Salsa is not just the dance at Rec Sports!

Salsa doesn't just refer to the sauce at VCU Recreational Sports.

Salsa is an informal style of dance involving a partner which has roots in the Caribbean. It involves numerous styles of dancing originating from a mixture of Mambo, Danzon, Guaguanco, Cuban Son and other typical Cuban dance forms.

Chenae Nelson, a 19-year-old exercise science major and junior at VCU, named using the different moves on the dance floor instead of practicing them individually as her favorite part of the class.

“It felt cool to actually dance with a partner … when the mommies and poppies dance together,” Chenae said.

Chenae was drawn to the class by the idea of learning a new dance. Chenae said she had never tried salsa dancing before, but afterwards related that was an opportunity to learn something that you may not have the opportunity to otherwise..

“[You] broaden your knowledge of dance and it’s exercise too,” Chenae said.

For Carlan Burke, a 20-year-old exercise science major and also a junior at VCU, it was his first time participating in the salsa group exercise class, but he said he welcomed the chance to try something new.

“I was learning something outside of my usual box,” Carlan said.

Carlan related the hardest part for him was getting into the groove of the dance steps due to his lack of experience, but that for those looking for something outside of the norm it’s a great choice.

“Prepare to learn something different,” Carlan said.

Recreational Sports offers salsa group exercise classes Sundays from 8:00pm to 9:00pm, and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00pm to 10:00pm during Session II, which runs until December 5th. All classes are free to enrolled VCU students and Recreational Sports members.

You can view the schedule for this session’s other group exercise classes by clicking here.

Come shake your boombsey at Rec Sports!

Recreational Sports patrons worked on their boombsey at the Kukuwa master dance class held at the Siegel Center.

Boombsey being their backsides, according to Kukuwa Nuamah.

Kukuwa, the instructor and creator of the Kukuwa Dance Workout, said the program is a total body workout that combines African, Caribbean and Latin dance into one.

“Nothing is left out,” Kukuwa said.

Kukuwa said she created the style 27 years ago, but it was not until 10 years ago that it became popular. Six years ago she created certifications to train others to teach the program, because the numbers of those interested began to become too overwhelming to handle herself.

Now she owns a business that includes workout clothing and DVDs that have been featured in 'O,' Oprah Winfrey's magazine.

Originally from Ghana, Kukuwa said she created the exercises to move the entire body and work everything from the abs and ribcage to the neck. As a cultural dancer, Kukuwa said she puts Ghana into what she teaches.

Kukuwa said she choreographed the entire dance to music and uses the music to facilitate changes among the different styles of dance.

Pamela Greiss, a 20-year-old biology student and first timer participating in the master class, said her favorite part was the routine dance, where the class participants formed two lines and circle around the classroom.

“Everyone was doing it in sync,” Pamela said.

Pamela said the class was fast paced and required you to keep up with the beat of the music.

“It really works out your abs,” Pamela said.

Erica Jackson, a freshman psychology major, said the instructor’s energy was infectious and caused the class to be high energy.

“It’s just like a big party,” Erica said.

Erica said the class is a positive environment for someone looking to burn large amounts of calories, get a heavy cardio workout or just have a lot of fun.

“You can have fun and be yourself,” Erica said.

Kukuwa will return to VCU on November 23, 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. for a certification workshop. Details on how to be certified to teach Kukuwa Dance Workout and Latin, African and Caribbean Dance can be found here.

Bill Tatu Profile

Bill Tatu is a physical therapist working in Cancer Rehabilitation at the VCU Medical Center, providing services for individuals to maintain and restore strength and functional ability.

Bill trained and served in the Army for 20 years before working at VCU Medical Center as a physical therapist and has worked as a part of the MCV Health System for 11 and a half years.

Bill said he first noticed problems with his right hip while serving in the Army, but it worsened over the years and became unbearable during the last six months of 2007. Bill said it was similar to falling off of a cliff how suddenly the pain increased; almost any type of activity would cause intense pain.

“Everything hurt ... coughing hurt,” Bill said.

