Students work out, get ready for midterm hiatus

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Wayland junior Rikki Jo Holmes runs down the Kulhavi stairs while at the ACT program work out session in Kulhavi 145 on Thursday around 10 a.m. Her run took her up five flights of stairs, across the hallway, and down five flights back to the workout, where she went through the 15 stations again. (Sean Proctor/Staff Photographer)

Nothing puts a spring in one’s step like spring break.

The upcoming recess from school prompted Rikki Jo Holmes to take up a workout regimen. She grabbed a drink from her clear plastic water bottle at the conclusion of an hour-long workout Thursday in Kulhavi Hall 145.

“I feel really, really good,” the Wayland junior said. “I’m really proud of myself. I wanted to get fit for spring break.”

Holmes was one of five girls to participate in the Thursday morning session of the Act Program, a six-week fitness course sponsored by Residence Life and University Recreation that ends this week.

“It’s basically a small training program,” said Angie Dalton, Residence Life coordinator of fitness, facilities and wellness.

Dalton said the program had more than 100 participants with seven personal trainers instructing courses held at different times of the day.

“Everyone sets individual goals,” she said. “We make sure their goals are reasonable, safe and healthy.”

Participants in Thursday morning’s workout rotated between different stations, working on toning muscles and losing weight.

Stations included basic exercises such as sit-ups, jumping rope, push-ups and wall sits. Between rounds of exercise in the classroom, participants took breaks to run throughout the Kulhavi Hall staircases.

Holmes said cost was a major influence on her decision to participate in the Act Program.

“It’s free, which is a big benefit,” she said.

For Macomb Township freshman and Kulhavi resident Katelyn Coates, the location was only one factor in her decision to participate.

“I love exercise and I wanted to get in shape for spring break,” she said.

Coates plans to participate in future programs similar to the Act Program if she has the opportunity.

Reaching a goal

In addition to the recent Act Program, Holmes has participated in past events with Student Recreation such as Butts and Guts, Boot Camp and Turbo Kick programs.

Dalton said in addition to the Act Program, everything Student Recreation hosts is free, ranging from student programs to fitness classes.

In addition to stepping closer to their goals, Act Program participants aim to earn prizes such as additional training sessions with their class instructors.

At the conclusion of the workout, each girl stretched while restating her original goals, deciding whether she had accomplished the goals.

Holmes and Coates decided they had accomplished their goal of getting fit for spring break.

“I thought it was awesome and I needed the motivation,” Coates said of the Act Program. “It was great.”