Health and Fitness

Meet the Mason Nation: Olga O’Brien, general manager, Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:37:11 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Olga O’Brien, general manager, Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center Lauren Reuscher Wed, 09/13/2023 - 13:37

Olga O'Brien, general manager of the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Olga O’Brien

Job: General Manager, Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center

Olga O’Brien, general manager of the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center, started her journey at ��AV as an international student. O’Brien came to Mason from Prague on a volleyball scholarship. As a student, she started working as a part-time volleyball instructor at the Freedom Center in 1999—the year the center first opened. And she has been there ever since.

The Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center, a 110,000-square-foot facility at Mason’s Science and Technology Campus, operates under a Tripartite agreement including Mason, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas. The university manages all aspects of the daily administration and operation of the facility—its pools, gymnasium, exercise studios, racquetball courts, child care center, staffing, summer camps, and community programming.

O’Brien has served in many roles at the Freedom Center, including programs manager, interim general manager, and general manager since 2017. A two-time Mason alum with a master’s in recreation administration and bachelor’s in physical education and health, O’Brien has had an indelible impact on the Freedom Center community.

Never the same routine. O’Brien said every day is different when working in a community recreation facility—and that’s what she loves about her job. “On a daily basis, I have the opportunity to interact with our members, staff, community partners, and university colleagues,” O’Brien said. “Each day presents different scenarios to navigate. I like the unknown of each day and the new challenges that arise.”

The Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center is home to many fitness opportunities, such as an indoor track, pools, and basketball courts. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Inspiring one another. The positive atmosphere of the Freedom Center motivates O’Brien and her team. Helping members reach their health and wellness goals is one of the biggest on-the-job rewards—and the endorphins are contagious. “Seeing members’ smiles as they check in to start their work out, or walk out of a group exercise class after pushing themselves to the next level—this inspires my team and me to continue working hard to improve each day,” O’Brien said. “We truly have created a ‘Freedom Family’ and look forward to seeing each other succeed each day.”

Learning from the best. O’Brien said her experiences as a student athlete and her education prepared her for a career in the recreation industry. “In addition to the knowledge learned in the classroom, I was able to grow as an individual and leader to better serve my team and facility,” O’Brien said. She also recognizes those who helped her along the way. “The most significant influence on my work has been my supervisor, mentor, and role model for more than 20 years: Ron Carmichael, director of administration and operations for the SciTech Campus,” O’Brien said. “He has provided opportunities to grow and find my specific leadership and management style, supported my goals and ideas, and shares a common passion for the health and wellness industry.”

Sports and serenity. When she’s not at work, O’Brien keeps pulse of her family’s athletic pursuits. “My sons’ passion for competitive basketball keeps us very busy, between practices and games,” she said. “I find joy and peace with gardening, yoga, playing pickleball, and volleyball.” Finding new places to travel and adventures to experience with her family also top the list.

Learn more about the Freedom Center

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George Mason professor says exercise routines during pandemic can safeguard physical and mental health

Colleen Rich — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:12:51 +0000

George Mason professor says exercise routines during pandemic can safeguard physical and mental health Colleen Rich Mon, 01/11/2021 - 11:12

��AV fitness expert Oladipo Eddo, an assistant professor of kinesiology in Mason’s College of Education and Human Development, said that it’s important to make physical and mental exercise a part of your routine in 2021. In addition, Eddo emphasized the need to stay socially engaged and avoid isolation.

Oladipo Eddo

“It’s important to get back to or start a healthy routine during the pandemic,” said Eddo. “The magic recipe to staying healthy is to remain physically, mentally and socially active.”

Eddo said that well-intentioned efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus have inadvertently negatively affected health and well-being. He suggests refocusing energy on maintaining health by establishing new routines for physical activity. Walking, Eddo said, is a great choice for getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise weekly.

“But with winter weather around the corner, outdoor activities like walking may become more challenging,” said Eddo. “Consider supplementing with yoga, Pilates, and modified calisthenics and band exercises. This can be accomplished through group virtual workouts and activity tracker challenges and competitions with friends and family members.”

Eddo emphasized that physical activity has been shown to lead to decreased susceptibility to diseases such as diabetes and dementia, as well as reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

In addition to devoting time to physical activity, Eddo suggested making it a New Year’s resolution to focus on dietary habits.

“The positive effects of exercise are significantly increased when a heart healthy diet is introduced,” Eddo said. “Consider trying new recipes, challenging yourself and rewarding your palate.”

Eddo said that mental exercise is also important to safeguarding health.

“Try new mentally stimulating activities,” Eddo said. “It has been suggested that gaining new skills creates new connections between brain cells and brain areas. Read a new book, learn a new language, pick up playing chess or gardening.”

Eddo added that staying socially engaged can be challenging during the pandemic, but that maintaining relationships is also important for emotional health.

“Maintaining social connections has positive effects on brain function, mood, and potentially wards off depression,” Eddo said. “This might be a good time to pick up playing board games with family members. Consider texting less and speaking more, either through the phone or video calls.”

Eddo grew up mostly in Nigeria. He came to the United States to study at Mason. He earned his BS, master’s degree and doctorate all at Mason.

To reach Oladipo Eddo directly, contact him at oeddo@gmu.edu

For more information, contact Anna Stolley Persky at apersky@gmu.edu

About George Mason
��AV is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 38,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility.