By Carol Whynot
People are blowing the dust off their Nikes and spandex and flocking to the Ryerson Athletic Centre. January and February have a reputation for being the busiest months at RAC, and this year is no exception.
Although administration says memberships haven’t actually increased, members have been using the facility more. Attendance at aerobics classes and the fitness centre has increased significantly this year.
Tracie Beyak, the aerobic program director and fitness specialist at RAC, says aerobics numbers are up more than ever, with several classes a day cramming in over 50 people. She attributes the numbers partly to programming. “We’ve included interval training and recruited great instructors,” she says. “We’ve also put more variety in the classes.” That’s drawing more people, and ultimately encouraging them to make a commitment.
She doesn’t deny that other factors play a role. “New Year’s resolutions tend to bring bigger numbers—more so into weight-training than aerobics classes,” says Beyak. But after a few weeks, those people will lose their faithfulness, and only the die-hards will remain.
Tracy LeFler is a second-year Radio and Television Arts student. She took a weight-training course in September and then stopped coming to the gym because of illness. Now that it’s 1995, she’s back and starting aerobics for the first time.
“I felt like a change,” she says. “Aerobics is a good stress reliever. The music is great. It’s energetic and it’s fun. The pain isn’t fun for the first little while, though!”
Audrey Kessler, a second-year Graphic Communications Management student has been coming to aerobics classes since November. “I finally decided I have to become more serious about it,” she says. “I’m getting older and I want to make it a lifestyle habit. I got lazy in December, but now I’m back.”
Beyak says people who are starting any physical activity for the first time, or after a period of inactivity, need to be careful.
“Injuries at RAC are very low overall but we advise people who want to start weight-training to have a personal program developed for them.” She and two other weight-training instructors do rounds of the fitness centre every 20 minutes, watching for any improper technique that might promote injury. However, they don’t necessarily see everything.
Meanwhile, seasoned weight-trainers are forced to share their toys. “It’s inconvenient,” says Alex Duenas, a second-year Ryerson student. “When you want to use a machine, you have to wait around. There aren’t enough weights.”
Duenas and his friends have learned that until New Years’ resolutions begin to fade, they have to come early in the day to avoid the rush. Peak hours are 12-4. It’s better to go in the morning if you’re pressed for time.
With or without injury, die-hards at RAC will continue to be more than a little pestered by the herds that are crowding their space. But if tradition continues, they can count on having a little more room to breathe in by the time mid-terms roll around.
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