The only solution was to undergo a total hip replacement which took place in January of 2008. To help prepare for surgery, Bill took up swimming, which played a major part in his recovery from surgery.

Bill said three weeks after the hip replacement, he was back swimming a mile at the MCV Campus Recreation and Aquatic Center, even though he was still on crutches to get around. After about eight weeks he was able to use the other fitness equipment such as the elliptical trainer and stair climber.

“I felt normal at five weeks,” Bill said, “the pain was totally gone.”

Bill said he knew what to expect from the recovery due to his experience as a physical therapist. What did surprise him, he said, was how good he felt after consistent swimming sessions. While prior to surgery he preferred going on long runs, he has found that long swimming sessions don’t generate aches and pains the way running did.

“I'm much stronger than I was before,” Bill said.

Bill said he chose to workout at VCU Recreational Sports facilities instead of other local options because of the proximity to his job and the excellent facilities. The close proximity allows him to workout around his work schedule and he finds that very convenient.

“You wouldn't be able to do that if you were somewhere else,” Bill said.

Curt Dozier Employee Profile

Curt Dozier is a 20-year-old broadcast journalism major who is currently a junior at VCU. Curt has worked for VCU Recreational Sports for about 18 months, usually working at the Siegel Center as a Facility Supervisor.

Curt said he wanted to apply for a job with Rec Sports after witnessing how Rec Sports employees seemed to all know each other. Curt said everyone worked well together and he wanted to be a part of that kind of fellowship.

“It looked like all the employees enjoyed their job,” Curt said.

In addition, Curt said it made sense to get a job at the same place that he was always working out.
Curt said his favorite part of working at Rec Sports is interacting and getting to know the different people that use the Rec Sports facilities.

When he's not working out or just plain working at Rec Sports, Curt enjoys playing basketball, running and listening to music.

As far as plans after Rec Sports, Curt said that he plans to let the winds take him where they may, but one goal he has is to do some traveling.

“I want to see the world,” Curt said.

Always remember the five D's of dodgeball!

Recreational Sports patrons try their best to follow the five D's of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge, at Medic during Friday Night Line Up at the Siegel Center.

What separates Medic from normal games of dodgeball is the inclusion of its namesake, the medic. The medic has the ability to bring teammates back into the game by tagging them after they get out

Casey Coble, a junior studying psychology, said his favorite part of the game was catching unsuspecting players with a well aimed throw.

“I search for people who aren't looking and I make them pay by hitting them in the face,” Casey said.

Casey said his strategy for ensuring another win for his team was to protect the medic and try to stay close to the middle line of the court.

“It's a lot easier the closer you are when throwing,” he said.

Steven Aliyetti, a sophomore studying forensic science, said the key to winning was being aggressive and not making sloppy mistakes.

Steven said his favorite part of the game was catching hard throws because all the players notice a hard catch and acknowledge it with yelling and clapping.

“It's awesome to get a one hander,” Steven said.

Medic is held Fridays from 2:00 – 4:30 pm in the Siegel Center Activity Center as part of the Friday Night Line Up. Soccer runs from 4:30 – 7, and Volleyball from 7:00 – 8:45.

Kick off your workout with Turbo Kick

If you're looking for a full-body workout, look no further than Turbo Kick classes held at Siegel Center.

Turbo Kick uses punches, kicks and other routines set to dance to provide an action-packed, fun and effective cardiovascular workout for beginner to advanced levels.

Candace Dillon, a second year biology graduate student who has taken the class multiple times during the past year, said she enjoyed how the class involved all parts of the body.

“It's a total body workout and it's fun,” Dillon said.

Dillon said the class is good for a first timer because the instructor shows the participants exactly what to do when in the class.

Bonita Johnson, a sophomore studying radiation science who was taking the class for the first time, said she was attracted to the class because it caught her eye when she entered the gym.

Johnson said her favorite part of the class was the stretching.

“I didn't know you could stretch out the hip,” Johnson said.

Turbo Kick classes are held on.....through October 15. Check out our full schedule of free Group Exercise Classes for Session I http://www.recsports.vcu.edu/fitness/group_exercise.php. Session II begins after Reading Days.

