Tiger X brings eXcitement to eXercising

By Jess Camp

Published Jan. 26, 2007

The thought of exercising doesn't always bring a happy picture to mind. In fact, for some, it brings the total opposite. Running on a treadmill until you can't breathe while turning red and looking gross can be unappealing for some people, especially when it is during your favorite TV show.

For both the cycle-riders and the couch-riders, the answer to their exercise dilemma can be found in one of the various Tiger X classes at the Student Recreation Complex.

"The classes are fun if you're not familiar with working out," said senior Kristina Gardner, who teaches a new cycling class that watches the TV show "Grey's Anatomy" and peddles at the same time. "No one knows what they're doing. The classes give you some incentive to lose Christmas weight, and everyone has fun."

The ride during "Grey's Anatomy" occurs every Thursday night. The people who take the class peddle slowly during the show, and once the commercials come on they kick it into high gear. Gardner said the class is most popular when the episodes are new, and sometimes the class gets so full that the participants are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tiger X is a group of exercise classes that are offered at the recreation complex. These classes include the hardcore Cardio Combat to the more exotic Belly Dancing.

"Tiger X was started to fulfill the needs of people so that they would have opportunities to workout in groups, with their friends and just a variety of classes for cross-training and whatnot," Fitness Coordinator Angela Eastham said.

Teaching a Tiger X class can have its benefits as well.

"You're getting paid to work out," Eastham said.

Eastham said the process of becoming a trainer is competitive. First, the applicants go through in-house training to become an aerobics, Pilates, yoga, cycling, hydro spinning or water aerobics instructor. After they are trained, auditions are then held to select the most qualified trainer for a course.

"We do auditions to select the people that we feel have the most potential to give back and contribute to the program," Eastham said. "It's not quite like 'American Idol.'"

After the new instructors are chosen, they are put into a peer-mentoring program, which means they are paired with an instructor who has been teaching for at least two semesters. The novices will lead the warm-ups and cool-downs until they are prepared to teach a class on their own.

"This is really great so that people aren't just thrown into teaching," Eastham said. "It seems to work well because you don't lose the quality of the program by throwing a new instructor into it without having very much direction or guidance."

The pairing of a new teacher with an experienced one is also beneficial because both can demonstrate a different version of the same exercise.

"It's helpful for one person to show the high or intermediate level and the other to show the lower modification. So the class is really for everyone, no matter what their level is," Eastham said.

She said it was always the intention to have students teach the classes, but as the market for the classes has branched out, so have the instructors. Because of the diversification of the instructors, students have more choices when it comes to instructors. Students can take classes from other students if that would make them feel more relaxed, and there are teachers who are older and can better relate to graduate students, staff and faculty members.

Eastham said the most popular class is called Absolution, which was the first 30-minute class that the recreation complex offered. It focuses on the abdominal and lower back muscles.

"I never realized how fun working out can be until I took aerobics," senior and Absolution teacher Ashley Lyon said. "Social exercise is easier than working out by yourself. So if you're scared of the Jungle Gym or bored, go to an aerobics class because it's a different workout and is a lot of fun."

Another new class that the recreation complex offers is Belly Dancing. According to the complex's Web site, this class is a total body workout and focuses on body posture, core strengthening and muscle awareness.

"It's fun and anyone can do it," said Kandi Grossman, who teaches the course in addition to owning the Moon Belly Dance Studio, located off Business Loop 70 West. "It's fitness and muscle oriented. It's for people who want to have a fun workout or who want to learn the art form."

Grossman has yet to have any males take the course but encourages them to come and give it a try. She said the class isn't risqué at all.

Not only do instructors enjoy the Tiger X classes but many students students said they love them as well.

"It's more fun to go to a class than get off of my ass and go to the gym," senior Rebekah Rodriguez said.

She said her favorite class is Cardio Salsa.

"It's fun," Rodriguez said. "It has a lot of dancing by yourself, a lot of hips and a lot of attitude. You may look like a fool, but you have fun."

Eastham said last semester was the most popular semester for Tiger X enrollment. Roughly 1,900 people attended the classes.

"I really think that there is a class for everyone," Eastham said. "We really strive to make the classes accessible for any fitness level. If people are rehabbing from injuries, we make the movements as safe and effective as possible. My goal is to make the program as fun and innovative as possible for the students, faculty and staff."