Students often find themselves feeling a little bent out of shape after the summer break. With school back in session, some might want to start thinking about how to get into full gear. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay balanced without breaking bank.
“Get it organic, it’s worth it!” says Sesame Leonard, an herbal educator and health advisor at Elm Health on Seventh Avenue and 14th Street.
Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season is the most sensible way of sticking to organic food at a reasonable price. Your local farmers market, such as the Union Square Greenmarket, or Co-Ops, like Fourth Street Food Co-Op, are the best places to find organic, in season fruits and veggies.
Another effective saving tip is to buy food in bulk. Students can buy a pound of oats for $1.39 at Elm Health, to which they can add an assortment of nuts and fruits, and be set for breakfast for a week.
Sydney Rose, a recent Eugene Lang graduate and certified health and wellness coach, gave New School students some great advice to stay in shape.
“If you have a few extra hours on your hands, yoga studios and gyms will often accept office help in exchange for membership,” she said.
If getting a membership somewhere doesn’t sound appealing, students can take advantage of the warm weather and go for a daily run or bike ride along the Hudson or East River. Jack Rabbit offers group runs to those who need some extra motivation. The city’s Department of Parks and Recreation also created a program called Shape Up NYC, which offers a variety of free classes in all five boroughs, such as kickboxing and boot camp, or some untraditional classes like zumba and bokwa. Those who love yoga can check out Yoga to the People where most class fees are donation-based.
Dealing with stress is an inevitable part of being a student, and a hectic New York City lifestyle doesn’t make it any easier. However, there are plenty of ways to start a healthy lifestyle. One way to relax is taking time everyday to meditate. There is no set length of time to meditate, but a standard recommendation is 15 to 20 minutes a day. Aside from giving a better perspective on life, meditating may even revitalize test scores, according to a recent University of California study. The New School even offers a mindfulness meditation group that meets up every Wednesday at 3 p.m. at 66 Fifth Avenue, Room 818A.
Another excellent way to stay calm is to enjoy an at-home spa treatment. The previously mentioned oats can be used to make a hydrating mask by simply adding two tablespoons of oatmeal, one teaspoon of lemon juice, and one tablespoon of honey to a container and mix them. It can then be applied to the face for 10 minutes and rinsed off with warm water.
The office of Student Health Services is a great resource for staying healthy. Even without health insurance, students can attend events and visit their office for reliable information and valuable advice about their wellbeing. Student Health Services also provides medical care, psychological services and preventative education. Some of their upcoming events include biofeedback, acupuncture, and auricular accupressure.
“Explore what it would be like to be more gentle with yourself,” says Rachel Knopf, a health educator at The New School Student Health Services.
In other words, take it easy people. We’re only human.