CEDARVILLE — Tim Kessler is a regular inside the Cedarville University fitness center.
But now the Liberty Center native and other Cedarville students have more reasons to frequent the campus gym and stay in shape. The university completed a $100,000 upgrade over the summer, expanding and enhancing its strength training equipment, including adding strength training machines, expanded free-weights and a new functional training rig.
The additions now allow participants to try dozens of new exercise options around the signature addition, the Hoist MotionCage 5 Functional Training Rig. It’s an all-in-one unit that includes several stations with dozens of exercise possibilities including uneven monkey bars and a rebounder station (small trampoline for throwing weighted balls into).
“Normally I work out any way,” Kessler said. “But (now) it’s more fun. That has the basketball aspect.”
The school also added a rope climber trainer, myriad medicine balls and a tire flip as accessories.
“I love that part, the tire,” Kessler said.
He isn’t alone as the fitness center is usually jam-packed during peak times, according to Mark Mathews, director of campus recreation.
“They’re excited,” he said. “They really love this.”
Functional training is gaining popularity, especially among young adults. It focuses on engaging muscle groups in the whole body to better perform real-life activities or sports-specific movements.
“A number of students were mentioning that more exercises on the functional side of it would be good,” Mathews said. “The upgrade in equipment really expands the types of exercises that our students, faculty, staff and members can use.”
New nautilus machines, carpeting, rubber flooring and renovated chairs were also part of the summer project, which took a year or two to plan partly due to space restraints.
However a nice spot was made by replacing a whole line of selectorized strength training machines (13 Nautilus NITRO) and moving about 10 cardio machines to other areas inside the fitness center.
The renovations could benefit the entire Cedarville community as the center is open to everyone in the morning and around peak times. Mathews said there are 30-40 senior citizens who come regularly to exercise and socialize.
“That’s been a great program just for us to meet their needs,” Mathews said.
