Feb. 15, 2010
Jessica Vaughan
Group fitness classes are an excellent way to get motivated and to keep in shape during the semester. For current students, a membership for the semester to group fitness classes at the Rec Center are only $5, and a membership for staff, faculty, or alumni is $10 per semester.
Cardio-Circuit takes place Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. This class is designed to give participants a thorough cardio workout that is equivalent to a 45 minute run on a treadmill. This class has a variety of different workouts so that the participants are kept on their toes and classes are never the same twice.
Vinyasa-Flow Yoga is Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. This class focuses very much on core power, where participants use the strength of their core muscles to base the movements. This style of yoga utilizes one move per breath; this strategy helps achieve the three goals of Vinyasa: strength, flexibility, and balance. This is the most popular group fitness class.
Aquasize is offered Thursday mornings at 6:30 a.m. There is only one class, compared to four last semester, to focus participation. As a low-impact class with high energy, this is good for people with painful or tender joints. The class focuses on building strength and it is a good opportunity to get in the water. Classes are held in the vortex pool, and all of the equipment is provided for participants.
Hip-Hop Dance (instructional) is Tuesdays at 4 p.m. This is a class that combines hip-hop dance moves with an upbeat, fast pace, so participants are still getting a good work out.
Ballroom Dance (also instructional) is Thursdays at 4 p.m. Students do not need to bring a partner, as the Rec Center will be using a sign-up sheet for matching, but bringing a roommate is encouraged.
Step Aerobics is Tuesdays at 5:30 pm. This class makes use of step platforms and involves a variety of movements using the step. This is a very intense cardio workout.
All of these classes are taught by undergraduate and graduate students. The classes are 45 minutes long, with the exception of aquacize. To keep updated on group fitness classes, visit Campus Recreation’s website at www.uccs.edu/campusrec or the Facebook group “UCCS Group Fitness.”