Murray State offers an abundance of ways for students to improve their well being and general health. The Wellness Center provides several outlets for student welfare and fitness. The Wellness Center provides a variety of fitness classes at no cost as classes are included within a membership.

Students receive inclusive memberships within their tuition rates, so these fitness classes are free of charge to any student wishing to participate.

With these services being offered for members of the Wellness Center, people are taking advantage of them. Sammie Moore said she enjoys participating in the Zumba classes offered throughout the week because they are fun, effective and free to students.

“I want to stay in shape and exercise, but lifting weights and running is really boring to me so I like Zumba because it’s a lot of fun, but I’m still getting exercise,” Moore said.

Zumba is not the only energetic class provided at the Wellness Center, however. Newly hired cycling instructor Lacey Walker said she loves her job as instructor and enjoys the fact that Murray State offers so many fitness options.

“Running is really hard and your joints and your body and cycling is a method of exercise that is easy on your joints and allows you to burn 500 calories in just one class,” Walker said.

Walker has been complimented on being very motivating during workouts and also in her skill of making a not-so-exciting workout become a fun activity to participate in.

The fitness classes offered at the Wellness Center are so popular that Walker said her only complaint would be she wishes the rooms were bigger to accommodate more people for classes. She stated that cycling classes have been known to be full by early morning because people will call ahead and reserve spots for that evening.

Cycling classes give members a way to start becoming active and learn how to exercise without all the damaging effects cardio-centered activities, such as running, may have on a person’s body.

Walker said that it is a great thing that Murray State offers fitness classes because it gives people the chance to get motivated as well as learn from an experienced person about how to exercise in an effectively for yourself.

For members yearning to adopt a healthier lifestyle but not wishing to engage in something so fast-paced, yoga is an excellent class to participate in.

Walker­– said yoga is often overlooked as a type of exercise that is not very effective because it is not an aerobic discipline, however, yoga can assist a healthy living in several ways.

Freshman Sierra Walls, from Madisonville, Ky., said she chooses yoga as her preferred method of exercise.

“Yoga improves my flexibility and endurance and it also helps me wind down from the day,” Walls said.

“If I’ve had a really stressful day, I come do yoga and it helps me relax and end the day in my mind,” Walls said.

She said other students also commented on the fact that yoga helps them release the stress incurred throughout the day from classes or homework.

This includes expanding the variety of classes offered and the times they are held to accommodate students’ busy schedules. A list of classes offered and the current times at which they are held can be obtained at the Wellness Center or by visiting their website.

Story by Alex Mahrenholz, Contributing Writer