The Fitness Center is a great addition to our School, for dedicated athletes and recreational users alike.  One of the most significant benefits of having this facility is that it promotes physical well-being, which is a state of mind.

Physical exercise facilitates the incorporation of other aspects of a healthy lifestyle such as nutrition, weight management and disease prevention.  All of us at Portsmouth Abbey benefit immensely from having a Fitness Center that provides the student body an outlet for stress management and plays an important role in improving self esteem, self-confidence, mental discipline, performance and coordination.

The Athletics Department has developed creative programs, specifically The Trail Club, to get the students to use the facility and become involved in physical exercise. In addition, the Fitness Center plays a major role in injury prevention.

At first, students can be easily intimidated by strength training.  Having the Fitness Center makes it easier to provide better instruction and coaching, therefore making all students more comfortable with the equipment and enthusiastic about using it. It is a priority of mine to work with students on injury prevention and coordinate rehabilitation programs for injured athletes.

 As the athletic trainer, having this terrific facility has been most helpful to me in assisting athletes who are recovering from injury.  Students are able to maintain their cardiovascular fitness and strength during their rehabilitation program due to the wide variety of machines available.  For example, if an athlete is recovering from a lower-leg injury, I will have them use the upper-body ergometer to maintain their cardiovascular status while giving rest to the affected limb.

Participating in a strength-training program, such as those we are now able to offer, may prevent injury from occurring during the sports season.  It gives the students a basic level of fitness by using a wide range of exercises to promote flexibility and coordination, decreasing the potential number of injuries.

The Fitness Center can accommodate entire teams where, together, the athletes can learn safe and proper lifting techniques and have the opportunity to ask questions about fitness, to the tremendous benefit of all.