Free Personal Fitness Instruction offered by Exercise Science Department

2/14/08

By Amanda Wozniak
Special to the Critic

Personal fitness instruction can range from $35-$50 per hour in Vermont, but at LSC it’s free.

The Exercise Science department offers free instruction for personal fitness Tuesday through Friday to all students, faculty, staff and members. The fitness trainers focus on creating an individualized regiment for each person.

Fitness Facility Coordinator and Health Promotions Specialist, Gregory Ledoux said, “It’s an individualized program based on you and what you want to do.” The trainers help people set goals and reach them.

The service is part of the practicum class within the Exercise Science program. There are currently four seniors, Benjamin Stacy, Shane Meaney, Eric Gagne, Brynna Considine, and LSC graduate Adrian Guyer working as personal trainers for this service. They are all National Strength Condition Association (NSCA) Certified Personal Trainers. The trainers maintain consistent hours each week. Each individual session is planned for an hour time slot.

Ledoux said that everyone working in the fitness center, including the receptionist, is in the Exercise Science department so they’re all there to help users of the fitness center, but personal training is the next level of instruction.

“It’s a great opportunity for students. It gives us a professional atmosphere and allows us to work one on one with clients and see their progress,” Meaney said.

Guyer is working as a Fitness Facility Coordinator/ Strength Conditioning Coach focusing on athletes through a paid internship. “We’re trying to promote professionalism,” Guyer said. Based on the last four years Guyer said he has never seen as dedicated training as he has this year.

The LSC graduate said that the growth and success of this program will bring positive attention to the Exercise Science department at LSC. “It [the program] helps LSC stand out in the community,” Meaney said. “Our main goal is to get more of the community involved.” Community members that purchase a membership to the LSC fitness facility can take advantage of this free service.

Currently Ledoux estimates that only half of their session times are in use and that 60 percent of the people signed up for the free service are faculty and staff with only 40 percent being students.

Interested people can sign up for a time slot in the fitness center at the reception desk.

What someone signing up for a session could expect:
A Health Screening: filling out a health history form to let your trainer know of any pre-existing medical conditions.

Goal Setting: letting your personal trainer know why you’re there, whether it is to lose inches or gain them.

Fitness Testing: this consists of a mile run/walk, push up and sit up tests as well as a flexibility test such as, sit and reach. This gives your trainer an idea of your base line or at what level to begin.

Body Analysis: figuring out your body’s percentage of fat if it’s part of your goal to decrease it.

Your trainer can alter these steps to fit your specific needs. Once the steps are completed your trainer uses the information to create an exercise regiment specific to you. Usually after 6 weeks on the program they will make an evaluation of your progress and alter your exercise regiment as needed.

Personal Fitness Instruction Times
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.