As the tundra that is Binghamton begins to thaw, many of us find ourselves emerging from the dreary caves of academia to enjoy the fruits Mother Nature has to offer us.
As this semester comes to a close, concentrating on work becomes increasingly difficult. The florescent lights of the Glenn G. Bartle Library keep our pupils dilated late into the night, and our gym routine grows increasingly monotonous.
Below are some ways to burn the fat you packed on while in hibernation this winter and reasons why the great outdoors trumps your hamster wheel at the gym.
1. Binghamton University’s Nature Preserve
One hundred and eighty-two acres of marked trails right in your backyard. Matt Makowski, senior financial economics major and licensed Eagle Scout, owes the success of his recent weight loss to sprints on the vertically challenging Ridge Trail.
“If you’re looking for a challenge, try increasing intervals followed by a short rest. If you’re looking for the scenic route, take the Field Trail from the top,” Makowski said.
Makowksi has a warning for anyone unfamiliar with the preserve: Be prepared to get muddy. The area is filled with swamps, so water-proof boots are recommended.
2. Yoga in the sun
FitSpace instructor and Binghamton University graduate student Mara Schwartz invites everyone to experience her outdoor yoga class at least once.
“Taking my class outside really refreshes my students and breaks up our routine. It’s a great way to relieve stress, get some color and take a deep breath of fresh air,” Schwartz explained.
Schwartz is not alone in using the outdoors as an outlet for stress relief. Such outlets have been the recent subject of studies conducted at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
After visiting the local park in Zurich, respondents rated their headaches, level of stress and how balanced they felt both prior to visiting the outdoor location and at the time of being interviewed. The recovery ratio for stress proved to be overwhelmingly positive at 87 percent. There was also a reduction of 52 percent in headaches, based on information gathered from a five-point rating scale.
3. Outdoor Pursuits
Feeling a bit more adventurous? Head over to the lower level of the East Gym. Outdoor Pursuits has everything you need for planning your weekend excursion while cutting the cost.
Don’t feel you’re equipped for expedition? From renting gear for camping, hiking or even cross-country skiing, the Outdoor Pursuit’s office has got you covered.
If conquering the Nature Preserve doesn’t exactly satisfy your Indiana Jones fantasies, sign up for the May 1 visit to Clarksville Cave in the Outdoor Pursuit office by April 29. Fifteen dollars is a small price to pay to see the most popular and well-known horizontal caves of the Northeast.
4. Be spontaneous
Taking to Mother Nature can be romantic. It also might be the spark your love life has been looking for. Surprise your lover with a picnic, a walk in the park or set up camp for the weekend. Scout out the location beforehand and make sure you won’t be interrupted, or interrupting someone else for that matter.
Most of us try to fight Mother Nature’s beckon. Answering the call can prove to add some much-needed variety into our exercise routines, our relationship with local wildlife and our love lives.
Being able to abandon the gym entirely for outdoor adventures may never become a reality, and the Bartle Library will surely continue to hold us captive, rendering us vitamin D deficient. But make use of the resources Binghamton’s local wildlife has to offer; if not for the bird watching, let it be the study break you deserve or that much-needed afternoon delight.