By Brittany Burke

Last week I tweeted about taking my first RECentral class of the semester, cycling with Ken DeStefanis. Like a good Twitter user, I hash tagged key words, one being CCSU. In response I got a tweet from CCSUToday saying “keep up the good work, way to be healthy,” because that’s what RECentral is all about, being active and staying healthy.

The fitness component of RECentral is fairly new compared to some of the other things like club sports and intramural sports, but it’s growing with each semester, so much so that the classes now occupy four different rooms in two buildings.

There are classes for everyone including cycling, zumba, yoga, core training or even introduction to cycling. It’s vital to know that you don’t have to be fit to take these classes, or even be an expert in these fields, there is a level for everyone.

“Our RECentral slogan is, ‘Our business is play,’ and for our fitness classes our fitness slogan is, and I think it’s very important for people to understand, ‘Everybody has their own fitness level, find yours,’ and we provide that opportunity,” said DeStefanis.

RECentral’s slogan says it all. Last semester I walked into the Kaiser dance studio never having taken a yoga class, unless you count the one hour sessions at dance camp, which I didn’t, and I ended up falling in love with Ta’rin’ii’s teaching style.

For me, this semester is all about the cycling. I got the schedule for the fitness classes after doing an article on club sports and that night my roommate and I set a goal to lose 16 pounds by April.  I want to get into better shape for a wedding I have to be in at the end of that month and she is just willing to work out with me like a good roommate.

We sat down with the class list, picked ones we could attend and then posted the schedule on our door so we wouldn’t forget. In the end we decided to take cycling and self-defense. Not all fitness classes are directly fitness related, self-defense not only stretches you out and makes you work up a sweat, but it also teaches you useful skills.

I’ve only taken one class with the self-defense RECentral fitness instructor, Michelle, but I’ve already learned things that I could use to protect myself if need be.

Everyone takes the class for different reasons, personally I am taking it because as a female sports reporter I’ve had to deal with some inappropriate people in the past and I just want to make sure I am prepared. However, my reason is different than my roommate sitting on the yoga mat next to me or the girls that sat to our left.

Walking into Davidson 123 I wasn’t sure what to expect. Like my previous yoga experience I had only taken self-defense classes through my dance studio as workshops, it was nothing noteworthy, but my lack of skill and intensity didn’t matter.

The instructor was aware that most people were beginners, just like my two instructors for cycling had been.

The class, which was primarily girls, began with stretching and quickly moved into kicks. I learned there are two different kind of kicks, a high kick and a kick to the midsection with a flexed foot using the ball of the foot. Both versions are extremely useful, but let’s be honest, any female is going to attempt option two against a male attacker, because as Michelle pointed out, it’s easier to get them in the “you know where.”

The best part of the class was learning how to correctly punch. Yes, as well all hit the bags we looked like girls, and I’ll be the first to admit I have no upper body intensity, but where are you encouraged to hit something as hard as you possibly could?

Another useful tip? Punch with your pointer and middle finger knuckles as a way to avoid breaking your hand.

We also did partnering work, which pitted me against my roommate. We learned the weakest part of the hand is the thumb, and how to get out of someone’s grip, gain control and possibly injure someone’s elbow.

Each week at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays Michelle will teach different, karate-based techniques, but she’s not the only one. Classes are taught Monday through Friday at multiple times throughout the day, and the schedule can be found through RECentral.