Hamilton College's expertise in exercising the mind has been well-documented, but the College's ability to exercise the body has proven to be more than adequate as well.
Though the spring, summer and fall months offer the Hamilton community ample opportunity to enjoy more hospitable weather for outdoor activities, the College's Campus Wellness program – led by director Dave Thompson – provides many alternatives, both indoors and outside, to continue beneficial workouts throughout the year. Participants may engage in activities that allow them either to avoid or to embrace this region's harsh winter… proving once again that there really is no excuse for not working out.
"The goal of the Wellness program is to provide year-round health and fitness programming for students and employees of the College," says Thompson. "While we are now providing a few outdoor winter activities – thanks to Sarah Weis in [Hamilton's] Adventure program – the majority of the winter program is indoors. The program enables us to take full advantage of the Charlean and Wayland Blood Fitness and Dance Center as well as several other of our excellent athletic facilities."
As part of the Campus Wellness program, an e-mail registration system has been created, and already activities spaces are being filled online.
Offered this year are classes in triathlon training, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing (and belaying), yoga, power yoga, swimming, free weights, Pilates, indoor cycling, cardio kickboxing, step aerobics, deep water exercising, core training, self-defense, ballroom dancing and something called "cardio pump and core," described on the Campus Wellness Web page as "a combination, crazy-mixed-up-class of heart pumping cardio, muscle toning using free weights and core/stretching/balancing work."
Each class begins in either late January or early February and can run as late as March 14 – the final day of classes before spring break.
Indoor cycling – commonly known as spinning – has proven to be the most popular. The Winter Wellness program offers four sections of the class to accommodate interested members of the campus community.
"[I'm] not sure [why spinning has become so popular]," says Thompson. "We have great bikes and even better instructors. Spin class is just plain fun!"
All members of the Hamilton community, from students to faculty to staff, are welcome, and are taking the school up on that offer.
"I've taken several spin classes and a core strengthening class," says Richard Werner, Hamilton's John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy. "I am doing both again this spring, which attests to my belief that they are valuable.
"I find the classes a good way to keep in shape for the summer, as difficult as it may be to believe that I am in shape to look at me. I have type 2 diabetes, which has been in complete remission for a couple of years. I attribute this to bicycle riding and the Wellness classes at the College," Werner explained.
While some classes have already been filled, such as snowshoeing, most others still have spaces available. Interested members of the community can register online at http://www.hamilton.edu/athletics/wellness/index.html. And even if a class is filled, an interested person may put him or herself on the waiting list in case of a cancellation.
"Most classes fill initially with variable attendance throughout the term," says Thompson. "Folks are welcome to 'walk in' to any class anytime. There will probably be room.
"Almost never is a class cancelled due to lack of interest," Thompson added.
Each class's instructor has experience with the activity that he or she is leading, and quite often, the College's community members are the ones acting as the instructors.
"It's a mixed bag and constantly evolving," says Thompson. "We have instructors from the community who work at other health clubs and some faculty, staff and students as well. I'd say about 30 percent of the classes are taught by Hamilton people."
Deborah Burkhart, a current Wellness instructor for power yoga and cardio/weights classes, is not a Hamilton employee but has observed the positive effects the program has had on the community. "Hamilton's enthusiasm for fitness is unprecedented," says Burkhart. "The support and positive feedback from David Thompson and the participants makes my job a total pleasure.
"Any requests I have submitted so far [for equipment needs and the like] have been met quickly and in full, so the desire to be excellent and provide an optimal workout experience is obvious. I love teaching fitness classes at Hamilton College."
Adds Thompson, "I can tell you that the Wellness program – the classes, the lecture series, the lunchtime seminars – have all been well received and appreciated by our community. I have received many notes and calls of thanks from so many people over the last year. I think it is just an idea whose time has come.
"It has been very rewarding to be part of it," Thompson says.
Apparently, that's the consensus.
-- by Robert Edward Healy, III
Though the spring, summer and fall months offer the Hamilton community ample opportunity to enjoy more hospitable weather for outdoor activities, the College's Campus Wellness program – led by director Dave Thompson – provides many alternatives, both indoors and outside, to continue beneficial workouts throughout the year. Participants may engage in activities that allow them either to avoid or to embrace this region's harsh winter… proving once again that there really is no excuse for not working out.
"The goal of the Wellness program is to provide year-round health and fitness programming for students and employees of the College," says Thompson. "While we are now providing a few outdoor winter activities – thanks to Sarah Weis in [Hamilton's] Adventure program – the majority of the winter program is indoors. The program enables us to take full advantage of the Charlean and Wayland Blood Fitness and Dance Center as well as several other of our excellent athletic facilities."
As part of the Campus Wellness program, an e-mail registration system has been created, and already activities spaces are being filled online.
Offered this year are classes in triathlon training, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing (and belaying), yoga, power yoga, swimming, free weights, Pilates, indoor cycling, cardio kickboxing, step aerobics, deep water exercising, core training, self-defense, ballroom dancing and something called "cardio pump and core," described on the Campus Wellness Web page as "a combination, crazy-mixed-up-class of heart pumping cardio, muscle toning using free weights and core/stretching/balancing work."
Each class begins in either late January or early February and can run as late as March 14 – the final day of classes before spring break.
Indoor cycling – commonly known as spinning – has proven to be the most popular. The Winter Wellness program offers four sections of the class to accommodate interested members of the campus community.
"[I'm] not sure [why spinning has become so popular]," says Thompson. "We have great bikes and even better instructors. Spin class is just plain fun!"
All members of the Hamilton community, from students to faculty to staff, are welcome, and are taking the school up on that offer.
"I've taken several spin classes and a core strengthening class," says Richard Werner, Hamilton's John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy. "I am doing both again this spring, which attests to my belief that they are valuable.
"I find the classes a good way to keep in shape for the summer, as difficult as it may be to believe that I am in shape to look at me. I have type 2 diabetes, which has been in complete remission for a couple of years. I attribute this to bicycle riding and the Wellness classes at the College," Werner explained.
While some classes have already been filled, such as snowshoeing, most others still have spaces available. Interested members of the community can register online at http://www.hamilton.edu/athletics/wellness/index.html. And even if a class is filled, an interested person may put him or herself on the waiting list in case of a cancellation.
"Most classes fill initially with variable attendance throughout the term," says Thompson. "Folks are welcome to 'walk in' to any class anytime. There will probably be room.
"Almost never is a class cancelled due to lack of interest," Thompson added.
Each class's instructor has experience with the activity that he or she is leading, and quite often, the College's community members are the ones acting as the instructors.
"It's a mixed bag and constantly evolving," says Thompson. "We have instructors from the community who work at other health clubs and some faculty, staff and students as well. I'd say about 30 percent of the classes are taught by Hamilton people."
Deborah Burkhart, a current Wellness instructor for power yoga and cardio/weights classes, is not a Hamilton employee but has observed the positive effects the program has had on the community. "Hamilton's enthusiasm for fitness is unprecedented," says Burkhart. "The support and positive feedback from David Thompson and the participants makes my job a total pleasure.
"Any requests I have submitted so far [for equipment needs and the like] have been met quickly and in full, so the desire to be excellent and provide an optimal workout experience is obvious. I love teaching fitness classes at Hamilton College."
Adds Thompson, "I can tell you that the Wellness program – the classes, the lecture series, the lunchtime seminars – have all been well received and appreciated by our community. I have received many notes and calls of thanks from so many people over the last year. I think it is just an idea whose time has come.
"It has been very rewarding to be part of it," Thompson says.
Apparently, that's the consensus.
-- by Robert Edward Healy, III
