Fit Squad makes Wooden mobile
By Amanda Semaan
Oct. 12, 2006 9:00 p.m.
Whether in the residence halls, a conference room or outdoors,
UCLA fitness instructors can come to students and help them get
fit.
As part of the UCLA Recreation FITWELL program, the Fit Squad, a
mobile unit of fitness educators, is dedicated to promoting fitness
and health on campus by taking any service offered at the John
Wooden Center directly to the individual or student groups
themselves.
The mobility component of the Fit Squad is essentially what
distinguishes it from the many other components of the FITWELL
program.
The staff focuses on bringing workouts into the residence halls,
campus conference rooms and outdoors, as well as to different
campus organizations.
The Fit Squad leads a variety of programs, such as introductory
yoga classes and ongoing weekly series. It also leads educational
health seminars as well as five-minute movement breaks during the
middle of a meeting.
Elisa Terry, Fit Squad manager and director of FITWELL, said the
program allows students and faculty to customize their workouts
according to their particular needs.
“For example, when we do (residence) hall workouts, we
might be able to give students an idea of things they can do to
take study breaks and energize themselves,” Terry said.
“Also, for around finals and midterms, we can do
stress-relieving workshops (either individually) or as an
educational series on an ongoing basis to expand the knowledge of
fitness and health.”
Derrick Baker, Fit Squad assistant manager and instructor of a
variety of programs, from running and conditioning to cooking,
elaborated on the array of classes available for students to choose
from.
“We offer roughly about 21 different dances, from African
all the way up to tango, salsa, modern, jazz, hip hop,” Baker
said.
Baker said the advantages Fit Squad offers include convenience
and being able to participate in a class in which there are people
you have already grown close to.
“It’s very time saving,” Baker said.
“You don’t have to come from the dorm to use the
facilities, do your activity, and then go all the way
back.”
The Fit Squad offers additional means by which faculty can work
out, since by the time they get off work, the John Wooden Center
almost reaches capacity, Baker said.
“It opens up another venue for their activities if
it’s closer to their jobs. They can take part in an activity
right there instead of having to come all the way down,”
Baker said.
PC Zai, USAC facilities commissioner who is trying to promote
FITWELL, said it is important to make sure students stay
healthy.
“We want to make it more comprehensive in terms of
programming,” Zai said. This is the mind-set behind the
different programs, such as Fit Squad, that FITWELL has
developed.
The staff is very committed to their cause, which is to provide
fitness, instruction and training, the three core components of
FITWELL, according to Baker.
“We want to provide the opportunity to experience
(something) that outside of UCLA (students) probably would not have
the finances to try,” Baker said.
While their cost varies, most classes are still manageable for
students.
One-day introductory workshops are usually free, Baker said. An
ongoing series consisting of about 20 hours of instruction is
usually under $60, he added.
