The YMCA NSW (the Y) is inviting HSC students to train for free at their nearest Y and destress throughout the hectic exam period.
With exams starting on October 20, CEO of the Y NSW Susannah Le Bron said the Y is backing Year 12 all the way.
“This year has been exceptionally challenging for young people and the Y is absolutely committed to doing everything we can to take the pressure off,” she said.
“We know that a healthy body means a healthy mind and during the HSC, students’ normal team or recreational sport activities can fall by the wayside as the study demands pile up.
“We are removing the financial barrier and inviting our hardworking Year 12s to swap the pen and books for a treadmill or yoga mat at their local Y and reap the benefits!”
According to the Deakin University, exercising for as little as 10 minutes a day promotes the flow of oxygen to the brain, relieving tension and improving focus and mood.
A recent study of Year 11 students by the University of Newcastle found that participating in short exercise sessions during study improved students’ concentration and helped them to feel more energised.
Lauren Bird, 18, trained at the Y for free while completing her HSC last year and said it helped her sleep and get motivated.
“When you’re doing nine-hour study days, past paper after past paper and essay writing, it’s really helpful to change it up and switch from a study to a workout environment,” she said.
“Sometimes I’d wake up really stressed and not in the mindset to study, you just want to roll over and sleep and pretend the HSC isn’t happening… But I’d go to the gym, get in the headspace and come home ten times more ready to study.”
Lauren loved the Y fitness environment so much; she applied for a job halfway through her exams and now works as a Lifeguard with the Y at Kur-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre.
HSC students can access any Y-managed centre below for free from Oct 1 until November 11 in NSW and Oct 1 until November 30 in the ACT.
For a full list of terms of conditions or to sign up click here.
Participating centres:
1. Mount Annan Leisure Centre
2. Broken Hill Integrated Wellness Centre
3. Broken Hill Regional Aquatic Centre
4. Ku ring Gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre
5. Hawkesbury Oasis
6. Gungahlin Leisure Centre
7. Lakeside Leisure Centre
8. Canberra Olympic Pool
9. Stromlo Leisure Centre
10. Manning Aquatic Leisure Centre
11. Great Lakes Aquatic & Leisure Centre
12. CentrePoint Sport & Leisure Centre
13. Oberon Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre
14. WSU (Kingswood, Bankstown and Hawkesbury)
15. YMCA Epping
16. YMCA Caringbah
As well as HSC students, young people aged 12+ years are invited to tune-in online and in-person with the Y during Mental Health Month which runs throughout October in Australia. The Y is marking this year’s theme, ‘tune-in’ with a variety of activities at Y Spaces across the state. Find out more here.
MEDIA | Madeleine Clarke 0400 974 816 or Andrew Williams 0439 427 522
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