Activity classes break up long days

By Kim Anderson
The Collegian

As the sun comes up, the sounds of Nickelback are screaming from the alarm clock.

A quick shower and a bowl of cereal are next. Then it’s out the door and on the road.

The first battle is the highway traffic. Next is the hurdle of getting off at the Shaw avenue exit.

Finally, the arrival at the Fresno State parking lot leaves the task of finding a parking spot and getting into class before 8 a.m.

For Priscilla Saiz, a senior liberal studies major, this is a typical morning. Her three-day-a-week commute from Visalia comes with long days and tiresome nights.

But for some relaxation in the midst of all her classes, she takes a yoga class.

“Yoga is a nice escape in the middle of my day,” Saiz said. “Just getting the bad things out in breathing and meditating is helpful.”

And yoga isn’t the only class that helps her relax.

In fact, this isn’t the first time Saiz has taken a kinesiology activity to break up a long day of classes.

Other courses she has taken include pilates and basic massage.

“I’m a commuter with a full load so it’s nice to have something that I don’t have to worry too much about,” Saiz said. “It’s something just for me.”

Saiz is just one of the many students at Fresno State who are taking a kinesiology activity this semester.

Of the many reasons why students take these courses, the influence of friends seems to be one of the greatest.

“I’ve taken bowling twice,” Carla Coronado, a junior nursing major, said. “My roommate had taken the class once before so when she signed up again, I signed up.”

After taking bowling, Coronado enjoyed it so much she took it a second time herself.

Other reasons for taking these courses are to get exercise, fill up down time or to learn something new.

Many opportunities are offered to students to achieve any of those things — sometimes all at once.

“I personally go for things that can improve me physically and mentally,” Saiz said. “It really depends on what you like.”

One popular activity offered is golf. Although not recognized by many people as an activity they want to take, instructor Adam Smith said the two classes he has are very popular.

“Both of the classes I teach are full so the golf activity is pretty popular,” Smith said. “Most of the students heard about it by word of mouth.”

Chad Chrisman, a sophomore physical therapy major, has taken soccer, elementary weight training and aikido — all of which he discovered by looking through the class schedule.

“I searched the general catalogue and class schedule,” Chrisman said. “I would recommend them to anybody because it keeps a good balance of fun and school.”

The soccer class Chrisman is now taking allows him to play a sport he enjoys with people who like it just as much as he does. This makes the activity more challenging and fun, Chrisman said.

Kinesiology classes are also for people who want to learn the basics of an activity.

For junior Amber Eastes, taking kinesiology activities gives her an opportunity to learn fundamentals and participate in things she enjoys.

“Anyone who likes sports, dance or just being active should take these activities,” Eastes said. “I made new friends and was motivated to participate.”

The most common reason students don’t know about these classes is simply because they don’t know about them or where to look to find them.

These courses are offered by the Kinesiology department, whose program objective is to develop knowledge, skills and fitness through practical experience in movement and exercise, according to the 2006-2007 general catalog.

All of the classes are listed in the course catalogue under KAC. Most have a fee that is added to tuition.

“I would have never known about these classes without hearing about them from my roommate,” Coronado said. “I really think they should be advertised more around campus to allow people to get the stress relief or exercise they need while getting credit for it.”

Activity courses are offered in aquatics, recreational dance, individual activities and team sports.

Other classes such as fencing, martial arts, yoga and massage offer unique experiences.

All classes are one unit and co-ed, unless noted otherwise.

“I really recommend that other students take advantage of these classes,” Saiz said. “Classes and commuting take a lot out of me. Yoga reminds me to breathe in order to get through the day.”

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