Fitness programs offered at Rutgers-Camden
Most treadmills are occupied in the spacious room near the entrance while a group of guys pump iron in a nearby weightlifting area. Down the hall, Anne Marie Callahan and Nicole Gervatto, both first-year law students, prepare for another gut-busting ab workout between classes.
“On Wednesdays, we have three classes with a one-hour break, so during that break, we’re here in the gym,” Callahan says.
The abs routine is one of about 15 group exercise classes being offered this fall at the Rutgers–Camden Athletic and Fitness Center, which boasts 75,000 square feet of space for cardio equipment, strength equipment, and even a wave-resistant pool. It’s the perfect respite from a day full of classes; the best place to relieve some stress and get in shape.
“We see a huge increase in the use of our facility during those stressful times of the semester, during mid-terms and final exams,” says Tom Thomasson, manager of recreational services at Rutgers–Camden.
This semester, popular classes include aerobics, cycling, Pilates, and yoga. The fitness schedule also includes karate, tai chi, and baguazhang, a form of Chinese martial arts. Zumba classes, which combine dance and fitness, are also known to fill up fast.
Gervatto, who says she’s a regular at the 45-minute ab workout on Wednesdays, says it’s easy to see why so many students and sta
“Having these classes is motivating,” she says. “It’s convenient because it’s right here on campus and it breaks up the day. It helps to relieve the stress of a really long day.”
Malik Cadwell, a martial arts instructor who teaches tai chi and baguazhang classes at Rutgers–Camden every week, says what he teaches in class can be applied to everyday life.
“Martial arts is about bringing together your mind, body, and spirit and controlling stress or stressful situations,” says Cadwell, a Pennsauken resident. “I see a lot of the same students in my classes every day and I see how it translates into other aspects of their lives. One student told me he was nervous about a test and remembered how to breathe and focus like we do in class. He was able to focus after that.”
Kelly Valente, a personal trainer and nutritionist from Philadelphia who leads the abdominal workout at Rutgers–Camden, says the students and staff appreciate the variety of classes from which they can choose.
“If you find fitness that you love, whether it’s Pilates or something else, you enjoy it and you look forward to doing it,” she says. “It’s one of the key points to fitness. My class is abs and arms, but if you want to go somewhere that’s just legs, you can do that, too. There’s good variety here. It’s a good stress reliever, but it gets the endorphins and oxygen moving through your body, so it makes you feel better, too. That’s important.”
Access to the facility and participation in all of the classes is free.
“Students can come and go as they please as they try to find out which program fits them the best,” Thomasson says. “We try and find something for everybody.”
Intramural sports, such as tennis, ice hockey, and dance, are also offered through the Athletic and Fitness Center at Rutgers–Camden and provide students with another fitness activity.
Beginning Nov. 8, the center will again offer its “Biggest Winner” program, which is modeled after the popular reality television program “The Biggest Loser.” The participant who loses the most weight over six weeks will be awarded a cash prize. The program costs $75 to join. For more information, e-mail tthomass@camden.rutgers.edu.
“Our main goal and focus is to promote healthy lifestyle and healthy choices,” Thomasson says. “Our intention is to try and get everyone though our doors at least once.”
More information about the Athletic and Fitness center at Rutgers–Camden can be found at athletics.camden.rutgers.edu/recreational/index.html.
Media Contact: Ed Moorhouse
856-225-6759
E-mail: ejmoor@camden.rutgers.edu