High energy and motivating music is just one example of what one of the classes, Zumba, offers in the Wellness Center.
“What doesn’t it offer? We have tons of stuff,” Michelle Thompson, associate director of wellness programs, said. “We have fitness programming, group exercise programing, aquatics, outdoor recreation, waterfront, intramurals. We have a lot of opportunities for students to stay and get active.”
Thompson has been working in the Wellness Center for 10 years.
“I find that the Wellness Center is popular because we have a variety of events that everyone can get involved with,” Lauren Kenney, sophomore student worker in the Wellness Center, said.
There is an average of 400 students working out each day. There are programs and opportunities geared toward both men and women.
“There are more males lifting weights compared to females, but there are more females taking group exercise classes,” Thompson said.
Some of the group exercise classes offered at the Wellness Center are Ab Attack, Beach Bod, Burn 360, Cardio Core, Cycling, Step Xpress, TurboKick, Yoga and Zumba.
Burn 360 is a combination of strength and cardio conditioning that targets major muscle groups using only your body weight. This class is offered on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4-5 p.m.
Beach Bod, also known as Boot Camp, gives participants the opportunity to do a 60-minute power-packed cardio and strength workout that uses the entire body.
The Wellness Center also offers a Jump Start program, which is a personal training program offered to students.
Students are paired with a Healthy Lifestyle Coach, have a fitness assessment and schedule workout sessions to promote healthy eating and living habits.
Events to look out for include horseback riding on Feb. 9.
“We will have a beach horseback ride,a and tour of the sea turtle hospital, where we will actually get to go into the surgery room and watch while they are performing treatments on the turtle, and ask questions…We also have a ride scheduled on the only passenger shrimp boat in the U.S. It is a very interesting experience,” Thompson said.
There will also be a week-long trip to Jekyll Island, Ga. during spring break.
“We will go camping there, and stay at Jekyll Island on the campground,” Thompson said.
Other trips include paintball, deep sea fishing, archery and a manatee snorkel trip.
“We are the place to have fun, and be healthy,” Thompson said.
