Great ways for Douglas College

students to be fit

and tips on achieving and keeping a healthy lifestyle

By Maria Asselin-Roy, Staff Reporter.

r most, being a student means
Re you must attend lectures, write.
papers, do assignments, and in
between all of that do homework. With
so much time being spent sitting on your
rear end, many students are faced with
“the freshman fifteen.” However, there
are ways to maintain your busy schedule
while adding a little bit of time to focus
on your fitness. Douglas College offers
some great recreational programs and free
access to the school gym, all contributing
to help you become more healthy and fit.
If you are like many other students
and have a couple of hours to spare in
between classes, this is an excellent
opportunity to finish up some homework
as well as get a little bit of physical
activity. The American Heart Association
recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of
cardio and some resistance exercise such
as weight training a few days a week, as
well as a couple of days to rest the body.
Douglas has some highly acclaimed
workout classes to offer for students who
like a little guidance in their workout.
"For example, the schedule for this
week has things like yoga, core training,
kick boxing, and more. On Tuesday,
February 15 in New West there is a

yoga class from 11:35-12:35 in room
1313, (the dance studio) followed by

a core class which focuses on balance
and core strength using bands, balls,
weights, and your body weight. Later on
Tuesday, there will be a sun run clinic
from 4:30-5:30pm, for those who want
to prepare for the sun run. Douglas
offers weekly clinics for preparation.
The workout sessions will include very
specific exercises that are meant to
improve running and walking. Every
week students meet in the fitness centre
(room 1315). The David Lam campus has
some great recreational classes as well.
This week, also on Tuesday, there will be
a Salsa dance class for beginners. This is
from 4:30-5:30pm, there are no partners
needed and everyone is welcome.

On Wednesday, February 16 David
Lam is having a hip hop and break
dancing class from 4-Spm, followed
by kickboxing. These are just a few
examples of what Douglas has to offer
for recreational programs, for complete

_ listings you can check out the calendar on
www.douglife.ca, underneath the Health
and Wellness section.

Access to the fitness centre at both
campuses is free for students and staff.
The gym at David Lam is in the Pinetree ©
Community Centre and is open Monday-
Thursday from 8:00am-9:00pm, Fridays

4

 

Sainte from 8: 30am-8:00pm. The Chris
Johnson Fitness Centre in New West is
open Monday-Thursday 8:00am-8:00pm,
Fridays from 8:00am-4:30pm and it is
closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Chris Johnson Fitness Centre
has 500 square feet of space with some
great cardio equipment. If you are
interested in getting the most out of your
workout before you hit the gym, Douglas
offers personal and group training as
well. The personal trainers will work with
you to help you with your workout goals,
help personalize a program for you, and
help you get the best results from your
workout. Individual rates are $165.00
for three sessions, and group rates are
$105.00 for three sessions per person. For
more information on this or if you would
like a personal free tour, you can visit the
activities office in room 1315.

With these great exercise options
that Douglas has to offer, this can help to
relieve stress and tension—and ultimately
it will help you feel better in almost all
aspects of your life. Setting aside even 30
minutes a day is said to help to improve
your mood, metabolism, heart rate, help
you sleep better, and much more. It’s all
about taking the time to arrange your
schedule to bring that exercise routine
into your life. In addition to exercise, it is
recommenced that everybody gets a good
nights sleep, even if you have a pile of
homework.

Also, try to sleep on a regular
schedule, although this can be very
difficult with after school jobs, etc.
Always carry a bottle of water around
with you, as this will keep you from
getting dehydrated and most students
do not drink enough water. It is
recommended that people drink about
eight glasses of water per day, and more
if you are exercising. Lastly, make sure
you are eating breakfast every day and
eat enough food throughout the day.

In having outrageously busy
schedules like most students have, setting
aside time for yourself can be tough, but
it is needed to keep your sanity! There is
tons of health advice specifically directed

' to college students online, all you have to

do is search. Or, a Douglas college fitness
representative would be able to answer
any questions that students have.

Is the Evergreen Line finally on the way?

     

Maria Asselin-Roy
Staff Reporter

he Evergreen line will be the
newest addition to the Skytrain.

However, many Vancouver
residents have been hearing about this
transit line for a couple years now, and are
wondering why it is not already up and
running. There were five rounds’of public
consultation that had to be completed in
order to provide feedback from residents
and what people thought of the line,
opinions from local businesses, bus

' connections, landscaping management,

and more.

Now, all of that is out of the way and
everyone has basically agreed that this
line will be convenient for all. According
to the website and construction officials,
construction of the actual Evergreen

line should begin in the next couple of
months, and it is estimated that it will be
completed sometime in 2014.

The route in which the Skytrain will
run will go from Lougheed Town Centre
Station to what will called the Douglas
College Station, now students attending
the Coquitlam campus will have a quick
and easy route. It looks like the tracks of
the Evergreen line will be elevated until
the Burquitam Plaza, and just before
entering Port Moody it looks like there
will be a tunnel going under what is
known as “snake hill” until reaching St.
Johns street. The tracks will then remain
on ground level until reaching “Coquitlam
Central Station” where it will go back
up to elevation before reaching Douglas
College, the final destination.

There are still a couple more
new stations being reviewed, such as
Falcon drive. For more information on
the new skytrain line, check out www.
evergreenline.gov.bc.ca.

 

 

Save a life, get a cookie
The Bloodmobile comes to Douglas

By Allie Davison

hursday, February 10, marked the
Canadian Blood Services mobile

unit’s second trip to Douglas
College’s New Westminster Campus. The
Bloodmobile, first launched in October
of 2010, is a mobile blood donation unit
that travels around the province collecting
blood donations. The Bloodmobile can be
found on not only college and university
campuses across the province, but at
malls, company parking lots and hospitals
as well.

As of December 2010, the

-Bloodmobile had visited 28 new blood-

giving locations (including Douglas
College) and collected over 1,000
donations, including almost 500 new
donors.

“This was my first time giving blood
but having the Bloodmobile come right
to the school made it really convenient.
Even though I hate needles—and the sight
of blood—the nurses made the experience
really comfortable for me,” says student
Sharon Yoshida.

Inside the compact Bloodmobile are

four blood-giving stations, as well as a
registration desk, two small rooms to fill
out forms and a small lab, where they
store the donations, in the back. And the
cookie couch, of course. After donating,
participants are welcomed to relax, eat a
cookie and have a juice box, in a comfy
corner of the bloodmobile.

After the donations are collected, a
sample of the blood is flown overnight to
a lab in Calgary. Once there, it is tested
for blood-type and certain diseases. The
blood type is sent out to the donator, along
with their donor card. Remember, you
must wait at least six months after getting
a body piercing or tattoo to give blood.
You must wait at least 72 hours after
having dental surgery, be fully recovered
from any cold or flu symptoms and be at
least 12 hours sober—from alcohol and
marijuana—to be an eligible donor.

As donors are required to wait at least
56 days before donating again, the next
Douglas College Bloodmobile day is April
7. Almost every minute in everyday a
Canadian is in need of donated blood. You
can make your appointment to save a life
by calling 1-888-2DONATE.