New classes provided at the FIU Wellness and Recreational Center

Brigitte Onorato/Contributing Writer

On Jan. 22 and 23, 2019, the FIU Wellness and Recreation Center held their Fitness and Yoga party providing demo fitness classes to those interested in joining for the new semester. Many of the classes included Total Body Resistance Exercise, lift and sweat, powerlifting aerial and acro yoga, and Muay Thai classes.

TRX classes incorporate a new technique that involves a performance training tool. It uses body weight exercises to help with suspension, stability and the core.

Students participated in the Total Body Resistance Exercise class in the Wellness and Recreation Center. Photo by Brigitte Onorato.

Throughout the TRX class demo, the trainer set up each station with suspension bands. Each person had one minute to complete each workout, such as squat jumping and chest pull ups, by holding the bands.

Among others were the lift and sweat demo class. This class helps to guide you with proper posture and form while doing weightlifting exercises. In it, the trainer explained how to correctly maintain form while doing a deadlift, which involves dropping down and lifting the bar off the ground to the level of the hips. The class then proceeded to do 30 seconds of mountain climbers, followed with burpees.

Aerial and acro yoga classes were also featured, both of which were unlike usual yoga classes that use mats. Aerial yoga uses long fabric slings suspended from the ceiling to achieve yoga poses in mid air, while acro yoga involves two individuals who support each other. The person laying down on the ground is called the base, and the flyer is the person who is being supported by the base.

In acro yoga, the base lifts their legs up to support the flyer by the base of their hips. Enough stability and stamina is required to lift the flyer, and the flyer also needs to control their balance.

The Muay Thai classes FIU will be providing teaches student self-defense, combining the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins. Similar to boxing, it’s a great core workout and also strengthens your cardio.

Photo by JD Mason on Unsplash.