Anne Zielinski Employee Profile

Anne Zielinski is the assistant director of Recreational Sports and is in charge of student development and sports clubs. She received her bachelor's in sports marketing from University of Connecticut in 1998 and her master’s in recreational sports administration from Indiana University in 2000. After graduation, she worked at Ball State University for two years before moving to VCU in 2002.

As the assistant director of student development, Anne manages the student workers in all of the recreational facilities on both campuses.

Anne said she always worked out, but still had weight fluctuations, in some cases losing, then regaining 60 pounds. After learning her stepmother was joining the Weight Watchers program, Anne found motivation to join the group herself.

“There was no way she was going to look better and I wasn’t,” she said.

Anne said for her workout program, she usually does 45 minutes to an hour of cardio, followed by light lifting. By sticking to this program almost every day, Anne has lost 90 pounds.

Anne said in addition to Weight Watchers and working out, she cut down on how much she ate and tried to make healthier choices when preparing food.

“I started to make vegetables my friend,” she said.

Anne said she also rediscovered her love of running. A three-time finisher of the Richmond Marathon and numerous other races, Anne said nothing takes the pounds off like running.

“I’ve found that running is the best exercise for me. When I couldn’t run, I walked, which is also more effective for me than using an elliptical trainer. Walking uses all of your muscles and balance, where the elliptical trainer maintains you in one position.”

As a result of her weight loss, Anne said that it has been easier for her to shop for clothes, she has not had any debilitating back pain since January and she feels that people’s perception of her have changed for the better. “It’s much better with 90 pounds off my back,” she said.

Anne said even if people are capable of living their lives at their current weight, if they feel they could stand to shed some pounds, it will improve their overall standard of living.

“It’s the rest of your life. It can be so much better,” she said.

If you have any questions about Anne’s weight loss journey, please contact her at azielinski@vcu.edu.

A.B.S. doesn't just stand for abs

The class may be called A.B.S., but that’s not the only thing it trains.

A.B.S., which stands for “Abs, Back and Sweat,” is a high-intensity approach to shaping and strengthening the midsection using a number of abdominal, oblique and lower back exercises.

Dr. Eric W. West, Fitness and Wellness Program coordinator for Rec Sports and an instructor for A.B.S. class, said A.B.S. is not only a good way to work on the core, back and abs, but is also “a good way to educate,” about fitness.

Atalie Senty, a freshman mass communications and business dual major, said she always went to fitness classes at her gym in Washington D.C. and she wanted to continue that habit in college.

“I wanted to take advantage of them here,” Senty said.

Senty said the class is good for first timers because the instructors always alternate the exercises done for each class and tailor the exercises towards different skill levels.

Dennis Quaye, a senior criminal justice major, said his desire to stay in shape is what initially drew him to the class and it completely met his expectations for a workout.

“The whole hour is worth it,” Quaye said.

Recreational Sports offers A.B.S. group exercise classes Mondays from 5:00pm to 6:00pm and Tuesdays from 6:00pm to 7:00pm during Session I, which runs until October 15th. All classes are free to enrolled VCU students and Recreational Sports members

You can view the schedule for this session’s other group exercise classes by clicking here.

Jump in and make a splash with Adult Learn to Swim!

If you’re afraid of the water, Adult Learn to Swim classes are the perfect way to jump in and make a splash.

Adult Learn to Swim accommodates beginner and intermediate level swimmers to help adults with a variety of techniques, from overcoming fears of the water to enhancing current swimming skills.

Ashley Gesseck, a forensic science and chemistry major and instructor for the class, said the class is personalized so that participants can reach their personal goals.

Ankita Patel, who holds a master’s in human genetics and is taking undergraduate courses to prepare for medical school, said the whole idea of swimming was new to her.

“Come on. I’m 24 and I don’t know how to swim?” Ankita said.

Ankita said learning how to swim has helped her gain confidence in other areas of life and the instructors motivate her to improve.

“I like how she pushes us,” Ankita said.

