Pat Ridge gets his blood pressure tested by Rosaura Estrada, a health care specialist who said Ridge’s blood pressure was excellent. The 221st Base Support Battalion in Wiesbaden held a fitness fair designed to encourage people to get healthy. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Pat Ridge gets his blood pressure tested by Rosaura Estrada, a health care specialist who said Ridge’s blood pressure was excellent. The 221st Base Support Battalion in Wiesbaden held a fitness fair designed to encourage people to get healthy. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Lisa Michaelis, a fitness instructor at the Tony Bass Fitness Center on the Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany, leads a class through the weightlifting portion of a two-hour aerobathon at the Resolution 2005 Health and Fitness Extravaganza Saturday. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
WIESBADEN, Germany — Each year people try to work out a way to hit the gym more often, but end up with the same size pants and another resolution to make the next year the year to get in shape.
This year the 221st Base Support Battalion exercised some initiative by bringing a fitness fest to the community to remind recent gym returnees that working out is not only healthy, but fun as well.
“One of people’s top resolutions is to work out, get fit,” said Susanne Dale, the 221st BSB fitness coordinator during the Resolution 2005 health and fitness extravaganza at the Tony Bass Fitness Center on the Wiesbaden Army Airfield Saturday. “It’s important for everyone to be fit, no matter what the reason. It’s an important quality of life issue. So we’re reaching out to the community to help them keep their resolutions.”
The five-hour extravaganza showcased some of the fitness classes available at the gym, including cycling, kickboxing, power lifting and yoga. For people not interested in taking classes, a 5-kilometer run wound through the post streets.
However, working out is not the only key to being healthy, which is why community booths also checked cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat and vision during the extravaganza.
Another key to staying fit is preventing injury, according to Frankie Hill, a physical therapist who set up a booth offering tips on finding the best running shoe for individual feet.
“If you don’t have the appropriate footwear for the foot type it could lead to shin splints, knee pain, hip pain and back problems. The proper shoe makes a big difference,” she said.
The Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine for the 104th Area Support Group booth presented its civilian fitness program, through which three hours of work time can be used for gym time.
“We’re trying to get a fitness program going for family members, and we’re looking into different incentives to get them into the gym,” Mary Ferguson said.
She also had smoking prevention pamphlets for teens, which she said is important.
“You don’t find very many smokers who start at age 20. Usually smokers begin smoking when they’re teens," Ferguson said. "Any time a person wants to quit it’s good."
The extravaganza ended with an iron-pumping challenge with awards giving to top bench pressers.
To keep the resolve of the community in check, fitness classes and events will be held throughout the year in the 221st BSB, including a baby boot camp class to whip new mothers back in shape, martial arts training in the gym, and another fitness fest in September.
