Body Sculpting Class at the Renaud Spirit Center Offers Work-out Variety

Three years ago, personal trainer and fitness instructor substitute Emily West was approached by a supervisor, who suggested a class that was new on the docket at  body sculpting class. West, who claims she’s more of a cardio person, said she enjoys the class because it forces her to work with weights and enjoy the vast variety of work-out it offers.

And her students agree.

Jennifer Kassouf has attended the class a couple times. She, like many others, share their love for the class primarily because of the variety West uses to mix it up each week.

“The variety; it’s different every time. It may be the same body parts, but it’s going to be different stretches. It’s just different with all the weights and movements… I like it,” Kassouf said.

West admitted she gets bored easily, so she makes sure to switch it up every now and again. To do this, for each class she chooses one specific piece of equipment.

"That’s what we’re going to work with that night," she said. "Anytime they come in there, they don’t know what I’m going to throw at them. So it might be balls, might be bands. It might be step with just your body weight. Sometimes weights or body bar."

Robin Walter, who began attending the class in January, said so far it’s been the only class she’s taken and stuck with at the Renaud Center. 

“I love it because of the variety and because it tones every part of the body and it motivates me to come do it with a group instead of at home so it’s a lot of fun,” Walter said.

Among the numerous zones focused on by West, arms seem to be a highly used but much appreciated target point in the class.

“It focuses a lot on our arms too,” Walter said.

It was Kim Vitale’s first time taking this particular class, but she said she'd be back. “I like the arms and the weights,” Vitale said.

For others, variety is appreciated, but motivation and healthy living prove to be a greater push to keep coming back.

Three years ago, just as West began instructing body sculpting, Jane Kekeris said she used the class to get through an emotional time. Newly divorced, she came to class and made several friends.

“It’s fantastic. I didn’t know any of these girls at all,”  she said, adding the class inspires her to get up and go. “Plus I’m sore all the time, but it’s a good all the time sore."

Lisa Campana has been taking the class for about a year and loves it. “I joined because I knew I needed to work on my bone strength and I knew that weight training was a good way to do it. So that’s the whole reason why I got addicted to all the other things it did for my body.”

In addition to body sculpting, West teaches a spin class, substitutes the turbo kick class, serves as a personal trainer on the upper level of the center and looks forward to helping head up a runner’s club.

Starting in mid-April, West will be one of four instructors running with groups traveling either three or six miles among various scenic routes around town Sunday mornings from 7-7:30 p.m. The club membership will span over the course of a year and cost $20.

To join in on the fun known as body sculpting, check out West’s six-week class Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. at the Renaud Spirit Center.