Ditching the Stairmaster

    Don’t wait for New Years to make a bogus fitness-related resolution — UCSD Recreation still has plenty of FitLife classes available to anyone who wants to spend a class-free Tuesday doing something other than watching Jersey Shore reruns.

    Director of FitLife and UCSD alum, Alexia Cervantes encourages students to take advantage of the broad selection and discounted prices of the program to foster healthy habits early in life.
     “Taking control of your health as soon as possible is so key to your success,” Cervantes said. “To me it’s like brushing your teeth. You do all these other healthy things that are habits. If you start training habits it doesn’t seem like something that you have to do, it feels like something that you do.”

    A recreation class provides a structured workout that maximizes your time at the gym and encourages you to keep up the habit of regular exercise — an alternative to an hour of mindlessly pumping the elliptical.

    “It’s kind of like going out with your best friend and having an appointment with them,” Cervantes said. “You don’t want to let them down, so you keep going to class.”
    The three main categories to choose from are cardiovascular, flexibility and strength. Of the several FitLife programs that still have space to sign up, Cervantes picked out her five favorites.
     
    Student Wellness Programs — Free, various days and times
    In this free quarter-long program, students get a customized consultation every week, including guidance from health professionals as to what steps they should take to improve their health.

    “When you start the program you start with a fitness test so that they can have an idea about where they are in terms of their health and their fitness,” Cervantes said. “At the end of the quarter you get another fitness test. Hopefully, if you’ve been doing the homework, there’s going to be improvement.”
    The wellness programs started in Week One, but there are some spaces left. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate because they go fast.
     
    Beach Body Boot Camp – $60, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:15 a.m.- 10:15 a.m.
    Taught by a UCSD student, the Beach Body Boot Camp is a new class in the popular “boot camp” style that targets the whole body in a gut-busting workout.
     “One reason this class is so popular is that it’s easy to learn,” Cervantes said. “It doesn’t take a lot to learn how to do pushups and sprint and jog.”
    The hour-long class takes place at Muir Field, so you can get your tan on while you get in bikini shape.
     
    Yoga for Athletes — $60, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
    The Yoga for Athletes class is ideal for the active student who needs that hour twice a week to recover from daily stress.
     
    “It’s supposed to be geared toward people who are already doing something athletic, whether you’re running or playing basketball,” Carvantes said. “It’s not quite as intimidating as the other yoga classes.”
     
    Night Cycle — $51, Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
    Cycling is great for getting shapely legs and buns of steel, but this twice-a-week-night class has added perks.

    “It’s after school, but before [students] have to start studying,” Cervantes said. “Exercising before you study actually helps increase your retention. If you get all that blood flowing in the later part of the evening it helps invigorate you and wake you and retain more information.”
     
    Pilates —  $30-60, various days and times
    Cervantes herself teaches pilates and said any pilates class is a great mind-body practice that focuses on breathing and building strength.

    “You’ll feel really stretched and toned and really relaxed,” Cervantes said. “You’ll feel strong from the inside out.”

    Since it’s mainly a core workout, students can hit up a pilates class between regular classes and not have to worry about getting sweaty.

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