Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25:
Guidance counselor, gym teacher, and coach Mrs. Simonelli has a fitness routine. Besides keeping her physically healthy, this routine has a massive benefit that can go unnoticed from outside perspectives: it keeps her in great mental shape.
Mrs. Simonelli’s routine includes playing tennis or pickleball at least five times a week, getting steps in by walking her dog, attending yoga classes, and undergoing light weight training. Ok. That’s not a routine, that’s a lifestyle.
Exercise is often overlooked as an aspect of keeping a healthy and functioning mind. Psychiatrists and physicians alike consistently promote regular physical exercise, and yet the population continues to ignore these directions. In 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that only 46% of adults met the aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations, and that number only decreases each year.
In addition, depression rates in all age groups are skyrocketing. The CDC reports that around 18.5% of adults currently live with depression, while in 2010, the numbers were closer to 7.2%. There seems to be a possible correlation between the rising depression rates and the shockingly few people who are properly physically active.
The University of California seems to think so with a study conducted just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found the average number of steps college students would get was around 10,000. This number decreased to 4,600 post-pandemic. Accordingly, the rates of depression increased from 32% to 61%.
Mrs. Simonelli believes that her consistent exercise has resulted in a more peaceful and productive mindset. Many people feel similarly according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH says that people partaking in regular exercise have enhanced self-esteem, improved moods, and decreased stress and anxiety levels.
Mr. Lyons, a guidance counselor and coach, shares, “The body and mind connection is an important aspect of mental health. An organic component of exercise is release of endorphins which naturally reduce stress, eliminate feelings of pain, and provide clarity in gaining a sense of one’s well-being.”
Many people know of these mental benefits, and almost all are aware of the physical benefits, but still Americans refuse to exercise. They come up with excuses such as “I’m too busy” and “I’m just not motivated.”
Mrs. Simonelli has solutions to these issues. As a guidance counselor, coach, and teacher, she has a lot on her plate, and yet, she still manages to fit physical fitness into her routine to keep her mind at ease. She points to the many free instructional videos on YouTube that can be accessed with no more than a few taps on a screen. Thousands of videos for yoga, weight-training workouts, aerobic exercises, and more are at everyone’s fingertips during the age of the internet.
Mrs. Simonelli shares, “The key is to explore, and then you will begin to reap the rewards of a healthy body and focused mindset.”
Being open minded to new exercises and routines can be all it takes to be introduced to a new love of fitness. Instead of starting with intimidating and extreme workouts, people can start off small by walking half a mile a day. If enjoyed, that will slowly turn into a full mile and then later a jog instead of a walk.
Kellenberg offers its students a wide variety of exercises on-campus, ranging from competitive sports to athletic clubs. The weight room in St. Sebastian Hall is open to any student interested in working out before the school day begins. Mr. Alfalla, a coach and physical education and health teacher, monitors these students every morning. He says, “Attending the weight room is similar to attending a guidance session. The only difference is you are your own guidance counselor. The obstacles you face in the weight room are all very personal. Students leave with the feeling of euphoria, knowing that they are putting forth ‘maximum effort’ on a daily basis, because that’s the ultimate achievement!”
Opportunities for fitness abound as well. Commercial gym memberships can be extremely expensive, costing upwards of 75 dollars per month. Instead of loading financial concerns onto the ever growing mountain of stress, simple calisthenics can do the trick for exercise just as well as going to the gym, if not better, and they require no fee. Push-ups, squats, and crunches as well as aerobic exercises are available no matter where someone is or what their financial situation looks like.
Fitness is much more than having a perfect beach-bod. It involves all aspects of the person, including the mind. Although it may be difficult for some people to find the motivation to workout, there are always options for exercise available, and the benefits are simply too great to ignore. Avoiding depression and depressive symptoms seems to be a more and more daunting task as society moves forward, but exercise is a solution that is effective and must be utilized to its full potential.