The Y NSW offers free training for HSC Students

The YMCA NSW (the Y) is inviting HSC students to train for free at their nearest Y and destress throughout the hectic exam period.

With exams starting on 20th October, the Y NSW Chief Executive, Susannah Le Bron said the Y is backing Year 12 all the way and notes “this year has been exceptionally challenging for young people and the Y is absolutely committed to doing everything we can to take the pressure off.

“We know that a healthy body means a healthy mind and during the HSC, students’ normal team or recreational sport activities can fall by the wayside as the study demands pile up.

“We are removing the financial barrier and inviting our hardworking Year 12s to swap the pen and books for a treadmill or yoga mat at their local Y and reap the benefits.”

According to Deakin University, exercising for as little as 10 minutes a day promotes the flow of oxygen to the brain, relieving tension and improving focus and mood.

A recent study of Year 11 students by the University of Newcastle found that participating in short exercise sessions during study improved students’ concentration and helped them to feel more energised.

Lauren Bird, aged 18, trained at the Y for free while completing her HSC last year and said it helped her sleep and get motivated.

Bird advised “when you’re doing nine-hour study days, past paper after past paper and essay writing, it’s really helpful to change it up and switch from a study to a workout environment.

“Sometimes I’d wake up really stressed and not in the mindset to study, you just want to roll over and sleep and pretend the HSC isn’t happening… But I’d go to the gym, get in the headspace and come home ten times more ready to study.”

Bird enjoyed the Y fitness environment so much that she applied for a position halfway through her exams and now works as a Lifeguard with the Y at Kur-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre.

HSC students can access any Y-managed centre below for free until 11th November in NSW and 30th November in the ACT.

For a full list of terms of conditions or to sign up visit www.ymcansw.org.au/promotion/take-the-pressure-off/

Participating centres:

1. Mount Annan Leisure Centre

2. Broken Hill Integrated Wellness Centre

3. Broken Hill Regional Aquatic Centre

4. Ku ring Gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre

5. Hawkesbury Oasis

6. Gungahlin Leisure Centre

7. Lakeside Leisure Centre

8. Canberra Olympic Pool

9. Stromlo Leisure Centre

10. Manning Aquatic Leisure Centre

11. Great Lakes Aquatic & Leisure Centre

12. CentrePoint Sport & Leisure Centre

13. Oberon Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre

14. WSU (Kingswood, Bankstown and Hawkesbury)

15. YMCA Epping

16. YMCA Caringbah

As well as HSC students, young people aged 12+ years are invited to tune-in online and in-person with the Y during Mental Health Month which runs throughout October in Australia. The Y is marking this year’s theme, ‘tune-in’ with a variety of activities at Y Spaces across the state. Find out more here 

Image: Lauren Bird rained at the Y for free while completing her HSC last year and works as a Lifeguard with the Y at Kur-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre.