Students attend free fitness classes in sports complex
Kirsten Adams
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
Hidden behind the double doors at the back of the arena in the George Roche Sports Complex is the studio of Alesia Aumock, where students can go for classes in every subject from yoga to aerobic dance.
Aumock, professor of physical education, was born and raised in Hillsdale, and directed and coached the former Hillsdale College cheerleading squad. She began offering extracurricular fitness classes free of charge to students in 1989.
In recent years, though, her studio has grown to include stationary bikes, inflatable exercise and medicine balls, a punching bag and floor mats for Pilates and yoga exercises. With the pending construction of a new intramural sports building, Aumock looks forward to possibly having even more room for classes, equipment and office space.
The classes are also open, for a fee, to Hillsdale residents, and profits from their participation funds the purchase of new equipment. Aumock teaches classes ranging from aerobic dance to yoga to total body strength, and said she offers something for every student need.
"If people have bad knees or hips, they might want to get on a bike. If they need to move on the floor, they can do kickboxing or cardio," Aumock said.
Ashley LaCarter, director of residence life and campus recreation, credits the variety of classes Aumock offers with the increased level of student fitness on campus. Before students returned to school in the fall, resident advisors and Greek presidents attended a student leadership conference at Rockwell Lake Lodge, at which Aumock led a daily workout routine.
"I called it 'zero hour,'" Aumock said. "At 7 a.m. we would be out on the deck doing cardio."
LaCarter said that by encouraging campus leaders to be more active, Hillsdale has seen an increase in overall student fitness. While Aumock teaches all the classes and supplies ideas for new ones, LaCarter is responsible for spreading the news about fitness opportunities.
"I'm just the mouth of the project," LaCarter said. "The variety of classes she can teach is unbelievable."
The emphasis on increased levels of student fitness is not without its rewards.
Sophomore Nicole Napierala, who has participated in Aumock's free classes since she came to Hillsdale, said she notices a definite increase in student involvement semester to semester.
"There are quite a few freshman girls who are looking for a different type of workout," Napierala said. "The class has probably tripled in size."
Aumock said the classes offer an alternative to the repetitive weigh lifting or elliptical workouts most students would do on their own.
Napierala smiled as she described the atmosphere of Aumock's classes, which now include everyone from varsity athletes to students who rarely venture out of the library.
"She'll play music, Top 40 dance remixes," Napierala said. "She's very interested in keeping us happy; she puts students first."
Aumock, professor of physical education, was born and raised in Hillsdale, and directed and coached the former Hillsdale College cheerleading squad. She began offering extracurricular fitness classes free of charge to students in 1989.
In recent years, though, her studio has grown to include stationary bikes, inflatable exercise and medicine balls, a punching bag and floor mats for Pilates and yoga exercises. With the pending construction of a new intramural sports building, Aumock looks forward to possibly having even more room for classes, equipment and office space.
The classes are also open, for a fee, to Hillsdale residents, and profits from their participation funds the purchase of new equipment. Aumock teaches classes ranging from aerobic dance to yoga to total body strength, and said she offers something for every student need.
"If people have bad knees or hips, they might want to get on a bike. If they need to move on the floor, they can do kickboxing or cardio," Aumock said.
Ashley LaCarter, director of residence life and campus recreation, credits the variety of classes Aumock offers with the increased level of student fitness on campus. Before students returned to school in the fall, resident advisors and Greek presidents attended a student leadership conference at Rockwell Lake Lodge, at which Aumock led a daily workout routine.
"I called it 'zero hour,'" Aumock said. "At 7 a.m. we would be out on the deck doing cardio."
LaCarter said that by encouraging campus leaders to be more active, Hillsdale has seen an increase in overall student fitness. While Aumock teaches all the classes and supplies ideas for new ones, LaCarter is responsible for spreading the news about fitness opportunities.
"I'm just the mouth of the project," LaCarter said. "The variety of classes she can teach is unbelievable."
The emphasis on increased levels of student fitness is not without its rewards.
Sophomore Nicole Napierala, who has participated in Aumock's free classes since she came to Hillsdale, said she notices a definite increase in student involvement semester to semester.
"There are quite a few freshman girls who are looking for a different type of workout," Napierala said. "The class has probably tripled in size."
Aumock said the classes offer an alternative to the repetitive weigh lifting or elliptical workouts most students would do on their own.
Napierala smiled as she described the atmosphere of Aumock's classes, which now include everyone from varsity athletes to students who rarely venture out of the library.
"She'll play music, Top 40 dance remixes," Napierala said. "She's very interested in keeping us happy; she puts students first."
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