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Show AggieLife Tuesday, April 2, 2013 Page 5 Class provides exercise and entertainment the class. "It's a good workout, it's good cardio, it's good music," said Angeline During my sophomore year in high school, my cross-country coach taught a spin class. She made us go to every Monday instead of going on a run — something about cross training and how spinning made us run faster. I really liked spinning, or at least I thought I did. Last week I decided to try it again. Within the first, oh, I don't know, 30 seconds, I thought I was going to die: like, fall off the bike and crack my head open. Okay, it wasn't that bad, but the spinning class is probably the hardest workout I have done in months. The spin instructor, Isela Phelps, said spinning gives you a good workout in a short amount of time. "You can go as hard as you feel like going or as easy as you feel like going," she said. "You are the boss of that bike." I totally rocked my time on my bike, but something else Phelps said rang true. "There is tons of inspiration just from being in a class," she said. "You have other people there that will push you, especially if you come regularly." I don't attend spin class regularly, but being in that one class showed me how much the people around you can be a motivator. Maybe it was just because I'm a little too competitive for my own good, but when I was looking around and I could see other girls turning their knobs up a couple of turns, I had to one up them and turn mine up even more. This may be the cause of my near death during Wairegi, a third year chemistry grad student who attended the spinning class. Wairegi said there really isn't a lot to spinning, which is true. It's a simple way to get a dang good workout. Isela also told us to earn our spandex. Through the course of the workout, I really felt like I worked hard enough to earn my spandex, even if it did practically kill me. Speaking of spandex, lets talk about what to wear to workout. I personally work out in spandex and a t-shirt, but depending on the activity you are doing, you might want to wear something different. I would not recommend wearing the aforementioned spandex and t-shirt to go out swimming, nor would I recommend running in a swimsuit. Although workout clothing can run a little on the more expensive side, it is so worth it, especially when it comes to the shoes you wear. The cheap running shoes will never help you — they will only hurt you. So when you are trying to find running shoes, go to the experts — they know what they're talking about. I personally prefer the Mizuno Wave Elixir 6, but I've made the switch to a pair of Brooks Ravenna 4. We'll see how that goes — but go to the pros for good shoes. Never settle for something that comes out of a Walmart or Payless. When it comes to activities such as running, personal trainer Jake Saunders recommends wearing loose, comfortable clothing. "Some people like running in yoga pants, some people like the short shorts. It just depends on what you feel comfortable in," he said. So when you go to workout, wear something you feel comfortable in and please wear something other people will feel comfortable seeing you in. I've seen too many men work out in white spandex before, and to those men: Please, never do it again. An off-the-wall workout BY JEANNINE STEIN Los Angeles Times (MCT) LOS ANGELES — Most of us traverse the environment by walking. Not Michael "Frosti" Zernow — he prefers to vault, flip and catapult his way from A to B. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based professional parkour athlete and instructor has 10-plus years of experience, and it shows: The man defies gravity when in motion. Parkour is a discipline developed in France that involves smoothly navigating over and around obstacles like walls, stairs and trees with jumps, climbs and acrobat-like moves. Zernow makes it look effortless, but it takes practice and discipline if you don't want to smack a wall, graze your knees on asphalt or otherwise end up at your local urgent care clinic. Once you've got the skills, parkour (also called free-running) is a blast you can do almost anywhere. Since some moves can be tricky and require a level of athleticism, you may want professional instruction at the outset. But here's an easy, explosive move — called a tic-tac — to get you started. Why you should try this: done to jump over an obstacle and can help you climb higher. It instills body control, essential for parkour. The major muscles of the legs and core get a workout since they keep the body stable as it flies through the air. What to do: Pick a spot on a wall, sturdy tree or lamppost that is at a comfortable and achievable height. Take a short running start and step onto the spot with the leg that's closest, putting your weight into it. Then push off with the same leg, like a billiard ball ricocheting off the side of a pool table. Extend the other leg out for the landing, but don't just settle for any random landing spot _ pick a specific place on the ground, and turn to face it to help guide your body there. Land on the balls of the feet, with knees bent, to avoid injuring the joints. SPIN CLASS IS A WORKOUT that provides cardiovascular exercise, music and a motivational environment. DELAYNE LOCKE photo illustration Paradise Bakery NOW I Buy A Chicken Chipotle open at the Cache Panini or Steak and I White Cheddar Panini Valley Mall. • ara4e/ BAKIR1 Visit U5 Soon! Phone: 787-6260 ` .1 r I Buy a Cup of Broccoli I I Cheddar Soup and I I Get a Cup of Soup I Free. Not to be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Logan location Only. .1 38"Attittai _LAST LECTURE How much to do: Begin with one to two tic-tacs at a time, making sure you work both sides of the body. As you get stronger and more confident, add more. [ I and Get Any Sandwich !Subject to availability. For Free. Not to be combined! Logan location Only. with any other offer. EST. 1970 Since 1976, USU Honors students have selected a professor who has made a memorable impact on the university, inside and outside the classroom. This year, the Utah State University Honors Program presents: Because it's fun. A tic-tac is usually DR. PHEBE JENSEN PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH Dr. Jensen's Last Lecture, "I'LL DROWN MY BOOK": SHAKESPEARE'S LAST LECTURE will illustrate the serious fun of Shakespeare, suggesting how to read his plays for pleasure, profit, and self-discovery, and arguing for the importance of the arts and humanities in undergraduate education. MICHAEL "FROSTI" ZERNOW, a parkour athlete and instructor, shows some simple exercises for peacticing the sport. He demonstrates the tic-tac, a move that kicks the athlete off the wall or other solid object. MYUNG J. CHUN photo, MCT f !1 ;-fit■ University HONORS PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013 11:30AM - 12:30PM PERFORMANCE HALL |