Don’t forget to grab your gym shoes and get some exercise.

During a long break students change their eating styles, sleeping habits and study routines. These habit changes cause stress on the body, leading students to laziness and not remembering to exercise.

“The biggest thing is find an activity that you enjoy that doesn’t seem like you have to exercise,” says Ryan Kish, the Wellness Program Coordinator at the McGaw YMCA.

A break from school means eating your heart out and hanging out with friends. Unless they partake in a sport, most students aren’t motivated to stay active. Many students eat when they’re bored or having nothing else to do. Students only exercise when they are forced.

The effect on ones body from eating without getting exercise can cause long term health issues such as weight gain. Kish advises students to make healthy decisions and look for the healthy options.

“The key is moderation. You should watch the amount of food you’re eating,” explains Kish.

There are many ways for students to stay active. Sledding or going out with family to pick a Christmas tree are great examples of exercising without feeling forced.

High school students are always stressed. Exercise will helps students manage their stress better, show more self-confidence, feel more vigor and less depressed.

“Yoga is a huge stress reliever. You focus on breathing and stretching,” says Kish.

Pranayama means to “extend the vital life force” and is a practice made up of many different breathing techniques. While doing yoga, pranayama is encouraged.

“I do yoga and go to the gym,” says Lena Tokmakoff, senior.

Exercises such as “child’s pose”, “pigeon”, “standing mountain”, and “forward fold” are great yoga poses that open up the body, warm the muscles and allow easy pranayama practice.

Doing aerobic exercise can alleviate stress, depression and anxiety. It strengthens the heart, increases blood flow, keeps blood vessels open and lowers blood pressure and its reactions to stress. Interval training is the concept of exercising for one minute and taking a break the next. It has proven to be one of the most effective ways to keep excess weight off.

“In the morning, a good idea is to do a five to ten minute good stretch to wake up your body, get your muscles going, and get the blood flowing,” explains Kish.

Those who practice morning exercise have been more alert and awake throughout the day.

Exercising and eating healthy can only help students and possibly have a huge impact on their lives.