Monthly Archives: February 2025

Stay Active, Stay Connected: Free Fitness Classes With TRU Recreation 

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School can be a difficult thing to handle. With the stress of class and all the assignments and tests you have building on your plate sometimes it can be hard to find time to stay active and take care of your mental health. If you’re new to Kamloops you may find it difficult to meet new people. Well TRU recreation offers a variety of fitness classes for students and TRU staff members to take. 

Hosted in the Old Gym on campus, TRU has a week’s schedule full of classes you can browse and take. It is a great way to stay active and relieve some stress. The program includes classes such as Zumba, Pilates Fusion, Bootcamp Circuit, Strength Training, and various yoga sessions. The classes run Mondays through Fridays, with multiple different times throughout the day. All classes are 40 minutes long and open for all levels of experience, so there’s no need to worry about having never taken a fitness class before. 

After long days of studying and school, a nice way to take a break and refresh, is to move your body. Exercise is widely known for the benefits it has on mental health. These fitness classes can help release endorphins through physical activity, which helps boost your mood, clear your mind and reduce anxiety. 

Besides the health benefits, the classes can offer a great place for you to meet new people. If you’re new to the city or the university, sometimes you may find it hard to meet new friends. These group classes can offer a safe space with you to interact with like minded people. Whether you bond over a tough workout or encourage each other during a challenging session, these shared experiences can lead to lasting friendships.

The best part is… they’re all free! So that means you reap all the rewards of a quick workout without any extra cost. So why not check out a yoga class you know you’ve always wanted to try or even a Zumba class to pump up your energy!

Beyond the Loss: A Team Tied Together by Brotherhood, Volleyball, and Heart.

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In late November 2023, the TRU WolfPack Men’s volleyball team was faced with detrimental heartbreak after a tragic motor vehicle accident took place just a turn off the Kamloops campus. One teammate, Owyn McInnis, who is forever loved, was taken far too soon. The tragedy also left Riley Brinnen and Owen Waterhouse, who were left with life-altering injuries and a long, strenuous journey ahead of them.

Though true to the name, the WolfPack honoured their name with unimaginable amounts of unity and resilience. The brotherhood shared by this group of men brought them back to complete their season in honour of their beloved teammates. The Men’s Volleyball team has shown what it means to be a Pack member; love and honour live within the team.

At the 2024-2025 season opener, dry eyes were hard to find in the Tournament Capital Gymnasium. The return of both Riley Brinnen and Owen Waterhouse was enough for a standing ovation itself. The bravery and vision of recovery were shown to the packed gymnasium when, before the first set, Owen Waterhouse displayed a beautiful ceremonial serve (Pictured Above). Immediately, he was wrapped in the arms of his teammates while the gym erupted with noise.

The 2024-25 season is coming to a close for these young men, some moving on to the next stages in their lives and some anxiously awaiting the next season under the bright TCC lights. This season was a continuation of highlighting the resilience of the Pack; their determination to move the team forward was outstanding and overall inspiring.

The numbers on the scoreboard ultimately decide the game-winner, but I think anyone who attended a WolfPack Volleyball game this year can testify that the real victory lies in the strength and love of these young men on the court.

In everlasting, loving memory.

Owyn McInnis – Men’s Volleyball – Thompson Rivers University. (n.d.). Thompson Rivers University. https://gowolfpack.ca/sports/mens-volleyball/roster/owyn-mcinnis/1140

Lucy Millam: A student athlete who continues to work on her studies, her sports, but most importantly herself!

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How Lucy stays healthy as a student athlete

Lucy Millam is a student athlete who plays on the women’s volleyball team. She is currently in her third year at Thompson Rivers University. She moved to Kamloops to be able to be on our Wolfpack. When she is at home in Victoria, she said that she is able to have a full fridge and daily meals made by her family, which is she very grateful for. When she is on her own in Kamloops, she has challenges surrounding a full fridge. Her main issue is that her mode of transportation is not always accessible as she does not have a car. If she is missing something for her meal prep, she may not be able to quickly get that missing ingredient. She has her meal preps as a way to save time due to her busy schedule, including travel, school work, practice and many more responsibilities.

How Lucy deals with stress in her daily life

Stress is not linear. Stress does not have a certain affect on people, it is unpredictable. The management of stress is of the utmost importance. Lucy has many responsibilities including her studies, her work and her sport. Being a member to the Wolfpack means a lot to Lucy. It can be very difficult to maintain a balance whilst being so busy, which can further stress and lead to unhealthy habits to develop. Lucy maintains her stress by having a strong support system behind her. Her support system allows for a calming presence which can be hard to maintain on your own. She also attacks her stress on her own by keeping a journal near by so that she is able to write down what she must complete in both the school and the sport world.

How Lucy avoids burnout

Lucy fears the word burnout. She fears it may happen to her. She does not deny that negative feelings arise but TRU and their resources make it possible to avoid burnout and continue to thrive in the sports world. She tends to focus on the positives and while she may feel feelings of doubt and anxiety, she realizes what has come and what is continuing to come from her playing at a high level. She has travelled across Canada and worldwide even, venturing all the way to Turkey to play the sport she loves. She gets to play her sport with her friends beside her and continue to further her connections to volleyball. She loves volleyball so much and is forever honoured that TRU allows her to represent them in such a competitive yet inclusive manner.