Student interest in Recreation Center increases before spring break

Angie Defore goes to the Recreation Center often - but not during the spring semester. "I stop going in the spring because you can never find parking," said Defore, a senior studying zoology.

Although spring break is five weeks away, preparation has already begun at the Recreation Center, where Bikini Boot Camp is in full swing. Women worried about how they will look on the beach are filling the center to near capacity as they try to exercise their way into bikinis.

"As soon as the semester began, there was an increase," said Jon Benton, an ID checker at the entrance to the Recreation Center. "The difference is between night and day."

The crowds can be especially heavy between 4 and 6 p.m. Benton said squeezing through the main area during that time can be a daunting task. The line from the equipment desk can stretch to the adjacent gym after the aerobics classes end. "Every single one of the mats was checked out," said Miguel King, a Recreation Center employee at the equipment desk. "It's all the girls and their aerobics classes."

He said the lines and crowding usually never occur except at this time of year. King attributes the increased patronage at the Recreation Center primarily to female students.

"People want to get in good shape to get in bikinis," King said. However, he said the crowd will dwindle immediately following spring break. "It only happens right before spring break," King said. "After spring break, you can go to the gym and it will be empty."

The year-round exercisers find the crowd to be inconvenient at times, so it can be more convenient to work around it, said Dan Surillo, a patron and employee of the Recreation Center.

"I used to work out at 7, but it's too crowded," Surillo said. "Now I do it in the morning." This is nothing new for Lynne Thompson-Cundiff, fitness coordinator and instructor. She said January, February and March are usually the busiest months for all areas of the Recreation Center. Unlike some disgruntled regular exercisers, she said the Recreation Center staff is happy to see the increase and will work to make room for the extra students.

"I'm glad - we'll just move classes around to accommodate," Cundiff said. There are several different changes made either to assist or attract students. There is a new Deep Water Fitness Class from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the pool. In addition, there were several spin classes added which are taught by spin certified instructors.

"Anything with the BOSU ball is new this semester," Cundiff said. "It's good for core conditioning."

BOSU conditioning involved a large ball that is used to improve core muscle strength and power, according to the spring 2005 Campus Recreation newsletter. Cundiff is also experimenting to see if there is interest in night classes because most other university recreation centers offer them. Therefore, she placed the hip-hop class from 8 to 9 p.m.

The aerobics class, Cardio Camp, is now known as Bikini Boot Camp, a change attracting students looking to tone up for vacation. According to the newsletter, the class will get you "Fit and firm for fun in the sun! Sure to get you ready for spring break and beyond." The name change certainly made a difference; the class had to be moved to the multi-purpose courts because of the increased attendance.

"It seemed to work since there were about 65 people there," Cundiff said. "It was wall to wall people."

Another change Cundiff hopes will appeal to students is the group weight training class. It was previously taught by fitness instructors but now has been taken over by two male personal trainers.

With spring break in mid-March, Cundiff said she realizes many students want to look as good as possible and quickly.

"If your goal is to burn as many calories as you can in the shortest amount of time, then our spin classes are the ones to attend," Cundiff said.

The positive aspect is you can control the intensity; however, this can be a downfall if you aren't motivated enough. According to Cundiff, the next closest are the kickboxing or interval workout classes. However, if you are just beginning to work out, she recommends the 30-minute classes, such as Back to Basics and Hi/Lo classes.

"It really depends on your goals and where you are already," Cundiff said. "If it's spring break that motivates them to get out here to exercise, great. Ideally it would be great if they find that the benefits would be something they want to continue."

The Recreation Center is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday