Fitness and Wellness Center offers free personal training
Delaware Technical Community College, Owens Campus’ Fitness and Wellness Center offers free fitness testing, assessments, exercise classes, nutritional guidance, and personal training for students and staff.
Cardiokinetics, Inc. oversees the center’s operations, implements fitness programs, and encourages healthier lifestyles.
Owens Campus Fitness and Wellness Center Manager Bobbi McDonald said, “Cardiokinetics is here to offer full-time support for Delaware Tech students and employees through various programs to help each individual reach their health and fitness goals on an individualized basis.”
McDonald said anyone who wants to get involved should visit the center and start by getting a fitness assessment and then have an exercise program written for them. She recommends a program including cardio and strengthening plans.
McDonald added that diet is important and can be analyzed for each participant.
“We also send out weekly emails with tips and healthy recipes,” McDonald said.
McDonald said the center offers exercise programs twice throughout a semester or once a month, depending on the length and goal of each program. “Resolution Solution” was the first program of 2017 and focused on setting smart and realistic new year resolutions. The current program, running through March 17, is “Ski into Spring.”
“’Ski into Spring’ encourages people to come in and be physically active – to come into the center three times a week and complete 30 minutes of exercise each day,” she said. “Participants’ exercises are recorded and at the end of the program, the student and faculty member who completes the most exercises will win prizes.”
On March 6, the campus-wide Half Way There Week will begin, McDonald said. Throughout the week, people can do fitness tasks or exercises and earn a point for each action, she said. Participants can earn a maximum of 10 points throughout the week and each point will earn a raffle ticket for prizes at the end of the program.
“The points can be earned through really simple tasks,” she said. “Like coming in for a (BMI) body mass index, getting grip strength or flexibility tested, or just doing a couple exercises.”
McDonald said students and staff seem unaware of what the center has to offer and hopes people will take advantage of the free personal training, incentive programs, and individualized exercise prescriptions available.
English Instructor Michael Blaine said he’s been using the fitness center for more than two and a half years. He said he first got involved through one of the incentive programs. Upon completing his fitness assessment, he said a personalized exercise program was created for him involving both cardio and strengthening plans.
Blaine said after his first year of using the facility, he starting working out with other faculty members and they focus primarily on a cardio exercise routine. He said they use the center for 30 minutes, three times a week to stay healthy.
Blaine said people don’t exercise because it’s easy to make excuses on why they can’t work out.
“Our fitness center eliminates the excuses,” he said. “It’s close, it has everything you need, there’s a trainer there, you can fit it into your campus day, and it’s free.”
Aviation mechanic student Tom Kenney said he’s been working out in the center one hour a day, five days a week, for the past two years. He said he carried his training routine over from his high school days and uses the fitness equipment to stay in shape. “It’s free,” Kenney said. “Why would I not use it?”
The Owens campus Fitness and Wellness Center is located in the Jason Technology Center’s gym. The center is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Aviation mechanic student Tom Kenney pushes through one of his daily and aggressive work-out routines. / Photo by K. Rohrbaugh
Fitness and Wellness Center Manager Bobbi McDonald has implemented several incentive programs including the current "Ski into Spring" running through March 17. Photo by K. Rohrbaugh
Video by K. Rohrbaugh