Amid late night Taco Bell runs and Pizza Hut lunches in the Student Union, exercising should be a priority for University students. But whether it’s a lack of time, space or just pure confusion, some students seem to have an ever-increasing list of excuses to avoid the gym. And now the University Student Recreational Complex’s circuit room, which opened in January, hopes to change that habit.With three rotations of 10 workout stations at 45-second intervals, this 30-minute session gives UREC more bang for the buck while providing a less complicated and intimidating way for students to reach recommended fitness goals.Young adults should do 30 minutes of cardio five days a week and eight to 10 strength training exercises twice a week, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.”We’re trying to use every minute square foot of this facility,” said Melissa Longino, University Recreation associate director of recreational services. “[The circuit room] gives us the opportunity to employ a space while … giving students the recommended full-body workout in a fast, thorough way.”Many students use the circuit room instead of waiting to use a machine in the main workout room or waiting to get in to a group fitness class, Longino said. Because students are constantly switching machines and stations, the fairly small circuit room can accommodate many students with practically no waiting time.”It is great for someone who wants something quick but may not really know what to do in the [main] weight room,” said Becky Ellzey, UREC personal trainer and dietetics senior. “Plus, you’re getting [the recommended] … amount of resistance and cardio, which you usually can’t do in just 30 minutes. “The circuit room’s specific workout routine includes “pump up” music and instructions on when and where to change stations. Upon walking in to the circuit room, students watch an instructional video where trainers explain how to do the routine.If students feel more comfortable with a trainer present, they are welcome to attend weekly group fitness classes, like Body Circuit, which are designed around the circuit room routine, Longino said.Any student can benefit from the circuit room, as the workout routine isn’t aimed toward either men or women. In fact, University Recreation has seen about an equal number of male and female students using the stations, Longino said.”Because you can choose the right weight that’s challenging for you, anyone can use it,” Ellzey said. “This room is really fit for anyone, especially beginners.”University Recreation will add a promotional video to the Web site today. Information is also provided in group fitness classes and through signage around the UREC, Longino said. But the biggest form of advertisement is still word of mouth.Bobby Johns, finance junior, heard about the circuit room through a friend and now uses it frequently.”It’s awesome,” Johns said. “Guys usually don’t incorporate cardio in workouts. [The circuit room] seems to fit everyone’s needs while still being pretty beginner-friendly.”While the circuit room is available during UREC hours to full-time students and UREC members free of charge, the circuit room’s equipment definitely wasn’t free.While the cardio equipment was mainly taken from group fitness classes and other existing UREC programs, making it relatively costless, the five pieces of machinery in the circuit room cost University Recreation roughly $33,000.The money for the equipment comes from a predetermined budget. University Recreation decides on the most effective and practical ways to use the budget’s contents, and this year, the circuit room made the cut.University Recreation doesn’t have any real way of tracking the number of people using the circuit room yet, Longino said. People can show up and use the circuit room at their leisure. “Everyone [at the UREC] is very excited about this room,” said Longino. “We know it was … a good decision because … [the circuit room] is continuing to be more and more populated. Students don’t have an excuse not to work out now.” —
Contact Natalie Roy at [email protected]
Circuit room gains popularity
January 28, 2009