Staying fit during COVID-19

Getting stir-crazy at home? Struggling to find ways to stay active? You’re not alone! Not to worry though…we’ve got you covered!

Jenna Moore is the assistant director of fitness and wellness for Campus Recreational Services at Binghamton University. She’s also the owner of JAM Fitness in Vestal and works as a trainer for RIPPED and RUMBLE. Follow her on Instagram @jenna_jam_ where she provides fitness videos and instruction as well. We spoke with Moore to get some tips and advice for people of all ages on how to stay in shape and, most importantly, remain healthy.

BingU: What advice can you give students who are struggling to find ways to develop home workout routines?

JM: Luckily, the fitness industry has evolved rapidly over the last few weeks to meet the needs and demands of those looking for ways to workout without a gym. Most fitness companies, facilities and formats have taken their content online, offering free workouts, streaming live classes and even virtual one-on-one personal training. So, if you’re looking for a way to develop a workout routine, look no further than your favorite trainer, gym or class and find out where you can access their content from home. Campus Recreation has compiled a variety of these resources on their website to help students, faculty and staff find their fitness without FitSpace.

BingU: What is the most important type of exercise for students at this time, both for their physical and mental health?

JM: Any physical activity is good activity right now. Whether it’s cardio, weight training, yoga or hiking, all types of physical activity have both physical and mental health benefits to them. Finding the type of exercise you enjoy is most important, but try to include a balance of cardiovascular, resistance training and mind-body types of workouts throughout the week.

The national recommendation for physical activity is to aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Students can achieve that goal by doing 30 minutes of activity five days per week.

BingU: How can students who are on a team (whether recreational or for a Binghamton University team) simulate both the competitiveness and camaraderie of playing with and against others?

JM: There are many fitness devices and apps that allow you to partake in friendly competitions with friends. From your Fitbit to the Apple Watch, invite your friends or teammates to create a group and then challenge one another with simple tasks like who can get the most steps in a week or who can take an online yoga class five times this month.

In the Strava app, for example, you can track all of your hikes, runs and rides with GPS. Invite your friends or family to start a group in Strava, where you can then share your activity with each other. You’ll have the ability to like and comment on their activity and even compete against each other in different challenges.

Social media fitness challenges are a great way to engage your friends and teammates. Post a quick video doing any type of exercise (10 pushups, squats, etc.) then tag your friends and challenge them to do the same. A fun, and quick, game of virtual tag is a simple way to stay connected with your community and scratch that competitive itch. (Check out the Binghamton University women’s soccer team kicked around a roll of toilet paper via Twitter!)

BingU: How can older faculty remain active without potentially putting themselves at increased risk:

JM: As spring weather gradually improves, get outside and spend time gardening or doing lawn work. Lawn work can certainly have you working up a sweat! Don’t have a garden? Now is a great time to plant your own herbs and vegetables. That’s one less thing you have to go to the grocery store for.

Additionally, you do not need expensive gym equipment to get in a good workout from home. Grab a few water bottles or canned products from your pantry to use as light hand weights. Load a backpack full of books and use it for an at-home resistance training workout. However, if you are looking to purchase some affordable and effective pieces of workout equipment, pick up a jump rope for around $10 and use it for a great cardio workout. Purchasing a good resistance band or two can run you between $15 and $20 and provide you the ability to do a total-body strength training workout. Both of these options are affordable and space saving, in addition to being effective.