Fit To Be Kean, a hidden gem of a program
Published by May 9, 2018 | By Donia Zaky
Small drops of water leaked from the ceiling, the front wall was covered in mirrored sheets crinkled in each corner, and it was hot enough to be a training grounds for down below.
But, inside this stuffy room, six students went back and forth from crunches, to side lunges, to pushups, and more. As sweat dripped down their faces and their shirts became drenched in sweat, there stood a man in the front, with a voice that overpowered the upbeat music; pushing them to keep going.
Gray mats were rolled over the tiles and step platforms, and resistance bands, transformed the lounge in Whiteman Hall into a fitness class, where a group exercise program called Fit to be Kean is normally held.
What was once a club organized by recreations at Harwood Arena, was soon taken over by Student Health Services in 2012 as a program taught every semester for students here at Kean University. For nearly five to six years now classes such as, Cougar Circuit, Total Body Conditioning, Zumba, Cardio Kickboxing, and more, are all instructed by certified trainers that make personal wellness the goal for all students.
“This is a great outlet for students to get a chance to come exercise, get a great workout in, and get results,” said James Beaty, Graduate Assistant for Student Health Services, and one of the certified trainers for classes such as, Cougar Circuit. “It’s also a great outlet to come work with certified professionals.”
Classes are usually hosted Mondays through Thursdays between the hours of 4 PM to 9 PM. However, this semester “college hours” were opened to help students fit exercise into their busy schedules.
The Cougar Circuit, developed by Beaty, is a circuit training exercise that consists of stations where a certain exercise is done, and everyone moves from exercise to exercise. This allows students to get an intense workout between classes and spans from 35 to 45 minutes.
“You get a good sweat in, and if you have a class at 4:30, or whatever the case may be, you’ll get out in enough time to get to your next class,” said Beaty.
No matter what level of fitness a student is at, modifications are always orchestrated for each student– according to his or her level. Beaty, and other trainers, formulate workouts to accommodate each student, in order to fit their current pace– which slowly intensifies overtime.
When asked if she has seen significant changes in her body, Lina, one of the students training, said “Yes, I have. My goal was to lose weight and since I’ve started I’ve lost almost 20 pounds.”
But, there’s more to joining these exercises than just working out. According to Purdue University, “college students who visit their campus gyms are more likely to succeed in the classroom.”
Flyers all over campus for Fit to be Kean read, “Fit is not a destination, it’s a way of life.” For this program, this statement holds true as they strive to help students excel in personal wellness.