Fitness class packs 'em in

Music and hearts were pounding as nearly 200 University of Alberta students, faculty and staff took part in the largest fitness class ever held on campus March 16.

Four instructors led 187 participants through aerobic, kickboxing and dance routines during the course of the intense, hour-long workout. The class was one of the events in the U of A's first Wellness Week, and was designed to showcase fitness courses offered through Campus Recreation.

"A few years ago we did something like this, but just for kickboxing, and had 75 people turn out," said Carol Hills, associate director of Campus Recreation. "We just thought that we could try and do something a bit bigger, and show how eclectic the fitness programs here are."

The line-up for the class demonstrated just that. Instructor Shannon Zrobek, whose Guts 'n Glutes class provides a workout far more intense than its name might suggest, led the group through a series of one-legged squats and other moves that are painful but good for you.

"My legs are still trembling from that," said participant Ai Matsumura, a fourth-year physical education and recreation student. She was equally impressed by Sandy Eykelboom, who closed the class with hip-hop dancing.

"I want to teach my own class," said Matsumura, who is an accomplished hip-hop dancer herself.

One session was led by Gaspar Bonomo, a two-time Canadian kick-boxing champion who now teaches it six days a week. Bonomo and assistant Nial Smith put the crowd through a series of punches and kicks, giving them a taste of the sport.

"Some students take it for the fitness aspect and some of them are training for amateur fights," said Bonomo.

Dance instructor Viraj, the only professional male belly dancer between Vancouver and Toronto, had the class moving gracefully. He said the size of the class and time constraints wouldn't offer students much instruction, but would give them an appreciation for belly dancing.

"I want to give them a taste, a sense of the beauty, a sense of the performance," Viraj said. "This is more of a peek through the keyhole."

"I might have never taken a belly dance class, but I might now," said participant Jennifer Shepherd, who is doing graduate studies in English.

Partners in Wellness Week include the U of A Students' Union, the Senate, the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, Human Resources, the Office of Public Affairs, the City of Edmonton's Active Edmonton and KidSport, an organization that raises money for children in need to participate in sports.

The week kicked off March 14 with a skating party in Clare Drake Arena. Daytime and evening events were scheduled throughout the week, with sessions on fitness, diet and relaxation, even on ways to improve your sex life. The week culminated in 12 hours of Ultimate Frisbee March 19.

Hills said the U of A will now challenge other universities and colleges to hold larger fitness classes.

"The U of A is really seen as the leading edge in wellness," she said. "We've probably got the largest fitness program in the country here, so other universities are looking at us to see what we are doing."