Classes pump up fitness offerings

By Sarah Marie Pittman
The Collegian

Justin Timberlake may be bringing sexy back, but Fresno State’s Student Recreation Center is bringing fun back to working out with group exercise classes.

“I think it’s a mood lifter,” said Kristyn Difalco, a 22-year-old liberal studies major, after attending a group exercise class for the first time. “It puts you in a good mood and you get a good workout.”

Group exercise classes were first offered at the Recreation Center in November 2006 as a way to boost gym participation, especially for females.

“The demographic of campus is predominately female but the demographic of the gym membership is exactly opposite,” Maia Jost, assistant director in charge of fitness programs, said. “We want to make sure that there’s something that appeals to everyone.”

The two classes available are BodyPump, an hour-long stationary barbell workout that focuses on strength and toning through the use of low weights and high repetition, and Spinning, a 45-minute to hour long class that combines the idea of a stationary gym bike with the intensity of a road bike.

The programs are pre-choreographed, certified licensed programs that are taught by highly-trained students. BodyPump and BodyCombat, a class slated to start next week, are licensed through international fitness company Les Mills. Every three months the programs are updated with new choreography and music.

“We take pride in the quality of our programs,” Jost said. “The idea behind licensing our programs is that our participants know that it’s safe.”

The classes offer a different way to work out by incorporating music, fitness and group morale.

“My favorite thing about teaching the class is seeing people coming to the class. Not just coming, but coming back. Group fitness is just about having fun,” Andrew Huang, a 21-year-old kinesiology major and exercise instructor, said.

“It’s fun to see people want to work out,” Stephanie White, a 23-year-old kinesiology junior and instructor, said. “We tell them what they’re doing, how they’re doing, what muscle groups they’re working out. You can burn up to 500 calories in a workout. We have it all planned out for you.”

Rose Frost, a 30-year-old liberal studies major, came to her first BodyPump class because she recently had twins and wanted to work out her whole body.

Frost said she was impressed with her instructor. “I liked her a lot. She encourages you,” Frost said. “I would definitely recommend it.”

During the Recreation Center’s anniversary week, Feb. 5 through 9, two new programs will be introduced. BodyCombat is a 55 minute martial arts based fitness program that includes moves from karate, kung fu and kickboxing. BAT stands for butt, abs and thighs and is a 20 minute class with rotating stations that utilize exercise balls, steps and hand weights.

“I think BodyCombat is just gonna explode,” Huang said. “We’ve gotten a lot of response from BodyCombat and the program hasn’t even started.”

“We’re hooting and hollering. Jumping around,” White said. “The enthusiasm is high. It’s so much fun. We’re dying to teach.”

The classes, as well as membership to the Recreation Center, are free to students. Non-students who are accompanied by a student pay $5 a day. Faculty and staff may attend the Recreation Center by paying a membership fee.

The Spinning class has room for 19 students and to reserve a spot in the class one must sign up at the front desk two days ahead or call by phone one day before the class.

The other classes are on a first come, first serve basis and can accommodate up to 60 people.

BodyPump and Spinning are offered Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. The schedule will change Feb. 5 during the addition of the new classes. The current schedule is available at the front desk.

“It’s a good way to get involved and something you can come back to,” Jost said. “Classes are really fun. You meet a lot of people. It gets addicting. It’s easy to love it and come back.”

Comment on this story in the Features forum >>