Students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) are increasingly using the campus gym and fitness classes to reduce stress, improve mental health, and stay focused on their studies, especially during high-pressure periods at end of term when final exams and assignments are due.
Stefan Emmanuel, a VIU gym staff member, noticed that student use of the gym increases as they progress through the semester. Emmanuel said, “It peaks during exam period… [students] try to get a quick session in between their classes.”
Students arrive feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, but after working out, their behaviour seems to improve significantly. Emmanuel said they “feel better, a hundred percent.”
One of the main reasons students use the campus gym is because it offers free access to fitness and weight rooms, open courts, and a multipurpose room as part of their tuition costs.
Also, what may start as a physical target often turns into a wellness routine, according to fourth-year Graphic Design student Grei Orser, who goes to the gym three or four times a week. “The longer I went to the gym, the more I associated it with health. I realized the long-term benefits of working out,” Orser said. “I feel proud of myself, like I accomplished something for the day.”
These claims support national health research. The Canadian Mental Health Association states that the “body releases feel-good chemicals and endorphins when exercising, which physically elevates mood by decreasing pain and increasing pleasure.”
According to Heer Punjab, a third-year Business student, exercising has become crucial for avoiding procrastination. “You feel good, so it’s easier to work on stuff you don’t want to work on.”
A 2018 study from Harvard Medical School found that regular exercise can improve cognitive function, memory, and concentration. Exercising can also reduce physical discomfort during long lectures and boost productivity. “I would work out before [class], and I would feel more clear-headed and ready to focus,” Orser said.
In addition to boosting physical well-being, the gym is a social hub. Brief encounters can lift spirits and foster a feeling of community on campus. “I always like to try to lighten their mood a bit with a smile and compliment them,” Emmanuel said. “The gym is a good place to make friends.”
Some find gyms intimidating for fear they are being evaluated harshly and being body conscious can be one reason people avoid the gym. However, Punjab said, “Everyone there is friendly. I think the biggest misconception people have is that people are going to judge them, when that’s just not my experience.”
Accessible facilities are becoming increasingly important to campus life. For many students, the gym is more than just a place to work out; it is an essential part of their physical and mental health routine.
