Fresh Start

January 20, 2013

Ideas for a fresh start.

Contributed by: Lynnea Kraft

Christmas cookies, honey-maple glazed spiral ham, sweet potatoes and chocolate covered pretzels have left me yearning to be home once more for Christmas time. Although starting a new semester can be rough -especially with thoughts and tastes of home still permeating every sulcus and gyri of your brain- it can also be very rejuvenating.

A new semester is a time to start new habits and break old ones. A new schedule, new teachers, classes and peers can make breaking old habits easier. Near the end of last semester poor time management and lack of personal time became the norm. I had stressed myself out so much that I was, for lack of better words, burned out. This New Year and semester allowed me to have a fresh start. Take advantage of these changes. Choose to see them as opportunities rather than challenges. Look at what bothered you, made you struggle, or set you back last year and come up with your own personal game plan to fight or nullify those previous obstacles. You might be feeling overwhelmed and crunched for already, but by taking a bit of self-evaluation time now, you will save yourself days of time later.

Stay hydrated and get rejuvinated.

Tags: Busy , Friends , Time management , Wellness , Workout

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Spin into Fall

October 18, 2012

Try out a class in Herman Court next to the raquetball court!

Contributed by: Lynnea Kraft

As some of you may know, I am a very active person. One of the ways I love to get my exercise in is by spinning. I went to my first spinning class this past summer in when I was studying abroad in Argentina. When I returned to campus this fall I was excited to see that Wilmington College now offers spinning classes for credit or just for recreation. I ended up adding one of the spin classes officially to my schedule. These classes taught me that there is a lot more to spinning then merely pedaling a stationary bike.

Spinning bikes have weighted wheels that are connected to the pedals so that spinners (people who spin) cannot coast. The bikes that WC owns are equipped with a dial that can add or take away resistance, or it can be used as a brake. Adding resistance makes it harder to pedal, and turning the dial the opposite way will take away resistance and make pedaling easier. In order to simulate hills like in real-life cycling, the instructor will lead the spin class through a series of “hills”, “flat roads”, or “steep climbs,” and “jumps.” To simulate these, the spinner will add resistance and change body positions per the instructor’s directions.

In addition to my mandatory spin class for credit, I have begun to lead classes myself and attend other classes just for recreation. I realized that each instructor can give you a different experience. I personally enjoy when the instructor gives visuals while biking. For example, if the class is doing a climb with resistance for a long period of time, the instructor may tell the class to think about being on country road nearing the end of a race. When the climb with resistance interval is almost over the instructor may say “There are some racers gaining on you! You are almost at the finish line!” This imagery always helps me push myself just a little bit harder.

I f you would like to try spinning, classes are now being offered Monday through Thursday. Check out the flyers posted around campus for the current schedule!

Tags: Fitness , Fitness Challenge , Wellness , Workout

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A Workout for Everyone!

September 21, 2012

Contributed By: Lynnea Kraft

“Have you ever heard of ’The PROGRAM?’” I had seen signs posted around campus with that phrase headlining. I thought to myself “Why, no. No, I have not.” I’m always looking for ways to changeup my workouts , so I abruptly stopped to read the sign as people dodged me on their way to dinner. The following poster snippets jumped out as I continued enlightening myself about this new class:

“.. plyometrics, abs …” Well, I don’t know what sort of creature a “plyometric“ is, and who doesn’t need a good ab workout? New exercise word + abs= education + toned core = I think I’ll try this class.

“…P90x and Insanity” Now, I have yet to try either of those, but friends have told me those workouts can get pretty intense. Intensity = sweat = challenging = I need to try this class.

“Classes … Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm and 8:30pm” Night class Tuesdays + RA meetings at 9:30pm Thursdays = I AM going to “The PROGRAM.” Thursday, 7:30pm! I then penciled it in to my schedule.

When I arrived at Herman Court, I was a bit lost because I forgot to check the sign for where exactly in Herman court this class was to take place. I walked around hoping to run into someone who could tell me where to go. I did run into some people, but they had no idea what I was talking about. I started to fear I would be getting flabby abs, instead of a tight tummy. Thankfully, after a few more minutes of wandering, I found it in the auxiliary gym (it’s the small gym on the same floor as the bleachers, between the main gym and the football field). It was a small class, but the instructor told me that most people come at 8:30pm. Approximately 50 minutes later, I had definitely worked up a sweat, tried a few new exercises, and learned that a “plyometric” is not some extinct dinosaur. A “plyometric” is a powerful movement done quickly and repeatedly. With a good instructor, and a good workout, I recommend this class to break up your typical exercise routine, or start new one!

Tags: Schedule , The Program , Wellness , Workout

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The Program

September 19, 2012

Hello, my name is Isaac Garrison and I am a junior with a Public Relations Major and Peace Minor living in the College Commons at Wilmington College. I am involved in many clubs and groups, a practicing Quaker, a Vegan, and Awesome.

Every year students have to figure out how manage their time so they can get a few minutes into the gym. The need to stay active is important because the way one keeps their body shows how they keep their life. This year the students of WC are lucky that the school is providing fitness classes. The classes include spinning classes and “The Program”. “The Program”, which happens every Tuesday and Thursday, is a mix of weight loss and muscle building exercises. It is much like the workout regimes of “Insanity” and “P90X”. Last night was the first time that I have gone to “The Program” and I am not regretting it at all, even though I am a bit sore all over.

I walked into the axillary gym with a fellow student to fall under the trainers’ fitness expertise. We did everything from Jumping jacks to pushups to mountain climbers. The sweat that dripped off the body was earned as we worked the legs, abs, the arms and the chest. I would defiantly recommend “The Program” to anyone who is at Wilmington College. I mean it’s, free, fun, and only an hour long. I am really excited to go back Thursday night and burn calories and get even more Quaker Fit.

Tags: , Fun , The Program , Workout

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Student Blogs

Welcome to the Wilmington student blogs, where several students contribute to this column.

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