So it’s your first year at U of T, and you just realized that a scheduling snafu has you set up to do the freshman hike for the better part of the semester. You’ve got all of ten minutes to get from your Modern Poetry course at Victoria College to Ancient Philosophy at Sid Smith.
By the time you get there you’re out of breath, your heart’s pounding and you’re not quite sure but you think you might be having a stroke. On the bright side you’ve also learned a valuable lesson: university students, contrary to popular belief, aren’t just floating disembodied heads and surviving a school year is just as much a physical as a mental challenge.
There are many important reasons to stay fit this fall, and avoiding another near coronary is just one of them. It’s been well documented that exercise and a healthy diet increase alertness and stabilize mood, but recent research has also shown that exercise positively affects the hippocampus, the section of the brain that is vital for memory and learning. One study found that the number of new brain cells in the hippocampus doubled for mice who had access to running wheels. It’s something to keep in mind when your own rat race starts in September.
Part of your tuition at U of T includes an incidental fee giving you membership to two superb athletic facilities on campus: Hart House and the Athletic Center. Both facilities are a testament to U of T’s overall commitment to sport and athletics, and provide a diverse range of programs in order to give students a fuller, more complete university experience.
“I think it’s really important for students to have a place to go on campus that isn’t in the classroom; it helps them relieve stress and take their minds off their school work for a little while, to take care of their bodies as well as their minds” says Karen Anderson, assistant director of athletics at the Hart House. The various workout areas at the Hart House and Athletic Center are a great resource for students seeking a place on campus to hang out, build social networks and meet new people, or simply to blow off some steam before a big exam.
Turn up the AC
The Athletic Center (55 Harbord Street, at Spadina) is a world class facility. The stadium- sized building has something for everyone, with the focus being on accessibility and inclusivity. The Olympic-sized pool on the main floor, one of three pools in the building, is open for recreational use and has elevator access to the main pool decks and workout areas.
You’re already a member so all you need is your T-card to check out the state-of-the-art weight rooms in the Strength and Conditioning Center (SCC), or the Field House located on the upper floor. The Field House contains a 200-meter multilane track as well as four multipurpose courts for recreational tennis, volleyball or field hockey. The track is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m, and there are women- only hours for the weight training room and the 50-meter pool, allowing for greater privacy for at least one hour each day.
Programs and activities range from Yoga and Step classes to personal training and martial arts. Drop-in classes (no registration required) are also offered in most of the major programs. There are many reasons people choose the AC, but much of its appeal can be attributed to its central location on the campus. It’s in the vicinity of many residences, and is also conveniently located next to a streetcar stop, which makes things easier on commuters.
Varsity Arena, an extension of the main facility, is also an important part of what the Athletic Center offers. Varsity Arena contains a skating rink as well as a two-star, FIFA-approved field. The artificial field turf is standard size for a football field, it’s safe and comfortable with a drainage system below that allows people to play rain or shine. In wintertime, the inflatable dome ensures that when the snow falls you’ll still be able to use the eight-lane track or the driving range.
Have a Hart
Hart House (7 Hart House Circle) allows students to work out in style. One of the most beautiful buildings on campus, the north wing of this swank Beaux Arts styled structure is completely devoted to fitness. From a 25-yard swimming pool, a banked track encircling both the upper and lower gyms, and fully- equipped weight and cardio rooms, it’s the answer for anyone looking to fill those often- wasted hours between classes. Hart House is an inviting place for all students, a great place to meet new people or hang out with old friends. With its gothic archways and panelled windows reminiscent of the Victorian age, the building is a rich tableau of Old World charm and modern sensibilities. Many of the programs offered cater to modern tastes, encompassing the latest trends from Pilates, yoga and hip hop, to Salsa and the art of foot massage. Or if pickup basketball is more your cup of tea, exclusive use of the gym is available through reservation.
Where the Hart House gym differs from other workout facilities on campus are its long hours. Open seven days a week and into the late night (see harthouse.ca for a full list of schedules), it is especially useful in accommodating those students who have very detailed work and class schedules. Another plus is Sammys Student Exchange, where students can grab some healthy food after a nice workout.
As Helen Opassinis, lead hand at Hart House says, “We’re a recreational facility attracting a more low-key type of athletic person, and a more relaxed crowd.” In addition to its workout facilities, Hart House has common rooms with billiard tables and a study library overlooking Kings College Circle, as well as a barber shop. Hart House is an excellent location for studying or hanging out, and is conveniently situated near University College. Students can come in between classes for a workout that seems more like a daily part of the school routine. Its name is emblematic of its appeal for most students, providing them with a warm, cozy atmosphere.
Your Say: Hart House versus the AC?
While for the most part working together to promote fitness at U of T, the two facilities nonetheless stand at opposite ends of a campus debate. Student athletes tend to be creatures of habit and when it comes to choosing a workout spot they tend to choose their allegiances and stick by them.
Jeff Myers
3rd year Masters student with OISE
Hart House or AC?: “I work out three to four times a week at Hart House because the AC is not free in the summer, and the building here is just a much more inspiring place to workout than the brutal ar- chitecture of the AC. It’s a comfort thing: it’s less intimidating to come to the Hart House. The AC just seems too serious.”
Rob Paris
4th year Arts and Science (Men’s Basketball) Hart House or the AC?: I never work out at Hart House. The facilities there aren’t up to par with the ones at the AC. There’s a lot more choice, more ma- chines, five gyms. All around they just offer more of a complete workout. If you’re a Varsity athlete you don’t go to Hart House.
Sammy Elam
5th year economics and psychology Hart House or the AC: It’s more cozy here than at the AC which just seems more impersonal. I tried both in my first year since I didn’t really know the difference, but overall I think at Hart House it’s easier to get used to things cause it’s smaller and not as overwhelming.
Heather Neyedli
1st year in grad school for Industrial Engineering
Hart House or the AC?: Hart house is actually closer and more convenient to where I study, but the AC—because of it’s size—tends to be less crowded during the day. Plus it’s a lot cooler here in the summer.
Masha Sidorova
4th year Physical Education (Women’s Tennis)
Hart House or AC?: I have worked out at both facilities and I think they are strategically located to serve their purpose when you are in that part of campus. The AC is a hop skip and jump off the Spadina streetcar while Hart House is closer to Gerstein library. Both different locations.
