Campus gyms, various PHED classes offer cheap alternative

By Brandy Voirin/reporter

Haylie Jones/The Collegian  Above: NE student Elizabeth Martinez gets assistance from NE student Brittany White in the free weight room at the NE gym. Right: John Hurd lifts weights on South Campus.
Haylie Jones/The Collegian Above: NE student Elizabeth Martinez gets assistance from NE student Brittany White in the free weight room at the NE gym. Right: John Hurd lifts weights on South Campus.

Staying in tip-top shape while earning a college degree is hard, but TCC has the facilities to help.

It seems basic cardio and weightlifting isn’t cutting it anymore. In the world of $100-an-hour trainers, private yoga studios, gyms and a new crop of fitness-inspired workouts popping up monthly, students could be broke before their careers begin. But some of the best fitness classes are offered on TCC campuses for a fraction of the price.

Zumba is currently one of the hottest and most popular group fitness classes. A combination of dance-inspired movements, cardiovascular activity and fun Latin music, the class can feel more like a high-energy dance party than a rigid workout.

The cost is about $15 a class at most dance studios, but $60 for a semester of classes on campus. And some campuses offer free Zumba sessions.

Supermodel Adriana Lima credits a kickboxing routine for her figure. Students can get a similar routine on NW Campus with instructor Ryan Stewart. The class is similar to Muay Thai, a style of mixed martial arts.

“For some students, the class is really hard, but most leave with a sense of accomplishment and confidence,” Stewart said.

Students can expect to spend a good portion of the class focusing on various punches and kicks. Not only is kickboxing an intense cardio workout, it’s also good for toning muscles, he said. The punches students do throughout class will help them sculpt their arms, and the kicking portion will help define their legs and behind, Stewart said. The cost is about $35-$85 per class at local kickboxing gyms, but $60 for a semester of classes on campus.

Pilates or ballet-inspired workouts focus on the moves that help one walk with an upright, attractive posture, which is effective at taming back pain. The cost is about $150 a month for 30 classes, $22 a class at local studios or gyms, but $60 for a semester of classes on campus.