It would be an understatement to say COVID-19 has severely hampered the way people across the world live their day-to-day lives. 

Each day people’s news feeds are bombarded with important yet grim pandemic news, causing fear, stress and anxiety to many. It has changed the way people work, how students study, and the way everyone socializes. 

COVID-19 has also changed the way people stay active. 

Fitness life at the University of Saskatchewan has felt the full impact of the pandemic, with several fitness facilities remaining closed since March 2020. Closure of these facilities has resulted in a number of cancellations of the health and fitness activities that students lean on to stay fit. These activities include campus intramural leagues along with U SPORTS and Canada West conferences and championships. 

For the few facilities that remain open, such as the Fit Centre, the heavy restrictions have altered their operations, and the number of fitness services typically available to students have been cut. 

As the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches and students continue to set their focus on their studies, fitness has not been forgotten. 

In a five-part photo series, the Sheaf explores five ways that U of S students have chosen to continue an active lifestyle. You will be following the active ways of students, from reduced fitness classes and the cold outdoors to new and innovative ways of interacting with one another in pursuit of living a healthy lifestyle. 

Spin into shape

Part one of the series starts at the central location for fitness within the U of S campus. 

The pulse of the PAC is faint compared to what one may see during the course of a non-pandemic stricken school year, but inside Room 101, the mood and music is as upbeat as ever. The voice of fitness instructor Jocelyn Watson motivating her students over a pumped-up soundtrack gives the image of a common spin class with a unique twist.

Normally with a capacity for 20 or more riders, the Wednesday class now has Watson looking at under half of that with only eight pre-registered students per session. Along with limited capacity, government health restrictions also mandate maintaining physical distancing and mask-wearing at all times. 

In order to maintain distance among riders, rows of red squares marked with tape make up the designated seating spots, all facing a single square at the front of the class. For roughly an hour, three times a week, Jocelyn puts riders through their paces, pushing through numerous virtual climbs and cool-down cycles. 

With COVID-19 wiping out facilities such as the rock climbing wall, the gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and racquetball and the pool, USask Rec still offers a variety of fitness routines and workouts for students. Virtual workouts and bootcamps are scheduled weekly for any students looking to keep active during the school year, but for students looking to really step their game up, attending spin class inside Room 101 at the PAC is a sure way to do that.

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Nicholas Saretzky | Contributing Photojournalist