University of Mississippi students work out in the Turner Center Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. (DM Photo | Kayla Beatty)
The coming of a new year marks the annual rise in demand for fitness and health, and the Turner Center is seeing an increase in the numbers of individuals from the Ole Miss community seeking guidance in weight loss and athletic training.
According to Peter Tulchinsky, director of the Turner Center, the start of a new semester brings in a higher number of individuals using the facility.
“Our participation numbers are traditionally higher for the first month of each semester,” Tulchinsky said. “September and February are the highest usage months.”
Tulchinsky explained that 1,500 participants are in recreational facilities at the Turner Center on weekdays. Of those participants, 40 members are of the Oxford community, 310 members are faculty and staff, and the students are given access for free.
Since there are so many people visiting each day, the Turner Center offers several different kinds of activities and facilities for members to engage in, such as: group fitness classes, the fitness center, basketball, racquetball, swimming, volleyball, indoor track, the outdoors (trips and equipment rental) and a game room with table tennis, foosball and shuffleboard.
One activity from the list that has grown exceedingly popular in the Turner Center is group fitness classes. Kimmi Sterner, graduate assistant in fitness, said there is a slight increase in fitness classes due to new year’s resolutions. Offering classes of Zumba, yoga, kickboxing, cardio and many more, group fitness classes provide an alternative to working out alone.
According to fitness coordinator Charles Allen, group fitness classes provide opportunities to Ole Miss students, faculty, staff and to the Oxford community to participate in physical activity in a group setting. He also explained the amount of people who attend the classes depend on the type of class. Cycling is capped at 20 participants because there are only 20 bikes; however, most classes in Studio 305 can have up to 60 participants per class, and Studio 125’s capacity is closer to 30.
Larkin Green, sophomore integrated marketing communications major, attended Zumba and yoga classes with her friends.
“It was better than just going on the treadmill or running the track because (the classes) were exciting and interactive,” Green said. “What made the classes even more enjoyable was me being able to do it with all of my friends.”
For those who have never engaged in group fitness classes but are interested, each class has a set day and time which can be found on The University of Mississippi’s campus recreation site. The classes are held on the first and third floors, and all that is necessary to sign up for a class is to sign an informed consent and release of liability waiver and receive a “FIT” sticker.
Though the Turner Center houses a substantial amount of activities already, the subject of expansion is in its future. Tulchinsky commented on the subject stating there are conversations about an additional recreation facility.
