Fitness program provides new opportunities
Utah State University has had some changes in its Fun Fit Forever fitness program this year.
The school year started out with a new director of campus recreation, Chase Ellis, who also expanded the classes being offered in the group fitness programs. There will also be a grand opening of the new Aggie Recreation Center on Nov. 19.
There are now eight types of group fitness programs offered at USU. There are two types of passes that students, faculty and staff are able to buy. The unlimited access pass for the fun fit classes is $35 for students and $50 for faculty and staff.
Additionally, there is an $80 strength and conditioning pass for students and $100 for faculty and staff. The strength and conditioning pass allows students, faculty and staff to attend both the fun fit classes and the strength and conditioning classes.
“During a typical semester we average around 450-plus students who purchase passes and participate in classes — both strength and conditioning, as well as group fitness classes,” said Morgan Ward, a USU fitness instructor and student coordinator for the fitness program. “Class sizes range from 20 to 40 depending on the class type.”
The classes offered in the fun fit program are yoga, Zumba, cycling, HITT, Body Blast, PiYo and Aqua Fit. Then there are the strength and conditioning classes.
The PiYo and Aqua Fit classes are new to the program this semester.
Ellis said that the passes are per semester, and anyone who buys a pass can attend as many classes a week as they desire.
Fun Fit Forever classes allow students to stay active at a low rate. The different programs also give students options so they can pick and chose what classes work better for them.
“I started off in the spring of 2014, and since then I have been amazed by my improvement and how much of it is about giving it a shot and pushing my limits,” said Sushma Alphonsa, a PhD student majoring in disability disciplines with a specialization in pathokinesiology. “I have tried strength and conditioning, but I am not a fan of it. The fun fit classes are just so much more fun and less stressful. It is perfect for me.”
The classes are also spaced out to make them more accessible to anyone owning a pass.
Alphonsa has committed herself to HITT and Zumba on Mondays and Wednesdays, Aqua Fit on Wednesdays, Body Blast on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Zumba on Saturdays.
“The students we see within our programs usually stay fit by living an active lifestyle,” Ward said. “Many students attend three to four classes a week while maintaining a healthy diet.”
The new Aggie Recreation Center (ARC) will be completed in two months, and Ellis said it’s completely funded by student fees.
“The students voted for a new rec center, and this new ARC will be opened only for students,” Ellis said. “This will bring in new students since the old one is getting crowded and outdated.”
Ellis said that the new ARC will allow for classes to expand and more classes to be added. It is being built right next to the HPER building.
“I sure am excited for the new student ARC,” Alphonsa said. “It is going to be so sophisticated and student-oriented.”
The new ARC will also provide more availability and will help to get rid of wait times for classes.
Students can buy passes all semester long and the passes are available through: usu.edu/camprec/htm/funfitforever.