On January 21, TMCC crossed the finish line of one of its major expansions by officially opening the doors of the long-anticipated Sports and Fitness Center (SFC). The new facility includes dedicated spaces for cardiovascular and resistance training in addition to a gym and open areas for intramural and club sports. Treadmills, elliptical machines, and spin bikes will offer students, staff and faculty opportunities to break a sweat before, in between or after classes, while a large array of free weights, dumbells, and resistance equipment can complete your strength and resistance training routine. A full-sized gymnasium will is also available for basketball and volleyball activities and additional space for PEX classes. Full-size locker rooms enable gym-goers to shower-up and change, ready to start (or return to) their day.
More importantly, though, it’s included in your college experience. “Students used to buy memberships to the fitness center on campus,” said Athletic Director Dr. Tina Ruff. “Because of the credit hour fees associated with the new facility, we don’t charge membership fees to students. If you’re interested in a membership, stop by the main desk in the Sports and Fitness Center to complete the necessary liability paperwork and provide our staff a verification of class enrollment.”
Are you TMCC faculty or staff? If so, you can grab a pass for a mere $15 per month. DRI employees can purchase a pass for $20 per month and community members will be charged a monthly rate of $25.
No matter if you’re a full-time student (enrolled in 12 credits or more) or you’re just taking a one-credit class for personal enrichment, or you’re a fan of TMCC, the SFC is an affordable and amenity-filled option where you can meet your fitness goals. “We’ve gained 1,000 square feet in the strength and conditioning room and we’ve gained an 8,000 square foot gym where we can host informal basketball and volleyball games, and that space can also be used as a campus event venue,” said Ruff.
Additionally, the facility offers brand new locker room and shower facilities, tons of natural light and a variety of PEX classes that will get you moving in a way that inspires you.
Why Exercise?
As it turns out, there’s plenty of reasons why you’ll want to carve out an hour of your day to visit TMCC’s newest building on the Dandini Campus. A refit racking system in the strength and conditioning room will enable you to have a one-stop-shop for your full-body resistance routine. New selectorized machines target specific muscle groups and movement for targeted training. The incredible views offered by the cardio equipment will inspire you to keep going, mile after mile.
No matter how you prefer to exercise, experts agree that it’s important that you do. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incorporating physical activity into your daily routine—whether you’re in your 20s, 40s or 80s—is one of the best things that a person can do to improve his or her wellbeing. The benefits of regular physical activity are well-known and include: reducing your risk of depression or mental illness, improving aerobic and muscular fitness, bone health, sleep, and academic performance while lowering your risk of stroke and high blood pressure.
What you might not know is that focusing on your health holistically could really save you in the long run. Currently, Americans spend $117 billion annually on health care costs associated with treating conditions that are the result of inadequate physical activity. Conversely, studies have shown that physically active adults take fewer sick days—which means, the time you take to exercise, the more you’re able to do the things you need to, whether that entails going to class, teaching, doing homework, working at your job or caring for your family and home.
The SFC can help you fit in those precious hours of exercise through their regular hours (7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturdays), or through PEX classes that take place in one of the three spacious fitness rooms. “We are hoping to offer several drop-in classes starting this summer,” said Ruff, who listed yoga, mat pilates cardio/HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and Zumba classes as possible options.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you’re still not convinced that 2020 could be your year to improve your physical fitness while working toward a certificate or degree (or just working a lot), TMCC is here to tell you that now, more than ever, you can do both.
With the opening of the new Sports and Fitness Center, there are five inarguable reasons why you need to drop your excuses and start picking up the pace as you head over to this brand new facility and start making positive changes in your life:
- The SFC is steps away from your class. Centrally located on the Dandini Campus, the new Sports and Fitness Center is hard to miss, so don’t.
- It’s open when you’re here. Got an hour break between classes? Or, was traffic light and you have time to spare? Pop over to the SFC for an energy and mood picker-upper.
- No matter the weather, get your sweat on. Are you a cyclist or a long-distance runner? Weight lifter, or do you like to shoot hoops? Whatever your jam, we’ve got the top-of-the-line cardio equipment to get your heart rate up.
- You’re paying for it anyway. If you’re enrolled in even just one class, you’ve already got a membership. You might as well use it!
- You don’t have to go back to class sweaty. The brand new locker room and shower facilities really throw the towel on that excuse.
The Sports and Fitness Center is probably the most affordable membership in town. With all these reasons, what’s stopping you from making 2020 the year of you? For more information about the TMCC Sports and Fitness Center, contact the department at 775-674-7974.
