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Rio Hondo College News

MEDIA ALERT
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Merle Enriquez   Secretary
Department: Planning and Development
Phone:  (562) 692-0921  Ext. 3412
Rio E-Mail: MEnriquez@riohondo.edu

Articles published: Sunday, February 19, 2006
Whittier Daily News

Campus sweat set
Exercise classes work out well at Rio Hondo

By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell Staff Writer

WHITTIER - Sweat poured down Matthew Balzano's face as he lifted a 60-pound weight at an exercise class at Rio Hondo College.

Balzano recently signed up for the one-unit class offered at the college's LifeLong Fitness Center, paying just $26 for the entire spring semester.

"It seemed pretty cheap for this really nice gym with lots of equipment," said the 19-year-old Whittier man, toweling off after his workout. "It beats paying $100 a month to go to a normal gym."

But there is also a little-known bonus. Those who sign up for one of the center's classes not only get inexpensive workouts each semester - after four semesters, they get free, lifelong use of the facility.

That policy began last year, said Jodi Senk, the director of the fitness center.

Both students and non-students can enroll in PE 130 or Lifelong Fitness Laboratory, which are offered each semester for a $26 fee.

In PE 130, students immediately are assessed for risk factors and medical history to establish an individual fitness profile. They can then visit the fitness center Monday through Thursday and on Friday and Saturday mornings to use exercise equipment organized in an aerobic circuit.

On a recent Friday morning, a row of women ran on treadmills. Others pedaled furiously on stationary bicycles before stretching out and cooling down.

Mariana Martinez, who was doing the circuit workout for the first time, said she likes the inexpensive fee and easy access to the fitness center.

"In my free time between classes I can come here, and I plan to keep on coming," said the 20-year-old El Monte woman.

The fitness center opened in 1989 in the college's old women's gymnasium. Herbert Sussman, who was Rio Hondo's president at the time, said he never regretting authorizing the center's construction.

"The physical education faculty suggested it, and it seemed like a great idea at the time," said Sussman as he worked out in the center. "Now, it's this fabulous, big and inexpensive place to work out."
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-RHC-

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