Bijal Vyas, who is studying for her master’s in human genetics, said she wanted to become proficient at swimming again after taking a break from the sport.

“It’s a great way for relaxation,” Bijal said.

Bijal said her main goal is to become proficient at the back stroke, which she has tried to learn for four years.

“I think I’ll get it soon,” Bijal said.

Session II of Adult Learn to Swim classes runs from October 20 to December 4 and registration is open now at the MCV Recreation and Aquatic Center and the Siegel Center.

For more information on Adult Learn to Swim and other Aquatics programs at Recreational Sports, visit the Aquatics section of the Rec Sports website by clicking here.

Mara George and John Kim: Recreational Sports Graduate Assistant Dual Bio

Mara George is a 24-year-old graduate of James Madison University with a BA in political science and a master's degree from VCU in public administration. Mara has been working for Rec Sports for two years as a graduate assistant.

Mara said convenience was one of the reasons she was attracted to working at Rec Sports when she started her job search at VCU.

“I could have a full-time job and still go to class and get all my work done,” she said.

John Kim is a 27-year-old graduate of Georgia Southern University with a BA in political science and English, as well as a master's in public administration. John is now working towards his PhD in public policy at VCU.

John said he gained a liking to being around fitness equipment while working as a graduate assistant at his former university's gym.

“It was just a natural progression,” John said.

As graduate assistants both Mara and John supervise student employees, resolve any issues in the absence of the assistant director and ensures that all paperwork and applications are filled out correctly.

Mara said by working at Rec Sports she has gained experience with budgeting, human resources and cash operations. She also recommended working at Rec Sports, as it is perfect for anyone who wants an on-campus job and one with a level of responsibility.

“You'll gain real life experience with leadership and supervisory skills,” she said.

John said he enjoys working at Rec Sports because of the exciting environment and great student workers.

“You're not going to be pushing paper everyday,” he said.

Intramural Flag Football kicks off on Cary Street Field

Intramural flag football kicked off on September 10th at the Cary Street Field with multiple games and numerous people on the bleachers watching the action.

Jordan Chyrsler, a senior studying electrical engineering, was participating in intramural flag football for the first time, although he has played on an intramural soccer team before.

Chrysler said he did not come up with the team name, The Engineers. His captain, Julian Valencia, did. But he agreed with Valencia’s prediction that they would “go all the way.”

Chrysler said he had a strategy for when he was playing as a receiver.

“Go out for short passes usually,” Chrysler said.

Valencia, a junior studying electrical engineering said he would have participated in intramural flag football before, but he was always too late to register a team. This time he found out about team registrations early enough to participate.

Valencia said his strategy for his role of quarterback was to simply throw the ball to whoever gets open and said the team’s skill as engineers would impact the results.

“We're going to design how you play the game of football.”

Roberto Mejia, a sophomore who has not yet declared his major, is a member of Team Miley. He likes to participate in intramurals because it provides something to look forward to after classes are over.

“[You can] take a break from schoolwork,” Mejia said.

Matt Van Dao, captain of Team Miley and a sophomore in the pre-nursing program, said he named the team as a form of dedication to pop singer Miley Cyrus.

“It's like an infatuation,” Van Dao said.

Van Dao said in order for his team to win, they planned on sticking to “the basics.”

Intramural Flag Football is played Monday through Thursday from 8:00pm to 12:00am on Cary Street Field with more than 60 teams participating during the season. It’s free to come out and cheer on your favorite teams.

The next block of intramural sports is racquetball doubles, table tennis, and tennis singles. Registration runs September 15th through the 23rd at the Siegel Center, MCV Recreation and Aquatic Center and the new Cary Street Field Support Building. Don't miss out on the fun!

Answer to weight lifting spotters question

Here at Rec Sports we've received numerous questions about when or if facility staff will be spotting people who are lifting weights in our fitness centers.

We went and got an answer straight from the Director of Rec Sports himself, Tom Diehl.

Tom said it's not possible to have enough staff to spot all of the patrons in the fitness centers. Patrons may request to be trained to spot for others. Patrons can lift in pairs or ask another lifter for a spot.

