Staying Active Through Grad School

With a demanding schedule, grad students usually have their hands full.

So how does one stay active while juggling all their weekly tasks? We sat down with future MBA and current President of the MBA Association, Aravind Sithamparapillai, to find out.

What’s a Current Week Look Like For You?

Fall Semester was my first semester in the MBA Program, here’s what I had on my plate:

-Classes

-3 Part Time Jobs (PT/Fitness instructor, TA, Customer Service Representative at TD)

-Applying and interviewing for co-op positions

-Networking Events roughly once a week (i.e. alumni visits, employer visits, guest speakers, etc)

-Running a campaign for President

-Going out with classmates probably about once a week (interaction and making connections is strongly encouraged in the MBA, you never know who you may need to reach out to in the business world in 5 or 10 years).

What’s Your Favourite Way To Sweat?

There’s no doubt about it, sports and heavy weights. The thrill of competition (i.e. basketball, soccer, pretty much any competitive sport) will always have a hold on me. By far it's the easiest way for me to push myself time and time again for that next point or that next goal. Every Saturday I come into DBAC and shoot hoops with a couple of buddies first thing in the morning.

When it comes to weights however, it’s got to be heavy lifts for me. I love developing my strength lifts for a few reasons. One being that there is no mental satisfaction like moving a certain number of pounds and when time is limited, heavy compound lifts (i.e. Squat, Deadlift) give a lot of bang for your buck in training multiple muscles at once. These lifts help me maintain my foundational strength for…you got it, sports.

Do You Have Any Tips For Those Who Lead Busy Lives On Staying Active?

For those who are super busy I can say a few things:

1)      It Doesn’t Have To Be a Marathon

A ten minute heavy pace jog or a 15 min body weight circuit can do wonders on those extra busy days that you can’t make it to the gym for an hour. Think about those compound movements where you train multiple muscles at the same time. 

2)      Make An Investment In Yourself

You spend countless hours investing in your professional self (school, work, volunteering). How about investing in your mental and physical self? We all know exercise has an endless list of benefits. For those who are incredibly busy, it helps reduce stress and can provide focus and clarity. 

3)      Check Out The Pulse's Trainers

It's always a good idea to have a plan when you come to the gym and one can spend a great deal of time coming up with a workout program. Why not save some time and hire an expert? The Pulse's trainers create your program and walk you through it. For those who have a busy schedule, a trainer can be a great addition to help you reach your goals and keep you on track. Plus, you've got on the spot access to answers for any questions you may have.

Ultimately, making exercise a priority will help you keep your cool and attack everything you've got on your plate with confidence. 

Stay tuned for Aravind's next post where he talks about his journey through rehab and physiotherapy at the David Braley Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre.