Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a regular series which will profile students who take part in recreational sports. If you hunt, fish, climb rocks, go canoeing or are an expert spelunker, the Kansan would like to share those stories, and perhaps take part. Please contact Caleb Regan by calling the Kansan sports desk or e-mailing him at cregan@kansan.com.
Student life, for the most part, is a routine. We have certain classes on certain days, try to finish the crossword in a couple hours, try to dodge the folks handing out pamphlets, then go to Louise’s on Thursday nights and see how many $1.75 schooners we can hoist before last call. Even meals become routine as we frequent the same restaurants for the same specials, such as Taco-Tuesdays at Set ’Em Up Jacks.
That is why it’s important to have hobbies and recreational activities that we enjoy.
Whether it’s fishing, biking, skateboarding or something else you enjoy, hobbies are important for more happiness and a better quality of life.
Students’ quality of life decreases when they can’t participate in these activities, said Jill Urkoski, associate director of fitness and staff development at the Student Recreation Fitness Center.
“Any time you can enjoy doing something such as a hobby, it only helps psychologically and often times increases your health. In any case, it’s beneficial to your health by being a mental escape.”
Students who fly-fished with a river floating by and hills or mountains surrounding them will tell you catching fish is a bonus. Sure, that is why you are out there, but it’s therapeutic just to be in that atmosphere, providing the mental escape that Urkoski explained.
According to a recent study done by “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” appearing in “USA Today,” adults ages 20 to 60 who participated in either an intellectual or physical hobby are 2.5 times less likely to get Alzheimers. Obviously, intellectual activities — such as crosswords, reading, etc. — are the most beneficial, but physical activities can stimulate the mind just as much as word games.
Navigating your way up a rock-climbing wall for example definitely requires mental capacity. The health benefits are evident.
There are other aspects of the benefits of sports recreation, Bel McCoy, Lawrence freshman, said. His main recreational activities include rollerblading, running and yoga.
“Not only does it tone muscle and help clear my mind, anything physical I do makes me more energetic and happy. That improves my relationships with friends and family.”
So whether you’re a sports fan, I hope the new recreational sports beat will have something for everyone. In the weeks to come I will profile different types of sports recreation, and maybe it will provoke someone to take up a new hobby that will lead to a new enjoyment.
Regan is a Fort Scott junior in journalism.
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