Fitness Center begins offering group exercise classes

As winter draws near, many are looking for a way to beat the winter blues. One way to stay happy and healthy in the cold months to come is to join a group fitness class with UREC.

Hardin-Simmons’ Department of University Recreation (UREC) began hosting group fitness classes in the new Fletcher Fitness Center on October 8th, 2018. Courses are offered Monday through Friday and are instructed by certified teachers who have received specialized training through nationally-accredited programs. Classes are currently open to faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Inside Fitness Center

The classes are being offered at no cost for the first year, until August 31, 2019. The classes have a cap on how many people can attend and will run on a first-come, first served basis. Participants are required to check in at the front desk, where they will receive a colored card that needs to be presented to the instructor for the participant to enter the class. Before attending their first class, members are asked to download the HSU App, which will be used to check into classes and to send out notifications regarding class meetings. A variety of courses are available and include Hatha Flow Yoga, TRX Basics, Bootcamp, Tabata, and STRONG.

Hatha Flow Yoga is taught by Leilani Carrasco and takes place in the Group Exercise room in the Mabee Complex. This is a gentle class that aims to align and opens the body to allow for positive energy flow and tension relief. This class includes sitting, standing, and inverted poses, but modifications will be available for beginners. UREC recommends taking this class for stress relief, relaxation, or a good stretch.

TRX Basics is targeted towards muscle strength and toning. Taught by Chantelle Berger, TRX Basics is held in the fitness center cardio area on the first floor. By using the overhead leverage TRX straps, students use their body weight to strengthen both upper and lower-body muscle groups.

The Bootcamp class is designed to provide students with improved strength and endurance. The course is taught by Haylee Rogers, who uses high-intensity interval and circuit training to improve student’s stamina. This class takes place on the indoor turf and uses Bootcamp-style fitness equipment to help participants reach their optimal performance level.

Tabata is a shorter course that utilizes interval-training to get a full-body workout during a lunch break. Chantelle Berger teaches the class, where students work for twenty seconds, and then rest for ten seconds. The course only takes thirty minutes to complete, but that time is more than sufficient to gain an increased heart rate and a full-body workout. Tabata is held in the Group Exercise room in the Mabee Complex.

Inside Fitness Center

STRONG is a non-dance-based class by the creators of Zumba. Leslie Montez leads the class on the basketball courts in the fitness center. The course revolves around high-intensity training set to music. Students will complete well-known exercise moved to a beat. This class is recommended by UREC as a fun way to get active.

The new fitness center is also open for individual exercise seven days a week. Faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited to utilize the many amenities of the Fletcher Fitness Center on Monday through Saturday from 6 pm to 12 pm, and on Sunday from 1 pm to 12 pm.