Remodeled fitness center inspires exercise

Penn State Greater Allegheny opened the remodeled fitness center in March 2010. New amenities include a large aerobics room and locker rooms that are complete with showers and saunas.

To add variety to workouts, individual yoga mats, resistance bands, medicine balls and jump ropes were purchased.

In addition to the great equipment, Fitness Coordinator Tracy Gibbs offers and organizes fitness classes including Zumba, Zumba and Toning, and Plyometric Training. Another program, Personal Fitness Challenge, provided participants with one-on-one free personal training. Gibbs is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certified Health Fitness Specialist ?The fitness center offers so many opportunities for students to get in shape, and learn how to make exercise a part of their routine in order to stay in shape,? said Gibbs. ?Exercise is a great stress reliever and can help students maintain focus and balance while navigating the demands of college. Exercise truly is medicine," she added.

This spring, Gibbs is working a committee to plan a 5K that will be open to students, staff and the community. The race will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Proceeds from a registration fee, after expenses are covered, will benefit a local resource center, Sonshine Community Ministries in McKeesport. ?I will be working individually or with small groups of staff and students to get the ready for the 5K,? said Gibbs. "The 5K committee and Student Government Association are working diligently to make the first 5K race at Penn State Greater Allegheny a success."

The fitness center will be receiving some exciting equipment this semester, including six brand new Schwinn spinning bikes, and a new sound system that includes two televisions! There will be an audio hook-up on each treadmill to plug headphones in and listen to the television. There will be a separate system for the aerobics room so different music can be played in each room.

Before the Winter break, the fitness center hit a milestone of over 2,000 visitors.