Campus offers convenient ways to get healthy

By Jhonattan Flores | Pulse staff reporter

Instead of making excuses about getting healthy, students can take advantage of the many exercise opportunities available on campus. 

Anna Bustamante, a Certified Exercise Instructor said, “The classes that are being offered are Cardio Combo, Cardio Kickboxing, Latin Cardio Dance, Basketball I, Flag Football I, Pilates I, Self Defense, Yoga and Swimming I.” 

Other classes include Ballet, Modern Dance, Cardio Boot Camp, Core Training, Jogging Walking, Physical Conditioning and Weight Training. A total of 17 activity classes are taught. These college-credit classes are for students who haven’t done exercise in a while or have never done these types of activities. 

The physical activities that Palo Alto offers not only help us out physically, mentally and emotionally, but they can even help us out financially. “I don’t have the money right now to exercise” is one of the biggest excuses that many of us make, but we don’t even realize that there is a gym at our own school that won’t even charge us to exercise.

The weight room is open at the gymnasium five days a week, Monday through Friday. Its hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. 

Keisha Johnston, a sophomore Nursing major, said, “I love the weight room so much. It’s given me an amazing chance to work on my arms, legs, any part of my body that needs to add and gain muscle.” 

Open Gymnasium hours started on October 1 and will end December 7, 2012. The days you can use the gym to play any sports from basketball, volleyball, dodge ball, kickball and flag football are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 3 p.m.

You must have a current Palo Alto College I.D. to use the gym and the swimming pool for free. 

The admission fee for community open swim/adult lap swim is $3 for adults, $2 for children and senior citizens. The fall swimming hours began August 25, 2012, and will end December 13, 2012. The community open swim hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-9 p.m. and Saturdays from noon-6 p.m. The adult lap swim hours are Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. and 7:15 to 9 p.m., and Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Alexis Lowe, the chair of the Kinesiology Department, said, “Palo Alto offers a walking group that meets every Monday at 9 a.m. outside the Student Center in the courtyard. The length of the walking trail is about .76 miles and can be found behind the gymnasium.” 

The walking trail may be used at any time during the day or evening.

Morgan, a freshman Criminal Justice major, said, “I didn’t even know that Palo Alto had exercising facilities. Thanks for telling me. I think I’ll go check them out right now.” 

The physical activity classes are a great way to relieve stress and not worry so much about the school work that we all have to do every day. Take advantage of Palo Alto’s many exercise opportunities.