Howard Hall offers fitness classes for keeping in shape
(-- The Beacon)
By Amanda Blas Staff Writer blas13@up.edu
You've heard how important exercise is in college: it helps you avoid the ‘Freshman 15,' gives you a way to relieve some stress and helps you keep in shape. But what if stationery bikes, treadmills and the elliptical just aren't your thing? Keep yourself in shape with one of Howard Hall's fitness classes instead. Here are just a few of the classes Howard Hall has to offer this semester.
TOTAL BODY WORKOUT
Toning your entire body isn't a problem when it comes to senior Holly Duffy's ‘Total Body Workout' class.
"We do about 15 minutes of legs first, then some arms and a lot of abs at the end," Duffy said.
Duffy's class, which happens every Tuesday and Friday at 4 p.m., typically uses medicine balls and body weights. Her class also teaches students how to workout on their own.
"There's nothing complicated that we do," Duffy said. "You'll learn exercises that you can do on your own, even in your dorm room."
LATIN DANCE CLASS
If you plan on checking out senior Daymara Martinez's Latin dance class at 7 p.m. Wednesday, be ready to learn some dances straight out of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
"We do salsa, merengue, bachata and a little cha-cha here and there," Martinez said.
Martinez starts each class with a warm up and leaves the rest of the time for practicing dance moves.
"We're dancing for an hour, and it gets hot," Martinez said. "You end up sweating a lot."
Martinez, who started dancing when she was about three, decided to teach the class to expose UP students to a different style of dancing.
"I love dancing. It's part of my Cuban culture," Martinez said. "I'm always dancing with my family."
The class is a great way to meet new people and socialize while learning a different culture, according to Martinez.
"It's also a lot of fun, so you don't even notice you're getting a workout," Martinez said.
CARDIO PARTY
You may hear about some crazy parties on campus, but nothing compares to senior Rachel Hinnen's cardio party on Mondays at 5 p.m. and Thursdays at 4 p.m.
"The main point is to get a good workout and still have fun," Hinnen said.
According to Hinnen, her class aims to get away from traditional ways of working out.
"It's an alternative way to workout. You still sweat a lot and get your heart rate up," Hinnen said. "And you do it without having to do just squats and spin."
Hinnen's class typically involves a lot of dance with a mix of some abs and other aerobic workouts thrown in.
"As long as it's a good workout, it's all good," Hinnen said.
HULA CLASS
Join senior Skye Young every Thursday at 7 p.m. for an island workout with some hula dancing.
"It's a great way to work out your legs, thighs and hips," Young said.
Hula, a dance that originated in Hawaii, gives a whole new meaning to exercise.
"Not only does it make you break a sweat, but you tell a story using your body movements," Young said.
According to Young, hula is a great cardio workout because of its continuous movements. Not only does hula force you to use your abdominal and leg muscles to swing your hips, but it also has you using your arm muscles to do arm movements that give meaning to the dance.
"Hula definitely helps you with your coordination," Young said. "And with all the moving you have to do, if you don't feel a burn, you're just not doing it right."
(-- The Beacon)
(-- The Beacon)
