Auburn, Ala. (EETV) - Each Wednesday Wake Up Auburn celebrates a national holiday.
This week the team celebrates National Women's Health and Fitness Day doing Zumba with Claire Broussard from Auburn's Recreation and Wellness Center.
Zumba is a dance craze that has swept the country and has become particularly popular among women.
The workout consists of doing high-intensity dance moves to upbeat music.
It is estimated that Zumba is practiced in 200 countries by 15 million people.
Women make up 49.4% of Auburn’s student body. As a result, this day affects a large population of our campus. Eagle Eye was able to get some tips for living a healthy lifestyle from Christy Coleman, the group fitness coordinator at the Auburn Rec and Wellness Center.
In college, it can be hard to balance working out with school and having a social life. What health/fitness tips do you have for women trying to implement a healthy lifestyle during such a busy season of their lives?
“Life is all about choices, and every choice has a compound effect. Little things can make a big difference! Instead of taking the elevator in a building, take the stairs. Walk as much as possible while on campus or when shopping – park at the farthest away space and walk briskly to the building. Stay hydrated!! Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Don’t forget the importance of rest!! Aim for 6-7 hours of sleep each night. Time management is HUGE. Being mindful of your health when you make a choice or when scheduling your day will help build healthy lifetime habits.”
What rec resources are available for women to ensure they are getting proper health/fitness and nutrition? “The Rec offers a program called Auburn Strong that helps students and/or faculty/staff identify goals and practice healthy behavior change. The Auburn Strong program works with Tiger Dining and a registered dietician to counsel participants on eating and cooking strategies and even offers grocery store tours to help with making better food choices when shopping. Through Auburn Strong, participants have personal training sessions, a Group Fit pass to attend the classes of their choice, and a couple of sessions with 1 of our Counseling Services counselors to address behavior change and how to stick with it.”
What fitness advice do you have for women who want to become more comfortable in the gym? “Look into getting a personal trainer to help you become familiar with a weight lifting plan. A trainer can show you how to use equipment properly, can provide a workout plan that is effective, and can give you tips on how to select the appropriate weight for lifting.”
Are there any women centered classes (or classes that are popular with women especially) available through the rec? “The majority of the Group Fitness classes at the Rec are attended by women, so all of them seem to be popular with females. Classes that seem to draw more females are Barre Essentials, Zumba, BollyX, Pilates, and Butts & Guts.”
What's one thing women should know about reaching their fitness and health goals? “Like any goal, you can achieve your fitness and health goals when you put your mind to it and commit! Choose not to look at the scale! Instead, focus on how you feel and how your clothes fit. Can you breathe when you reach the top of a flight of stairs? How about when you jog up the stairs? Are your clothes getting looser? Reaching a goal will not happen overnight. Give yourself time to accomplish your fitness and health goals.”
According to Health.com, women can rely on superfoods, massages, and daily naps to improve their health as well. Sign us up!
