Just after spring break, Northwestern Rec Sports, under the guidance of NW athletic facilities director Allison Cahill, started offering two new fitness classes: Core Fitness and Full Body Summer Shape Up.
Core Fitness offered Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Liz Foster, a senior athletic training major, is the instructor of this class.
“As Liz teaches this class, it’s so clear to see that she will be a personal trainer someday,” said Cahill. “Everything is done with a purpose.”
“Core Fitness is a 30-minute ab workout two times a week. There are two blocks with six exercises in each block that are performed for 30 seconds with a 10-second rest in between exercises.
“We complete each block three times with 30 seconds to 1 minute rest between blocks,” Foster said. “We start each session with a warm up and end it with a cool down, both consisting of a number of stretches. This workout is very individualized, meaning you can go at your own pace.”
Foster also noted that people of all fitness levels can attend the class. She set up the workouts with modifications and encourages people to take breaks as needed.
Full Body Summer Shape Up is a cardio class, similar to a HIIT program (High Intensity Interval Training). This class is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Shayla Murray, a senior sport management major, instructs Full Body Summer Shape Up.
Murray says that students and faculty of any fitness level can attend her class.
“It’s a very laid back and friendly atmosphere, and it’s an awesome way to meet new people and make new friends while getting in shape,” Murray said.
Both classes are held in the Bultman Center dance room. This, according to Cahill, was done intentionally. The workout area in the RSC, commonly called “the bubble” or “the fishbowl” can be intimidating to many students to work out in. Because these workout classes are held in the dance room, away from lots of the normal RSC traffic, the hope is that it is a less intimidating space for students to enjoy the new spring fitness classes.
These classes are free for NW students and employees.
“We are trying to reach a different group on campus. Everybody should have an opportunity for recreation,” Cahill said. “If you don’t play sports, and if you’re not comfortable working out in the fishbowl, this is made just for you.”
