COB Adder spins to fitness

Courtesy Photo | First Lt. Richard Rodriguez, a contracting officer representative with the Navy Petroleum Detachment, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, warms up May 3 before the spin class on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. (Photo by: Spc. Crystal Williams)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

05.04.2011

Courtesy Story

310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By: Spc. Crystal Williams

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Staying physically fit is a standard in the military, and soldiers are continuously finding new ways to motivate themselves.

One way has been spin class, which has been gaining popularity at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, civilians and even coalition forces take part in the class.

One of the spin instructors is Sgt. Ahmad Alexander, soldier with Company Bravo, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and a Brooklyn, N.Y., native.

“I like being an instructor,” he said. “I get to interact with different walks of people, rank, male or female. I have been instructing since [the] first week of March this year and love it. It was a challenge at first, but now I am confident and can spin with ease.”

Service members need to arrive early to get a spot in Alexander’s class, which is full each night.

“I love spinning,” said Lt. Richard Rodriguez, a contracting officer representative with the Navy Petroleum Detachment, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group. “It is low-impact with a great amount of calorie burn and easy on the body.”

Alexander uses a variety of upbeat songs, abdominal exercises and body movements to keep the class motivated.

Capt. Jessica Thomas, the officer-in-charge for the director of public works, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, has been taking spin classes for about a year, starting back at Fort Hood, Texas, before deploying.

“It's so motivating,” she said. “I come to Sgt. Alexander's class once or twice a week.”

Thomas said she enjoys the music and finds Alexander very motivating and dedicated to helping service members meet their fitness goals.

“He speaks to everyone upon coming into the class and explains what is about to happen during the class,” she said.

Capt. Tracet Bradley, the company commander for HHC, 4th STB, is a regular at the spin class and said she began using spin class as an outlet to reduce stress and to be a part of a team with one main focus: to get fit.

“Spin class is like dancing on a bike to motivating music from all genres,” she said. “Sgt. Alexander excites and moves the class with everything from hip hop to rock and everything in between to motivate all ages.”

Bradley said she has been surprised to notice that more males than females attend spin class for the muscle toning and rigorous aerobic routine.

“This class sees no gender or age,” she said. “It is truly for everybody who wants to maintain fitness and build endurance.”

• Date Taken: 05.04.2011
• Date Posted: 05.15.2011 02:33
• Story ID: 70394
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