Colderweather,fattierfoodspointmanytowardsDixonCenter

by Joyce Ward staff writer

As the winter weather approaches, the meals get harder and harder to work off. This coincides with generally miserable outdoor weather, making it difficult to get motivated to exercise. Gone are the balmy days of swimming at the beach and even the crisp fall days that inspired walking or jogging through glorious colors.

The new Dixon Center, however, offers many opportunities to work off those holiday meals in comfortable surroundings.

With the large indoor pool at the Center, swimming is no longer confined to the summer months. The basketball courts offer the opportunity for a quick pick-up game. The squash courts challenge the skills of students and faculty alike. The exercise room offers a chance to jog in place or to exercise isolated muscle groups.

"The new facility makes you want to exercise," said Marni DiGiorgio, a senior special education major. "Even if the cold weather discourages you from running outside, you can get together a group to go to the Dixon Center to exercise."

On the day that DiGiorgio spoke to the Loquitur she was joining his sister Amanda, a Cabrini sophomore, to exercise on the elliptical training machine. Also working out on the machine that day was Rachelle Lasler, a first-year student on the track team.

Lasler said that she works out every day to stay in shape. When the weather turns cold she will do more of her running inside the Dixon Center.

Anna Kruse, professor and chairperson of the biology department, also appreciates the new activity center, especially the swimming pool.

"I was interested in swimming for 25 years but found it very inconvenient with my busy schedule," said Kruse. "I do not have a pool at home and had to rely on using the pool at friends' houses. This new facility allows me to swim all year long. It is a good exercise and is also helpful for stiff muscles.''

"I think that it is easier to get motivated to exercise in the cold weather when you can come inside and work out in a nice warm pool," said Matt Kaiser, a senior majoring in sports science and a lifeguard at the fa. cility.

Kaiser said that the important thing is to get into a routine and stick with it.

One of the nice things about having a pool available all year is that swimming is one exercise that can be done by all ages.

"Swimming is great for rehabilitation and for people who have stiff joints and arthritis." Kaiser said.

Swimming works muscle groups that are not usually exercised through running and other sports. Although swimming is a great cardiovascular workout, it is not a weight bearing exercise. Kaiser recommends that swimmers also add running or weight training to their exercise routine to build muscle and bone mass.

Senior Chris Vitale starts his training regiment with weights. The Dixon Center provides a weight center, among many other thing s, to help beat pounds put on during the winter months.

The exercise facilities at the Dixon Center are free to full-time students, according to Colin Broderick, a sophomore who works as a front desk clerk at the center.

Part-time students and faculty can purchase membership in the center for $50 per semester. Members of the surrounding community can join for a fee of $400 for the first person in a family and $300 for additional members.

The hours of the center are from 8 a.m. 11 p.m. on weekdays, noon to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. The center offers aerobics classes and other exercise classes at scheduled times. One unique class is water step aerobics, offered on Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. This class is similar to the usual step aerobics but the steps are in the water. This gives a virtually no-impact aerobics workout. The hours for other activities can be obtained from the front desk at the center.