RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The Rambler Fitness Center is a beehive of activity every day of the week, providing Airmen, retirees and their dependents an opportunity to work out on their own as well as offering an array of exercise classes in a group setting.
Next week, a special free event at the fitness center will showcase all those classes.
The two-hour-long "Introduction to Group Exercise Classes," June 11 at noon in the group exercise room, will feature presentations by the fitness center's instructors on the classes they lead.
"We want this event to generate interest in our classes as well as inform," said Rey Salinas, 902nd Force Support Squadron fitness programs manager. "A lot of people don't come to our classes because they don't know what to expect. This will open that door and give them a walk-through. It's an ice-breaker."
Yoga, step, strength training for the new ages, kickboxing, Pilates, Zumba, cardio fusion, senior strength training, sets and reps, and sets with weights are the classes that will be introduced during the event. The schedule calls for a 10-minute presentation on each class; instructors will offer encouragement and advice as well as answer questions.
Mr. Salinas said beginners typically have a variety of questions relating to what they need for the class, how they prepare themselves, what attire is best and other concerns.
A free towel will be given to everyone who attends the event, and PLAYpass participants will be able to pick up a 10-class group exercise pass to get started in the program. PLAYpass is a program that allows deployment-affected families and single Airmen returning from deployment to participate in Force Support Squadron activities at free or reduced cost.
Mr. Salinas said the event is geared to people who have never attended any group exercises classes at the fitness center, but he said it should also appeal to people who may be going to a class and would like to learn about the other classes that are offered.
As many as nine classes per day are offered at the fitness center, most of them on weekdays, although a few are also scheduled on weekends.
"The average number of people per class is 12 to 15, but some have as many as 40," Mr. Salinas said.
He said the classes attract people of all ages, and Zumba and kickboxing are two of the most popular classes. Intensity levels range from light to heavy, so there's something for everyone. Cardio fusion, for example, requires participants to combine agility and balance with weight training and aerobic activity for a boot camp-like workout.
Mr. Salinas said the fitness center is a state-of-the-art facility with the latest equipment, but the group exercise class instructors are also top-notch.
"The Rambler has 14 instructors on contract," he said. "They are all good instructors giving quality workouts. All of them are certified in the most up-to-date fitness information and techniques."
Mr. Salinas said each class session costs $3, but participants receive a discount if they obtain a 10-point pass, good for 10 sessions, which costs $25, or a 20-point pass for $50.
"The cost is minimal for a state-of-the-art workout," he said. "The quality of the instructors and equipment is great. It's cutting edge."
For more information on Introduction to Group Exercise Classes, call 652-7263.