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Austin Peay State University’s Foy Fitness Center steps up with online sessions as Coronavirus pandemic keeps people at home

Austin Peay State University - APSUClarksville, TN – As we all inch our way towards reclusion, it’s important to remember to keep our bodies, as well as our minds, in shape. Lucky for Austin Peay State University (APSU) students, Lauren Wilkinson, assistant director of services at the APSU Foy Fitness & Recreation Center on campus, is coordinating online fitness instruction courses.

Austin Peay State University's Lauren Wilkinson leads sunrise yoga last August on campus. (APSU)
Austin Peay State University’s Lauren Wilkinson leads sunrise yoga last August on campus. (APSU)

“We’re really just trying to keep students engaged and active during this time,” Wilkinson said.

The idea for this developed from a collaboration between all the minds of Austin Peay State University’s recreational facilities. 

“When the Foy Center closed (due to the coronavirus crisis), we started talking about various things we can do online for the students or how we can still keep people engaged with the Foy Center,” Wilkinson said. 

The first meeting was online yoga last Friday, March 27th. Wilkinson said she hopes to have Zumba, yoga and cardio/high-intensity interval training (HIIT) live sessions in the coming weeks.

“We’re also working on pre-recorded videos to post on social media,” Wilkinson said.

These sessions include home-friendly exercises you can do without equipment. Wilkinson and her team can modify the exercises to vary the difficulty.

During the coronavirus quarantine, stay active and focus on emotional health.
During the coronavirus quarantine, stay active and focus on emotional health.

“For any social media live feed, people should receive a notification when someone they follow goes live,” Wilkinson said. “We’ll be posting about any live classes in advance though so people can start watching for it.” 

Wilkinson said she expects the instructors to rotate hosting live sessions. 

“Last Friday Brittany Brown led yoga and this Friday it will be Goodwin Brown,” she said. 

“Anything we post will be through @apsufoy social media accounts, so as long as students are following our pages they’ll be notified when we go live or post reminders about upcoming classes,” Wilkinson said.

Keeping fit while staying home

Wilkinson also had a few tips for students to make the most of their time in quarantine.

“My biggest tip for anyone during this time, besides keeping yourself safe and helping limit the spread, is to stay active and keep yourself not just physically healthy but emotionally and mentally healthy as well,” Wilkinson said. “It’s so easy to just binge Netflix shows, live on your couch, or sit on your phone all day and that’s often when emotional and mental health can start to take a hit, as well as your physical health.”

Wilkinson recommends students go for walks, workout in your backyard/driveway, anything that can get you some fresh air. Wilkinson also suggested students tackle a new project around the house such as meditation, gardening, cooking, or anything else that may interest you. 

“Anything that does not revolve around a screen,” Wilkinson said.

For more information about live yoga, Zumba and exercise sessions, contact Wilkinson at wilkinsonl@apsu.edu or send a message directly to the Foy Center via its Facebook or Instagram pages @apsufoy. 

To learn more 

For more about the APSU Foy Fitness & Recreation Center at Austin Peay State University, go to https://www.apsu.edu/recreation/.

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