Graphic by Mia Katz/The Choate News
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Choate’s Athletic Department has made major adjustments, and in order to provide viable athletic options for students, a new program will be added this winter as an intramural option: Physical Wellness.
Physical Wellness essentially combines several intramural offerings into one option that is available throughout the day. “Instead of having specific intramural classes like Winter Running, Fitness, Weight-Training, Winter Rowing, Intramural Basketball and Intramural Hockey, which we normally have had, we will now just call each class Physical Wellness,” said Mr. Pat Dennehy, Associate Director of Athletics. “Students will be scheduled into a free block in their schedule during the day. They will have the opportunity to sign up to use the fitness center or downstairs weight room, or set up the tennis court, shoot hoops, play squash, skate on the rink, and more.”
The biggest difference between intramural fitness, which has been a popular option among students in past years, and Physical Wellness is the variety of options students have every day. In advance of their designated Wellness days, students will work with coaches to schedule their activities on a particular day. “We envision about 30 students assigned to a certain Physical Wellness class,” Mr. Dennehy added. “One of the main goals is to manage the capacity limits for each room in the Worthington Johnson Athletic Center.”
Students participating in Physical Wellness will meet three times a week, but because the activity is scheduled into students’ free blocks, the sessions are only 45 minutes long. Physical Wellness will begin once students return to campus in the new year, and only after the on-campus quarantine period. Meanwhile, the School has provided all students with access to CoachMePlus, an app with weekly workouts designed by Mr. Brian Holloway, Choate’s Head Athletic Trainer. The app provides a great way for students who are not otherwise part of a team to stay in shape and track their progress while at home.
A main goal of Physical Wellness is to allow students to stay active while still having fun with their peers in a more casual environment. “The physical wellness opportunities will give our Choate students a chance to explore a variety of activity options that they are interested in that are beneficial to their overall health,” said Mr. Roney Eford, Director of Athletics.
