24
MONDAY AUGUST 18,2008
AROUND CAMPUS
REC CENTER (CONTINUED FROM 22)
it," she said.
The recreation center will continue to offer its past programs. One of the most prominent features in the recreation center, the rock wall, is part of the outdoor pursuits program. Backpacks, tents, canoes and kayaks are all available for rent.
"It's pretty cheap to go on a canoe trip for the weekend," Chappell said. "During the Wakarusa Festival all the inventory was out."
The KU Fit program offers more than 40 aerobic exercise classes, all taught by students. Lexi Childs, Wichita senior, teaches a Pilates class and a cardio dance party class.
"It's a blast helping other people work out and helping them work out in a fun atmosphere," Childs said. "It gets bored working out at the same level on machines. When you're in a group setting it makes it a little more fun."
Stacey Pope, Topeka junior and kickboxing instructor, agreed that
exercising in a group provided a different dynamic than working out alone.
"There's a sense of solidarity within all the girls in the class," she said.
Forty free personal training sessions are offered every two weeks. All the personal trainers are also students and are health, sports and exercise majors or have certification. Childs said she recommended students take advantage of the personal training sessions to help them develop a workout routine.
"A lot of times people aren't motivated because they might not know what to do," she said. "You have an instructor motivating you instead of you motivating yourself."
Chappell said that no matter where students exercised, it was important that they get in the habit of working out.
"It's a lifestyle hopefully everyone can engage in," Chappell said.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Students participate in a yoga class at the Student Recreation Fitness Center. The rec began a $6.3 million expansion in May 2007.