The Fitness Lab is making it easier for college students to stay fit while still earning college credit.
With having to balance school, work, socializing and finding time to sleep, students succumb to neglecting their health and fail to get proper physical activity.
Luckily, the Fitness Lab here at Moorpark College allows students to work out while on campus or in between their regular academic classes. Physical Education Department Chair, Remy McCarthy spoke about the goals of the Fitness Lab.
“Ultimately we try to give our students the basic knowledge of kinesiological principles and teach them the proper way to exercise, the benefits of exercise and educate the students on the faulty information thats out [there] on weight loss.” McCarthy said via email.
The classes at the Fitness Lab are designed to help students achieve strength, endurance and flexibility in a way that works best for them.
When students come to work out, they check in on the computer, track activity with a workout card and are required to complete one of the programs on their workout cards. These programs include the cardio, aerobic super circuit and strength.
In addition, the gym provides state of the art equipment such as treadmills, spinning cycles, stair masters, weight machines and various resistance machines for students to focus on core strength and more. Sadly, the Fitness Lab goes unnoticed by many students on campus.
“I have never heard of the Fitness Lab,” said 19-year-old psychology major Nick Warner. “I knew we had a gym on campus, but I didn’t know students could go to the gym as a class.”
McCarthy says that the Fitness Lab is a great alternative to students who are looking for a more cost effective way to work out.
“Because of the cost and availability, past students would use it as a substitute from outside gyms,” McCarthy said.
Compared to other gym memberships that range anywhere from $30 to $50 per month, it only costs $46 at Moorpark College to attend the Fitness Lab for a full semester.
It is also not uncommon for college students who attend on campus gyms to do better from an academic standpoint.
For instance, more than 1,800 of the students who visited Purdue University’s on campus gym at least once a week while attending, were more likely to earn a GPA of 3.10 or higher than those who did not, according to a study conducted by Purdue University.
This course does apply toward the physical education requirement for the Associate Degree. Although, units do transfer to both Universities of California and Cal States.
Students with any other questions are encouraged to visit the Fitness Lab, located on the first floor of the gymnasium.
