Workout sessions promote fit living
Armed with tennis shoes and a need for speed, GCSU students find ways to workout and stay fit with upbeat exercise classes like core workouts, Zumba, Pilates, cardio and step.
Held in Centennial Center each week, students pay for the classes as part of their student activity fee at the beginning of each semester. Classes are scheduled Mondays through Saturdays and are taught by various volunteers, wellness majors and some paid aerobic teachers.
Another venue on campus for exercise is the Wellness Depot where students can workout at a time that fits their schedule.
Aerobic classes are coordinated by Allison Everett, a health and science professor at GCSU. Everett teaches various aerobics classes throughout the week.
“I’ve been here for 14 years and Allison has been in charge of the aerobics program since I can remember,” Dr. Bruce Harshbarger, vice president of student affairs, said. “She’s great.”
Instructor Barbara Coleman volunteers her time to teach Pilates at GCSU. Coleman is director of the Life Enrichment Center on North Jefferson Street, which supports adults with development disabilities.
“Exercise is a total-body wellness program,” Coleman said. “There are psychological and physiological benefits to exercise. It’s not just important for physical well-being, but for mental self-being as well.”
Brad Williams, a friend of Coleman’s and a member of the Life Enrichment Center, assists Coleman in teaching Pilates.
Pilates is a class taken barefoot that is focused on easy breathing, flexibility and strengthening. It has many yoga elements, making the exercise peaceful.
“It doesn’t seem like I’m working out when I do pilates,” junior psychology major Samantha Laurmore said. “I feel relaxed after; it’s a great de-stressor.”
Laurmore tries to make it to a Pilates class at least once a week, but she also attends the most popular aerobics class at Centennial Center – Zumba.
Zumba is a high-energy, fast-paced dance-based workout that draws many students. Students occasionally dress in ’80s wear to add more fun to the workout. The air is filled with fast-paced music, excitement and the sound of the instructor’s voice through a microphone.
“(Zumba) is the biggest class. It’s packed. Sometimes it’s hard to move because people are everywhere. I love it,” Elena Andreyeva, a senior economics major, said.
Zumba is the most popular class, followed by an abdominal class, which is a 30-minute workout which is offered Mondays through Thursdays. The abs class is fast-paced and set to techno remixes of pop songs, making that 5-pound weight seem more inviting as the class moves through various core-strengthening workouts.
If students are looking for something more rigorous, however, Centennial Center also offers cardio, hardbodies and weight classes for a more advanced workout.
Aerobics classes are a fun and convenient way to stay in shape for students and the “teachers are always helpful and full of energy,” Laurmore said.
Monday
8:15am Senior
9:00am Hi/Step/10
4:30pm Pilates
4:45pm Zumba
5:30pm Abs
6:00pm Step
Tuesday
9:00am Hardbodies
4:30pm Hardbodies
5:30pm Abs
6:00pm Zumba
Wednesday
8:15am Seniors
9:00am Step
4:30pm Pilates
4:45pm Zumba
5:30pm Abs
6:00pm Cardio
Thursday
9:00am Cardio
4:30pm Hardbodies
5:30pm Abs
6:00pm Zumba
Friday
8:15am Senior
9:00am Hardbodies
Saturday
10:00am Cardio and Weights
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 25 2009. Filed under Health & Science.
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