Working out at the school fitness centre is no longer just an indoor pursuit at St. Margaret’s.
A new “athletics and wellness space” at the independent girls’ school — home to about 350 students — not only doubles the size of the previous fitness facility, it brings nature into the equation.
“It has an outdoor covered area, so students can move out into the courtyard and do yoga or they can take the rowing machines out there,” said head of school Cathy Thornicroft.
The outdoor area is 1,200 square feet.
While team sports have always been important to St. Margaret’s, the individual part of being active can be stressed at the new facility, Thornicroft said. She said it came about after checking with the students in a survey last year, looking at such things as where their stress comes from.
“The big focus was on health and wellness, mindfulness, and we decided that we wanted to create the wellness centre,” Thornicroft said. “It’s got a spin-bike section; it’s got free weights.”
Physical-education instructor Jeanine Stannard said fitness can give students balance in their lives and lead to healthy habits in the long term.
A unique aspect of the new facility is a “living wall” meant to welcome people, Thornicroft said.
“So it’s a vertical garden. It just kind of emulates what it is we’re talking about — being connected to nature, that balance between academic rigour and health, and just a very quiet, calming space for the girls.”
Glass walls, one to the outside and one to the inside, keep things bright.
Overseeing the operation are a pair of co-op students from the University of Victoria.
As much as the facility benefits students, it is hoped that parents take advantage of it, as well, Thornicroft said.
“We have been running a wellness program for the staff for the last two years, and so we’ll reach out and invite parents to come and use the space, as well. So it will be used by everybody.”
The overall cost of the expansion was $100,000 to $150,000.
jwbell@timescolonist.com
