Spice up your workout routine with yoga

Photo By Cpl. Khoa Pelczar | Sunrise Rickard, a yoga instructor of Semper Fit, Marine Corps Community Services, from San Diego, balances on one leg and stretches her back to gain flexibility during a yoga class at 21 Area Fitness Center, Sept. 1. Yoga isone of many classes offered to service members and their family members by the organization. A schedule of these classes can be found at any fitness center and on Marine Corps Community Services Camp Pendleton website.  

UNITED STATES

09.01.2009

Story by Pfc. Khoa Pelczar 

1st Marine Logistics Group

To spice up a Marine's physical training routine, classes are available at many of the fitness centers on base. Marines can take everything from aqua aerobics to Gut Cut and Step Drills — and even yoga.

Semper Fit Health Promotion, an organization sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services, is in charge of providing service members alternative ways to train their bodies. One of which is the yoga class, a popular form of exercise for many Marines, sailors and family members.

"The class consists of various exercises which primarily focus on strength, flexibility and mindfulness," said Sunrise Rickard, a yoga instructor of Semper Fit, MCCS, from San Diego.

The exercises help physically strengthen and mentally relax the students, she explained.

"The class is about as good as it can get," said Patty Richenberger, a wife of a service member and a student of the class. "Some of these exercises enhance your readiness and your overall well being."

If the exercises are performed correctly, they could prevent future injuries as the body is more flexible and the muscles are relaxed, said Richenberger, from Mountain Pleasant, Iowa.

"We usually fill up the whole room each class," said Richenberger.

According to Rickard, the morning and afternoon classes attract more service members because that's usually the time they're out doing PT. The evening classes tend to have more family member participation.

"It's a good way to cross train," said Barbie Buran, the Semper Fit Group Exercise coordinator, MCCS. "It's a nice break from doing the normal PT."

Since it doesn't involve cardiovascular exercises, and is no-impact, it helps the students learn to quiet their minds and bodies and bring in the inner peace, Buran added.

"When the class first started, there used to be a fee to join," said Buran, from Oceanside, Calif. "But due to the demand and the benefit of the class, the fee was taken off shortly after."

But yoga isn't the only class that is offered by Semper Fit at the base fitness centers. There are also aqua aerobics, kickboxing, strength training, Survival Cycle, Boot Camp, Gut Cut, Forever Fit and Zumba classes available weekly.

Fitness centers also conduct unit PT once a month for any unit that desires to do so. This involves a variety of exercises that are also offered individually.

"Our mission is to improve the quality of life for the Marines, sailors and family members," said Buran. "We're a non-profit organization and our services are here for them."

For those who can't decide on what to do for PT next time around, check out the classes that are available to all Marines, sailors and family members at their local fitness center.

For more information on exercise classes, visit www.mccscp.com/home/recreation/fitness_centers.aspx or call 763-4070.

• Date Taken: 09.01.2009
• Date Posted: 09.11.2009 12:19
• Story ID: 38603
• Location: US