The only time staff will be permitted to spot is if there are two staff persons working and only one patron in the entire fitness center, then our staff would spot until a second patron enters the fitness center.

Patrons "flip out" over Capoeira group exercise classes at Siegel Center

A group exercise class that combines martial arts, music and dance held its first class on Tuesday night at the Siegel Center. Capoeira is its name and it originated in Brazil during the 16th century.

Now, patrons can participate in the class every Tuesday and Thursday, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm at the Siegel Center during session one of group exercise classes.

The class is taught by Mestre Panao, a student of capoeira for 26 years. Panao said he started learning capoeira at the age of 12 in Brazil, where it’s considered the number two sport of the nation, second only to soccer.

“Everybody there has access to capoeira,” Panao said.

Panao said he wanted to give the same access to people in Richmond, which is why he leaped at the opportunity to teach his art at the Siegel Center.

Alex Valerio, an 18-year-old biology major and first time taker of the class, said he was planning on attending every class in the future.

“It was really fun,” Valerio said.

Valerio said he liked how the music blended in with the martial arts.

Matt Daniel, a 19-year-old business major, is one of Panao’s assistants during the class and has practiced capoeira for a little over four years. Daniel said that there can be “no capoeira without music” and that it sets the tempo of the martial art.

Daniel has four years of experience under his belt, but he said when starting out he could barely do a cartwheel. With enough practice, he said, anyone can become familiar with capoeira.

“If you practice enough you can do whatever you want to,” Daniel said.

Erin Opseth, a 22-year-old public relations major who was also taking the class for the first time, said it was a great workout and something that would be great to learn.

“I’m definitely tired,” Opseth said.

For a chance to hear some music played when practicing Capoeira and an interview with Mestre Panao, follow the link below and play the story titled "Capoeira" on the right side of the webpage.

http://www.ideastations.org/radio/

Rec Sports Employee Bio of the Week: Justin Wade

Justin Wade is a 21-year-old Business Administration major who hails from Martinsville and is currently a Junior at VCU. Although he has only been working with Rec Sports for about a year, he has already managed to be promoted to the supervisor position at Rec Sports.

Like most students, Wade needed a job that he could handle while he was attending school full-time and a job working at the gym fit what he was looking for.

“Because most jobs you can't work and go to school at the same time,” he said.

Wade said that other than the pay, his favorite part about working at the Rec Sports facilities is the opportunity to network and meet new people.

“I just like talking to people,” he said.

When he's not in class or working out on the benchpress at Siegel Center or MCV Recreation and Aquatic Center, Wade enjoys hanging out with friends or just killing time surfing the Internet.

Sneak peek of things to come now in use at MCV Recreation and Aquatic Center

If you want to get a sneak peek at what kind of improvements the new Cary Street Recreation Complex will have, then you don't have to go any farther than the MCV Campus Aquatic Center locker rooms.

Within the last month, Rec Sports has replaced all of the lockers in the Aquatic Center as well as equipping them with new Digilocks, doing away with the old combination lock setup. Both the men's and women's locker rooms have a number of day use lockers in addition to 40 rentable lockers. So now, instead of having to trek back and forth to the recreation center's locker rooms, you can store your swimming gear in the rentable lockers overnight and get right into the action after checking in with the lifeguards.

The new Digilocks have a keypad with numbers 0-9, a “C” button and a button with a tiny picture of a key. The day use lockers operate on a four-digit code of your choice that you enter to secure the locker and that is cleared once you unlock your locker to make it available for others to use. The rentable lockers also use a numerical code after using the initial unlock code given to you by the front desk, but the rentable lockers remember your code until the locker rental is ended.

With the renovated MCV Recreation and Aquatic Center opening summer 2009 and Cary Street Gym completed in 2010, over the next few months you'll see upgrades such as the new lockers at both the Siegel Center and MCV Recreation Center as they're tested out and incorporated into the new facilities. With these improvements, you can get a taste of what Rec Sports users have to look forward to in the future.