control, as your knee bends reach your arms forward
Tap your foot to the floor but do not put any weight on it, keep all the weight on the front foot
Push yourself back up, arms return to your sides as your front leg straightens
