Running into a Community by karlie
hayes
| design by zoe liau
For me, nothing beats the feeling of
embarking on a run with a group of friends. In high school, I looked forward to reaching the bleachers by the track, seeing my teammates clustered together, and pushing through tough workouts side-byside. And in college, I cherished memories of carefree chats with friends as we took on the streets of Brentwood. Running itself has been enormously helpful for my physical and mental health, but my favorite part of the sport is the connections I have made along the way.
photo: jed villejo/unsplash
total wellness ▪ spring 2021
This connection between exercise and social health is especially relevant right now—excitingly, UCLA announced that they are planning on holding in-person classes next school year. And as we begin to move back to campus, many of us will be searching for a way to build and strengthen our communities, whether that means rekindling old friendships, making new connections, or finding a sense of belonging. Group exercise, both virtual and in-person, can be a great way to build those connections. And of course, an exercise community can be a motivator to build exercise habits and get a better workout!
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