Free fitness classes
Student recreation center to offer ways spin, stretch and lift to fit
Students no longer have to enroll in a kinesiology activity course to enjoy the benefit of group exercise at Fresno State. The student recreation center staff is offering a variety of group classes this fall.
The front desk of the rec center indicated that four types of classes were chosen: Bodycombat, Bodypump, Bodyflow and spinning.
Bodycombat is martial arts based incorporating karate, tae kwan do, kung fu, kickboxing, muay thay and tai chi.
“The gym I came from in Morro Bay had Bodypump and Bodycombat,” Maia Jost said, the assistant director of fitness programs. “The idea is a pre-choreographed program so the instructors don’t have to pick music and make routines.”
Bodypump is a toning and conditioning class with weights that suits everyone. This class is ideal for anyone wanting to add strength training to their cardiorespiratory workout. The class will run 45 minutes to an hour.
Bodyflow is a mixture of yoga, tai chi and Pilates. According to a flyer posted at the front desk of the student recreation center, Bodyflow is “45 minutes of simple yet challenging exercises followed by 10 minutes of relaxation and meditation.”
Spinning is a 40-minute group cycling class that burns an average of 500 calories per ride. Spinning is for everyone regardless of their fitness level. Participants are able to maintain their own pace, and it is a low impact workout.
Jost will also oversee the development of the group exercise classes.
Jost is looking at students to fill the roles of the instructors. “Our facility is run by students for students,” Jost said. “During finals, we didn’t want our instructors to have to worry about having to make new routines.”
Jost received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly, and has five years of experience in the health and fitness industry.
Holly Northcross, a Fresno State junior, has visited the recreation center about 10 times, but said she didn’t like how there weren’t any classes offered. Northcross has a membership at Bally Total Fitness.
“I probably go to a Bally’s spin class twice a week,” Northcross said. “I’d most likely go to the spinning and weightlifting classes [at the recreation center].”
The company that created the programs guarantee that the programs are safe for a general audience. The company also backs up the programs if anything happens, Jost said.
“We’re hoping to have Bodypump and spinning by the beginning of November,” Jost said.
“Once the full program gets running, each class will be offered at least once a day.”
The plan is to have the classes start at 6:15 a.m. with a break mid-morning to early afternoon and resuming at 3 p.m. until the last class at 9:30 p.m., Jost said.
Jost is planning on having surveys at the front desk of the student recreation center so students can provide input as to what time classes should be offered. Fresno State is also in the process of creating a comprehensive wellness program targeting students with different components throughout the campus.
“Wellness services will eventually be offered in the spring,” Sam Gitchel said, a Fresno State health educator and newly appointed university wellness coordinator. “Right now we’re working more behind the scenes to establish structure.”
Students can take part by applying for the wellness ambassador positions. Wellness ambassadors is a student squad that will provide input and help develop the wellness services offered in the spring.
The first steps towards helping students develop healthier lifestyles begin with the group exercise classes.
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