Students have community center as fitness option

by Brynn Burton
Staff Writer

When yoga classes are full and the wait to get on a treadmill is 50 minutes at Ping Center, people working out have the option of exercising at the Athens City Community Center.

But whether to use Ping or the community center, 701 E. State St., is an issue of personal taste rather than which facility is better.

“I think that each facility caters to two different worlds,” said Amy Allaire, fitness director at Ping. “We are meeting the needs of students and those who have access to Ping, and they are meeting the needs for the community and to families.”

While the centers offer some of the same classes, Ping has a larger variety.

Ping offers many different fitness sessions that include cardio kick, weight training, deep-water aerobics and a boot camp fitness class. Ping also teaches mind and body sessions, which include Hatha yoga classes, Tai Chi and Pilates.

The classes at the community center are more fitness-based.

“Our classes are cardio kick, aero sculpting, intermediate step, dance aerobics, karate, Tae Kwon Do and yoga,” said Nicole Hughes, program specialist at Athens City Community Center.

Prices for classes vary and usually depend on the days they are given.

“If (classes) are given one day a week, they are usually $25 per quarter,” Hughes said. “If they are offered twice a week, they are $50.”

For non-members, the average cost per class is $10 more.

The fitness classes at Ping are offered at no cost to students and faculty, while the mind and body sessions cost $20 for students and can cost from $50 to $100 for faculty. Student’s fees for Ping are included in general tuition costs.

Despite the price differences, it is rare for students to purchase a membership at the community center. Students tend to use the community center during winter break or take classes if similar ones at Ping are unavailable, Hughes said.

“We get students occasionally when Ping is closed,” Hughes said. “Some students prefer to take classes here because they enjoy the instructor and the class.”

Local students use the community center more if their family has a membership.

“We seem to have more local students whose parents are members,” said Kevin

Schwartzhoff, director of Athens community center. “Students pay for Ping regardless, so a student from Cleveland won’t come here.”

Trying to take an exercise class at Ping or even working out can be frustrating for some students.

“It is aggravating when there is a class offered at Ping that I would enjoy taking,

and it is full in a few days,” OU sophomore Kristie Wellman said. “In classes where you don’t have to sign up, they are so crowded you can’t move. Sometimes there aren’t enough mats for everyone.”

The lack of space and strong student interest lead to overcrowded classes.

“The reason that classes become full is because spots and space are limited,” Allaire said. “The classes are very popular; they are a unique opportunity.”