By Caitlin Ramos, Staff Writer

The fitness rooms of the new east wing officially opened their doors to students and faculty in April. Located on the second floor, the main fitness room was made possible by a gift from an anonymous donor and is now available for supervised student use during the school day and after school hours, while the additional fitness room is used for health/wellness and dance classes.

The newly opened fitness room provides free weight and cardiovascular equipment for supervised student use. (Photo courtesy of Melissa W.)

The equipment in the main fitness room includes rowing machines, attack bikes, weights and other machinery, which will especially benefit the athletic teams. “Our teams will take advantage of the room and incorporate weight training into their schedules,” Athletic Director Ken Santos said. “It will help our athletes prevent injury, get stronger and more explosive, and feel confident in themselves.”

After the fitness room opened, Athletic Trainer Samantha Fanok began teaching weight training clinics on Wednesday nights. These classes are available to any student who signs up. Fanok has been working with Santos to create strength training programs, and she is excited to help students achieve their full athletic potential.

“The fitness room is an essential addition to the Trinity Hall community because of its countless benefits,” Fanok said. “Working out can increase strength, increase overall health, improve mental health and boost confidence. By having this space available to our girls, I hope to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for years to come.”

In addition, the freshman and sophomore classes have begun their integrated wellness course in the third trimester. Twice a cycle, students have this class in an additional fitness room, where they participate in conditioning, yoga and dance while learning how to safely and effectively use the new athletic equipment.

Sophomores stretch during their dance class in the additional fitness room. (Photo by Isabella Giallanza)

Students can use the fitness rooms during any of their free periods in the school day with prior approval and supervision by a trained faculty member. The athletic directors and students alike are excited at the prospect of being able to work on becoming fit and embracing a healthier lifestyle.

“I think we are really going to benefit from having a safe and accessible place to build our strength and agility,” sophomore Charlotte Walsh said. “We really appreciate the generous donation, and we can’t wait to see how much our sports teams and community at large will benefit from the beautiful fitness room.”