Faculty exercise more than just their minds

Faculty and administrators are taking advantage of the Dixon Center to develop a healthier lifestyle and to str:engthenboth the body and the mind. U also gives faculty a chance to spend time with students away from the classroom.

by Adam Greenberg staff writer

While students flock to the Dixon Center to tone up, work out and play hard, the faculty and administration are not exactly sitting on the sidelines.

Many are seizing this opportunity to stay in shape with the added convenience of having the means to do so right in their backyard.

Brian Metz, assistant professor of business administration, is one of those taking advantage of the Dixon Center's services.

''It's great to have that facility,"he said.

Metz especially enjoys working out with free weights and rowing machines. He said that he normally exercises two to three times a week.

He has been going to health clubs for 25 years and said that the Dixon Center offers comparable quality to the commercial facilities. Metz said that while it is not as large as some health clubs, he likes that it is not as crowded. He continues to be impressed by the cleanliness, as well as the friendly staff.

Other Dixon Center devotees include Campus Minister Arlene Smith and Catherine Yungmann, associate professor of communication. Both make regular trips to the center to exercise.

The convenience factor contributes to keeping up with a regular regimen. Smith particularly likes the convenience of being able to work out without additional traveling and Yungmann lik,es the fact that she can no longer make excuses for not keeping in shape.

Yungmann was a regular visitor during this past summer. She said that the staff was very helpful and helped her to design an exercise routine tailored to her specific needs.

Both Smith and Metz feel that fitness contributes to a better overall lifestyle. Dealing with stress is one benefit that Smith feels she gains from exercise, while Metz is a firm believer in the relationship between mind and body health.

Tracey Greenwood, fitness director, said that only some are making use of all that the Dixon Center has to offer.

"I would encourage more faculty and staff to take advantage of it," she said.

However, Greenwood said that those who do come have given her a great deal of positive feedback. The hours and individualized attention are two of the major draws for many.

Besides allowing people to stay fit, the Dixon Center is providing a chance for faculty, staff and students to interact on another level. Smith called it a "community builder."

Yungmann and Metz both agree. "It makes us look body. more like people rather than just professors," Yungmann said. his mind

Smith offered an example of this interaction. She said that once, after an aerobics class, a student joined her for a run on the treadmill.

Although everyone seems to be pleased with the brand-new equipment and helpful staff, Yungmann found that there is one downside, as far as working out alongside students.

"It's a little intimidating to see what you used to look like," she said.