By Colt Langley/managing editor
NE Campus’ health and physical education department will have its first Saturday sessions, this one focusing on yoga and Pilates beginning at 11:45 a.m. Sept. 18 in the NHPE center.
HPE instructor Eli Koenn will lead the class and said it is for experienced and non-experienced students.
“It’ll be an introductory-type course where we’ll provide participants with modifications to either make things easier or more challenging based on individual strengths and weaknesses,” Koenn said.
Each semester, the department hosts free Saturday sessions for those interested in physical activity.
The program is to “benefit the weekend student and to allow more participation for students, faculty and staff,” physical education instructor Kim Kerby-Dickman said. “The HPE department would like to promote fitness classes to both the credit and noncredit student.”
Participants should bring a valid ID and class schedule. Students will then receive wristbands, which are required for participation in activities.
“Most of the HPE classes will allow extra credit or a make-up if you attend/participate in a Saturday session. This would be by consent of your instructor,” Kerby-Dickman said.
Aside from yoga and Pilates on Saturday, other sessions will feature recreational games including volleyball and badminton, water games featuring kayaking and water polo as well as racquetball and tennis tournaments. The last session will have dance classes for Zumba dancing and hip-hop.
HPE instructor Bart Desender said students don’t realize such classes are also offered as regular semester classes.
“The purpose of Saturday sessions are so students realize how some of these credit classes are,” he said. “They’re a lot of fun. Most people take them because they want to. It’s like a teaser we’re doing to give a preview of classes we offer all semester long.”
NE student Naomi Martinez, who attended some of the sessions last semester, said she sees herself going again.
“They were a lot of fun, and I definitely advise everyone to attend at least one. My favorite is the salsa/Zumba class,” she said.
Kerby-Dickman said she hopes the attendance is as strong as it was in the spring.
