Think you have to be a celebrity to have a personal trainer or a personalized workout plan? Think again.
For the past three quarters, the Recreational and Physical Activity Center has offered personal training to its students for a minimal fee of $15 per hour.
“Students can even work out in pairs,” said John Katsares, personal training program coordinator at the RPAC.
All personal trainers are trained in-house through a rigorous six-week training program focusing on biomechanics, applied kinesiology, cardio respiratory fitness and anatomy, Katsares said. Both certified and uncertified trainers are available to meet the fitness needs of students and faculty.
“I did not know anything about working out or lifting weights at all,” said Chandni Jindal, a junior in health information management systems. “I’ve really learned a lot and have built up my endurance through the program.”
Shannon Flicker, a junior in athletic training and certified personal trainer, emphasizes the importance of students’ personal health and fitness.
“People don’t realize the energy exercise gives you, and it’s a huge stress reliever,” Flicker said. “Twenty minutes alone can reduce stress levels, and you think more clearly.”
The perk of a specialized workout plan, as opposed to a standard plan, is the fle and effectiveness factor. Working with a personal trainer helps students understand and achieve their health goals more efficiently.
“Everybody’s body is different – we can create workout routines that fit their schedules as well as their goals,” Katsares said.
To obtain a personal trainer, students must first complete an eight-page evaluation form detailing their activity levels, eating habits and health goals.
“After they fill out the assessment form, I meet with the trainers, and we begin to develop a plan for the students based on their needs,” Katsares said.
The trainer will then call the student and set an appointment to discuss the plans of the program. The pair generally spend the first session getting to know each other.
“It’s finding out how well the person exercises according to the way they move,” Katsares said.
From that point on, the student and trainer begin to formulate the routine.
“Students don’t have to purchase a program, it could be session by session,” Flicker said. “At times students just need someone to set them on the right track.”
For students who do not want to participate in solitary personal training sessions, the RPAC offers several group classes including the free motion circuit resistance training class. For $3.50 a week, students go through a weight training circuit involving 14 different stations, focused on both large and small muscle groups.
All programs and prices can be found at recsports.osu.edu.
