Home of Heroes offers functional fitness opportunities

Photo By Chuck Cannon | Alma Herrera (left) and Veronica Clarke work out on the bars during a functional fitness class at Fort Polk's Home of Heroes gym Jan. 9  

FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

01.11.2019

Story by Chuck Cannon 

Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

FORT POLK, La. — When Stephanie Chapman was hired as a recreational specialist by Fort Polk’s Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation and assigned to the Home of Heroes gym, she said she immediately began thinking about the possibilities her well-equipped work area offered.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this equipment is better than I’ve seen in any CrossFit gym I’ve been to,’” she said. “I started figuring out a way that it could be best utilized by the Fort Polk Family.”
Chapman said she approached DFMWR leadership with the idea of starting functional fitness classes after the Soldiers cleared out each morning following physical training.
“I taught a couple of classes in December to gauge interest, then began three mornings a week this month,” she said. “The response has been excellent.”
Functional fitness trains a person’s muscles to work together, preparing them for daily tasks, such as bending down to pick up something off the floor or lifting your child, Chapman explained.
“It stimulates your muscles to move certain ways to complete daily tasks, movements such as squatting, reaching or bending,” she said. “Many of the exercises use various muscles, teaching them to work together.”
Chapman said CrossFit and functional fitness have become popular exercise programs world wide, for people of all ages and fitness levels. In a class held Jan. 9 at Fort Polk’s Functional Fitness Center there were 16 female participants who ranged in age from 19 to 60.
Chapman said she is already receiving inquiries from Soldiers and Family members about holding classes after the work day. But she said at this time it’s not possible.
“To have more classes, we need more experienced, certified coaches,” she said. “They would have to take certification classes on their own and it can be pricey. And after they became certified, they would have to volunteer to coach.”
A typical class has a 15-minute warm up and new skill period, a 20-30 minute workout, then a cool down period.
“The classes are never more than 1 hour,” she said.
Functional fitness classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-10 a.m. A power yoga class is held from 9-10 a.m. on Tuesdays and a boot camp style class is held 9-10 a.m. Thursdays. In February, a fourth functional fitness class will replace the boot camp class due to a PCS move by its instructor.
Sheridan Keeter attended the Jan. 9 class and said she loves the workout she gets from functional fitness classes.
“I like the variety it offers,” Keeter, whose spouse, Capt. Ryan Keeter, works at Fort Polk’s Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. “You don’t have to worry if you’re covering everything you need to cover in a workout. I also love that it works both strength and cardio.”
Keeter said she also enjoys being part of a class atmosphere.
“If I was doing it on my own, I wouldn’t be as accountable,” she said. “Having an instructor who can show us exactly what we need to be doing on that day is also important to me. Getting together with this group is great because we are at different levels and Stephanie works us at our level of fitness; they’re tailored to everyone. She keeps us motivated and plays good music, so that makes it fun while we’re still getting a good workout.”
Another benefit Keeter noted was the cost — free.
“CrossFit can be very expensive, as much as $100 a month off post,” she said. “And the fact the class is offered during the day, in the morning, works great for me.”
Laura Lewis, whose spouse Capt. Jason Lewis, 5th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, is a CrossFit veteran and participated in Jan. 9 class.
“I did CrossFit before my husband and I got married at my home in Kentucky, and CrossFit is where I’ve met all my friends” she said. “The Functional Fitness Center on post is a great way to meet people with the same lifestyle and activity level as me.”
Lewis said Chapman always puts her class through tough workouts.
“It kills you every time,” she said, laughing. “But it makes you want to be better. Stephanie does a great job of modifying every movement so it’s more to your level. She knows her stuff really well. I would recommend this to everyone who wants to improve their fitness.”
Chapman said when more certified coaches come on board, the number of classes will increase.
“Right now I’m the only trainer, so we’re limited on the number of classes we can do,” she said. “We want to promote fitness and get people involved. We want to get the word out that we’re here and available.”
For more information on the functional fitness program at the Home of Heroes Functional Fitness Center call Chapman at 531-4337.
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• Date Taken: 01.11.2019
• Date Posted: 01.16.2019 10:12
• Story ID: 307183
• Location: FORT POLK, LA, US