T hey're fast. They're fierce. And they'll whip you into shape.
Last weekend at the University of Maryland at the ninth annual fitness exposition, entitled Beginning to Balance, University aerobics instructors and trainers took fitness to a whole new level.
Amidst photographers and professionals, participants, including a group of about 30 fitness instructors and trainers from the University, engaged in a series of activities that invoked the feeling of a hard-core work-out video.
Colorful spandex-clad women and men decorated the spacious gym, and water bottles quickly circulated throughout the crowd. An invigorating remix of Sarah McLachlin'snormally lulling music pervaded the air as these naturally fast-paced individuals prepared for a weekend of determination, skill and the chance to excel.
"The fitness exposition started at the University as a simple choreography exchange between about 50 participants, and it's grown to a huge conference with about 300 people," said Allison Zuchowski, assistant director of aquatic and fitness at Virginia Tech.
Held during the first weekend of February, the two-day event is open to all schools, with the majority of participants coming from Virginia.
Although held in Maryland, the expo's distance did not greatly decrease the number of participants.
In previous years, the expo was held in places a little closer to home, such as Virginia Tech and James Madison University, but because the University's Intramural Sports Department pays for students' transportation, food and hotel expenses, the expo remained affordable.
"One of the best things about the expo is that it's kept relatively inexpensive and it allows students to demonstrate their skills," Zuchowski said.
Robert Sherman, a Reebok master trainer and the owner of a personal training company, Focused Individualized Training,led the master workout, a huge session in which all participants came together to warm up for the day's activities.
"As a college athlete, a major injury led me into the study of rehab and therapy and thus inspired my love for fitness," Sherman said. "My journey's been over 20 years."
This year's expo was not Sherman's first.
"I was asked to present five years ago at my first fitness expo to help launch new ideas in exercise," he said.
Because Sherman normally works with an older population, working with college students offers him new perspectives.
"Being able to present to students at college levels before they have made fitness a career is very exciting," he said. "Their energy inspires me, and hopefully I inspire them."
Although Sherman devoted the first day's warm-up to a series of short strength and flexibility exercises called circuits, on the second day, he introduced participants to his personalized version of yoga.
"Melding new science with the old practice is something that I'm truly committed and devoted to," Sherman said of his "sports yoga" workout. "A combination of yoga and therapy are what inspired me to create the program that I bring to the athletic community."
Sherman said he hopes sports yoga will give athletes a way to prevent injuries by using strength and flexibility.
"I want to teach them to train the body as a whole," he said.
Vicki Stewart, assistant facility manager at the AFC, seemed to understand Sherman's message.
"I've never taken yoga before, and I got a lot out of Sherman's workout," Stewart said. "It challenged me in strength and flexibility, a combination that I would never get in a weight room."
A cycle instructor herself, Stewart attested that the cycle classes at the expo were completely different from the ones she teaches.
"Cycle classes have a lot to do with the personality of the instructor," she said.
The differences, however, did not appear detrimental.
"I was able to take away some good ideas, and I bought a CD from one of the instructors," Stewart said.
In addition to her participation in the weekend's sessions, Stewart also was part of the University's demo team.
The demo team presentations, taking place at the end of the first day, give each school the opportunity to present a choreographed dance to their audience. This year, the University's team highlighted their dance with Stewart demonstrating her impressive jump-roping skills in the middle of the routine.
"The demo team was fun and a different experience for me because I was performing solo," Stewart said. "It was nice that I could show off a skill that's a little different than other people have mastered."
First-year Engineering student David Mead also praised the demo team.
"I'm probably partial, but I thought that the University's team was the best," Mead said.
As a personal trainer and the only male in the University's group, Mead was not quite sure what to expect from the expo.
"I heard it was an opportunity to learn about fitness and thought it would be a fun way to spend the weekend," he said.
In fact, the expo exceeded his expectations in terms of the quality of classes and variety of activities.
"I wasn't expecting such high profile speakers, and the events were very well-organized," Mead said.
The expo's theme, "Beginning to Balance" seemed fitting to Mead as well.
"I learned a lot about how my workout needed to be improved," he said. "I also learned to diversify my workouts and not to take things so seriously."
Kathi Marshall, a yoga instructor at the University who was attending the expo for her fifth year, agreed with Mead.
"I wasn't going to go this year because it was so far away, but my husband reminded me how much I love these things," Marshall said. "I'm so glad that I changed my mind because it was the best year yet!"
In previous years, Marshall said the expo was not as concentrated on yoga.
"This year, it was slower and more relaxed with a greater emphasis on power," she said.
Across the board, though, the best part of the expo seemed to be the guest speaker, Dr. Pamela Peeke, stress physician and author of Fight Fat After Forty.
"I don't remember there being a guest speaker in previous years," Marshall said, "And this year, Dr. Peeke's lecture was my favorite part of the expo."
Second-year College student Brooke Wills voiced similar sentiments.
"I thought Dr. Peeke was very intelligent, and I'm sure she helps people incorporate exercise into their daily lives," Wills said. "I was also impressed with her good sense of humor."
Peeke's main message emphasized that "stress puts the fat on," and she outlined strategies for aging gracefully and avoiding cases of stress-overeating.
Ironically, Wills admitted to the fact that her favorite part of the expo was the plethora of Sunkist oranges.
"I couldn't get enough of them," she said. "I must have eaten five in the day and a half we were there!"
Wills was not alone in her enthusiasm for the energizing snacks, and despite the fact that this is her first semester teaching aerobics, the benefits of the expo were just as great.
"It was nice to get a glimpse of the fitness programs at other colleges," Wills said.
Although the expo included trainers and instructors of all levels, one element seemed to balance things out.
"I feel like this is so worthwhile because it gets so many fitness enthusiasts together to do what they love best," Marshall said.
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