COLLIN COLLEGE
Want to Improve Your Health? TAKE A KINESIOLOGY CLASS by Heather Darrow
14 |
| May/June 2022
Photo by Nick Young, Collin College photographer.
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tudents in Kristin Wagner’s kinesiology classes learn how often adults should exercise each week and develop the skills, discipline, and correct techniques to meet or exceed those goals. “Every 40 seconds one person in the U.S. dies from cardiovascular disease according to the CDC,” said Kristin, a Collin College adjunct kinesiology professor. “It’s a shocking statistic, but heart disease is still the leading cause of death for Americans, and much of it is preventable.” Kristin explained that kinesiology classes can benefit all students, even the ones who are not going into her field of expertise. Her students agree. An Intermediate Weight Training student, Hassaan Arien plans to transfer to a university to earn a business economics degree, further his Adjunct Kinesiology Professor Kristin Wagner (right) teaches weight training skills to Collin real estate career, and help others as a business College students (left and clockwise) Audrey Brassfield, Hassaan Arien, and Liam Davis in the consultant. CougarFit fitness center at the Wylie Campus. “I need to feel healthy to be productive and Kristin hopes that her students will continue to be motivated,” Hassaan said. “This class helps me get active throughout their lifetimes. that morning push and gives me a drive for the rest of “Physical activity is one of the most important the day. The professor teaches you how to work each ways you can take care of yourself, and we have great muscle group, and you are with other students so you facilities on the Wylie Campus,” she said. don’t feel out of place like you could in a gym.” The Wylie Campus is home to the CougarFit fitness Students Audrey Brassfield and Liam Davis are both center which offers programs in fitness, recreation, taking the Beginning Weight Training class. Audrey and intramural sports. The facility has a wide range plans to transfer to a university to earn a Christianof equipment including ab, upper, and lower body based counseling degree. machines, free weights, squat racks, treadmills, and “When you develop a habit to work out in the pull-up bars. The multipurpose room contains yoga and morning it sets you up for the rest of the day,” Audrey medicine balls, yoga mats, and kettlebells. Students, said. “It’s a discipline that helps with whatever you do. faculty, and staff can use the equipment for free, and Professor Wagner is very encouraging and explains students can also receive free personal training. things. She creates a space where it doesn’t matter This fall the Wylie Campus will offer a variety of where you are physically and tailors the class to you.” kinesiology classes including Beginning Weight Training, Liam plans to transfer to a university, earn a degree in Intermediate Weight Training, Introduction to Physical game art, and become a lead game designer. Fitness and Wellness, Concepts of Physical Fitness, Beginning Hatha Yoga, Personal/Community Health, “I really like working out,” Liam said. “The professor and Intermediate Hatha Yoga. • has broadened my horizons with weightlifting and gives tips so you can pursue your own goals. This class To register for kinesiology classes at the Wylie Campus is a nice environment for beginners, and it gets me up, or for more information about the campus, visit www. ready, and energized for my other classes.” collin.edu/campuses/wylie.
