Semper Fit participants work abs, get hard core

Photo By Cpl. Crystal Druery | Gene Calantoc, personal trainer, puts a weight on Chief Petty Officer La Dala's back while she does a plank during an abs class at the Semper Fit Center aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Dala, who works at Naval Base San Diego, attends some of the abs classes held Monday through Thursday. Calantoc leads participants through a variety of abdominal exercises using different equipment and targeting different core muscles.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

10.06.2011

Story by Cpl. Kristin Moreno 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego     

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Physical fitness is an important part of being in the military. To help service members aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego develop a strong core, Semper Fit offers an abs class Monday through Thursday.

The abs class is meant to help participants tone their abdominal muscles while strengthening and stretching the body’s core.
The instructor, Gene Calantoc, leads the participants through a variety of abdominal exercises using different equipment, targeting different core muscles.

The class consists of basic crunches with leg lifts on a medicine ball, planks with weights and other exercises with a bosu or pilates ball.

Though Calantoc says the class is intense, it’s not meant for just one fitness level. If participants can’t perform all the exercises or as many repetitions as others, they will still benefit from the class. With time and practice, they will gain strength in their abdominal muscles, making it easier to perform the exercises, and gain health benefits as well.

“I came to this class to help myself stay healthy and fit,” said Crystle Rustia, market place sales clerk.

Rustia says she doesn’t find a lot of time to exercise or maintain the healthiest diet since she works two jobs.

“I started gaining weight and feeling insecure. So to help myself feel more confident, I started taking this class,” said Rustia.
Having a class lead by an instructor makes it easier for some people to achieve their fitness goals. Not everyone knows how to target areas they need or want to work out. Having a personal trainer plan a workout can help more people stay physically fit.
“All the things we do in this class really burn my abs,” said Rustia.
Calantoc explains it’s beneficial to keep the core in shape because no matter what people’s daily activities are, they always have to use their abs. Besides the health benefits of staying physically fit, keeping strong abdominals can also prevent different injuries.

“If your core is strong, you’re more likely to not get a lower back problem,” said Calantoc. “When you have a strong core it helps your whole body so you don’t get injured as easily.”

Many people develop lower back problems, especially when they get older. This can be painful and can limit a one physical activity. To help prevent that, Calantoc encourages people to participate in classes like his.

Chief Petty Officer La Dala, who works at Naval Base San Diego, comes to the depot to enjoy the variety of classes Semper Fit has to offer. She attended the abs class to learn how to strengthen her core because she believes it’s the key to getting a person in shape.

“The core is the main point of your body and if you want to be physically fit that’s where it starts,” said Dala.

Rustia suggests people who want to get fit and try something new under the supervision of a knowledgeable instructor should try the abs class.

“I recommend other people come to this class. It keeps me fit and healthy while having fun and releasing stress at the same time,” said Rustia.

To promote health and strength Semper Fit offers a variety of free classes Monday through Saturday, from abs to spin classes. A calendar of classes can be found inside the gym or online at http://mccsmcrd.com/SemperFit/FitnessCenter/index.html.

• Date Taken: 10.06.2011
• Date Posted: 10.14.2011 11:14
• Story ID: 78482
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US