The right shape

Monday, March 1, 1999

The right shape

From spinning to kickboxing to weight lifting, students will try
anything and everything to stay fit and look good

By H. Jayne Ahn

Daily Bruin Contributor

Amid the frenzy of midterms, papers and numerous daily
obligations, many students still try to exercise regularly in order
to stay fit and relieve their stress.

"Usually I do some cardio, and I go in the weight room," said
John Tobar, a third-year communication studies student, who rides
exercise bikes and runs on the treadmill for his cardio
workouts.

"It makes you feel good and you also look better. I like to live
an active life," said Tobar, who works out four times a week in the
John Wooden Center.

Elisa Terry, the sports and fitness coordinator at the Wooden
Center, also mentioned that physical exercise is an optimal way for
students to rid their mind and body of tension and stress.

"By reducing all that built-up tension, you become more in tune
with your mind and body. You are much more focused and effective
when you come to sit down to study (after exercising)," said
Terry.

Aerobic kickboxing, step aerobic classes and working on
elliptical machines such as treadmills, stair climbing machines and
stationary bicycles are some of the most common and popular
cardiovascular workout machines in fitness clubs throughout the
country today.

Popular workout routines are readily available to students on
campus through the Wooden Center. Cardio-Combat and TKO classes are
currently the most popular drop-in fitness classes among students,
Terry said.

Aerobic kickboxing provides both resistance and cardiovascular
training as it builds muscles as well as working up the heart
rate.

"To pick up your leg off the ground, you have to have balance
and use muscles in all parts of your body to control yourself.
Every time you hit the bag, it is resistance against the muscles,"
said Lenny Herb, a personal trainer who works in Los Angeles.

Fitness workouts with kickboxing variations can also be seen in
the phenomenal success of Tae-bo, which incorporates Tae Kwon Do,
dance and boxing into a high-intensity, fast-paced workout.

Tae-bo creator Billy Blanks and his instructors have attracted
many followers, including some celebrities, to their San Fernando
Valley and Sherman Oaks studios. Tae-bo classes will be offered at
the Wooden Center three times a week beginning spring quarter.

"We are really excited about this opportunity. Tae-bo is a great
aerobic as well as muscle conditioning workout, and Mr. Blanks is
very good at motivating and inspiring people," Terry said.

Spinning, which is done on a patented, specifically modified
bike, is another hot fitness workout.

"Spinning has been really popular for the last two or three
years. It’s almost a staple in every fitness club," Herb said.

Developed by L.A. resident Johnny Goldberg, spinning is
simulated road-racing on a stationary bike with controllable
pedaling resistance and speed.

Assuming different positions on the bike allows people to focus
in on and accentuate certain muscles in the lower body.

"I like spinning because it is a really good way to get into
cardiovascular conditioning, and it is also a lot of fun," said
Luanne Chang, who has been attending spinning classes several times
a week for the past year and a half.

Herb mentioned that the goal of all cardio workouts is to "work
the heart and keep track of the heart rate."

"Where your heart rate is and how hard your heart’s working
dictates whether or not your body is chewing up fat for energy," he
said.

Herb also recommended doing resistance training (weight lifting)
and cardio training together to burn calories and to lose
weight.

"The more muscles you have in your body (from resistance
training), the more calories you burn during your cardio workout,"
he said.

"The No. 1 misconception my female clients have is that they are
scared to lift weights because they think they are going to get
big," he added.

Herb pointed out that while most women should work more on their
resistance training, most men do not do enough cardiovascular
workouts.

"They might have a big, beautiful body, but their heart’s really
not in shape," Herb said. "If you hurt the muscle in your arm, you
can put it in a sling but if you hurt (the heart), they bury you,"
he added.

Herb also warned that men tend to lift too much because they
aren’t aware of how susceptible their joints are to injury.
Beginners in weight training should take the time to learn how to
lift weights properly, Herb said.

Regardless of all the trendy workout regimens, Terry emphasized
that students should not limit themselves to only gym routines for
their physical exercising.

"Martial arts, hiking and rock climbing are all fitness
activities. So if you broaden your idea of what fitness is, I think
everybody can find something that they enjoy," she said.

Every quarter, the Wooden Center offers a kaleidoscope of
fitness activities ranging from hiking and horseback riding to
backpacking and river-rafting.

"California has the beaches, the mountains, the whole spectrum
of possibilities of outdoor activities, and people are very health
conscious out here. I think California is the leader of the pack by
far," Herb said.

For those students who are into more extreme outdoor sports,
there is the adventure racing, which is also gaining popularity
although the activity is "not mainstream just yet," Herb said.

Adventure racing includes cross training in trail running,
kayaking and mountain biking and can last up to 10 days; in races,
teams of participants carry their own gear in the mountains.

Whatever students choose as their fitness activity, they should
try to "be consistent and make it a lifestyle change,"Herb
said.

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