Spangdahlem fitness center: A place to warm-up for holdiays

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  As the weather outside begins to get frightful, the Skelton Memorial Fitness Center is buffing up on indoor workout activities to keep Airmen fit to fight.

The fitness center provides a variety of ways for Airmen to effectively work out. These programs can help individuals stay fit, build muscle, learn new work out techniques, improve at a sport and hone in on proper lifting techniques.

One of the programs provided year-round is combat fitness.

"Combat fitness is based on your own ability," said Krystal Rhodes, 52nd Force Support Squadron sports director. "Specialists will assess where you are and get you started on a program that suits you."

Combat fitness specialists are available to help Airmen and their family members set up individualized workouts Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding goal days and holidays.

For those working out in large groups, it's recommended to call the fitness center to schedule ahead of time.

"Combat fitness is a total-body workout," said Senior Airman Jason Sugimoto, 52nd Force Support Squadron certified combat fitness specialist. "All athletic aspects such as speed, agility, flexibility, balance and power grow evenly. It's a way to get better at everything."

Along with putting people through workouts, specialists also teach them about what they're doing and show them different ways to work on enhancing a skill.

For example, people may not know that lifting weights can increase their speed, he said.

While this can eventually be a quick workout, specialists advise people new to combat fitness not to rush into it because it's like a sport and with any sport athletes need to practice. The certified instructors will also provide advice on correct form to maximize the workouts effectiveness.

"It can be a 10 minute workout, but in order to gain from, it you have to do it properly and efficiently," he said. "When people come the first few times, they shouldn't expect a 10 minute workout because you need at least a month of training to learn the proper forms, get the proper workout and not get injured."

For those interested in getting a good workout through team sports, there are several base teams to sign up for through the fitness center.
This season's sports include:

· Intramural basketball, which starts Nov. 29. Game nights are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
· Thirty years or older recreation basketball league, which starts Nov. 28. Game nights are Mondays.
· Ice hockey, which starts Nov. 29. Game nights for this team are dependent on local national team schedules.
· Volleyball, which starts in January.

All sports offered through the fitness center also have varsity teams, which are open for all Airmen to try-out for.

For those unable to join a team, there are also plenty of fitness classes at the fitness center available Monday through Friday, to include:

· Zumba is Monday and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m., and Wednesday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.
· Butts and Guts is Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m.
· MaxFit is Monday and Wednesday at 5 p.m.
· Yoga is Monday and Wednesday at 5 p.m.
· Tai Chi is Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m.
· Abs bootcamp class is Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
· Indoor cycling is Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Wednesday at 6 a.m.
· Step class is Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
· Equipment orientation is Friday at 10 a.m.

All classes, with the exception of Zumba, which is $5, are provided free of charge.

For more information on any of these programs, call the fitness center at DSN 452-6634 or 6251, or at 06565-61-6634 or 06565-61-6251.