SHANNON URTNOWSKI
Living Editor
It is the start of a new year and everyone knows what that means — resolution time. Now, the beginning of the calendar year is long passed, but, being a fresh school year, it is the prime time for students to start acting upon those promises they made to themselves nine months ago.
A common resolution students make is to start living a healthier life, but it often goes unmet because it is hard to know where to begin.
To those who fit this category, a good place to start is the gym, and there are numerous in the Malibu area from which to choose.
For starters, Pepperdine has its very own fitness facility conveniently located on campus. Firestone Fieldhouse Weight Center offers Pepperdine students, faculty and staff cardio machines, weight machines and free weights minus the charge.
“I think it’s really important while you’re in college to keep yourself emotionally and spiritually balanced, so it’s definitely a great opportunity given to us enabling us to do that,” said sophomore Tiffany Murphy, who both works and works out at the center.
The center does not compare in size to fitness clubs, but Fitness Programs Manager Jeeny Miller said students can usually find what they need and want.
“They call it the dungeon, but we have state-of-the-art machines,” Miller said. “If you go to top-of-the-line clubs and see their machines, we have what they do. If they want a good work out on a good and safe machine, it is worth it.”
Students do agree that the center would be more advantageous if it was larger.
“I think that it’s another great aspect at Pepperdine, but unfortunately it’s very small and it gets very packed,” Murphy said.
Miller said students can sign up to use a particular machine the day they want to use it, either in person or via phone contact, to avoid the wait with a guaranteed machine.
Firestone Fieldhouse Weight Center is open 6 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Pepperdine also houses Drescher Fitness Center, located near the graduate campus, for Drescher residents.
It is open 6 a.m. to midnight Mondays through on Saturdays, and noon to midnight Sundays.
Pepperdine identification cards and proper attire, including are required upon entrance to both centers.
All students can take part in Campus Recreation’s group exercise classes, such as cardio kick boxing, yoga, Pilates and tae kwon do, which take place throughout the semester.
“In the classes, after I’m done I’ll feel really tired but I feel so much better,” Murphy said.
The classes cater to students of every level of experience, Miller said.
Semester, monthly and daily passes can be purchased depending on how often students expect to attend the sessions.
If the feel of a small gym and group workout session is not appealing, though, one can head north on PCH to find some larger community gyms.
Malibu Gym is one of the more prominent gyms in the Malibu area.
“We have the most equipment out of any of the gyms for sure,” said Eric Schifman, a Malibu Gym salesperson. “We are more of a gym than a fitness club.”
In addition to the equipment, which includes treadmills, ellipticals and free weights, Malibu Gym offers a number of exercise classes, such as dance and spinning.
Students interested in joining the gym can get a 20 percent discount off the price of membership by showing student identification. Monthly membership prices range between $65 and $95.
Malibu Gym is located at Kanan Road at PCH.
Malibu Fitness is another center
available to students who want to get a good workout nearby.
“It’s friendly, small and exclusive,”
said Nick Brokaw, a Malibu Fitness desk manager. “Everyone knows everyone and it’s just a great atmosphere.”
The center has an array of weight training equipment and offers different strength classes throughout the day, such as yoga and Pilates.
Sophomore Johnny Kristofferson said he goes to the center to practice boxing.
“Malibu Fitness is pretty small too, in a plaza with other things, but it has a steam room in the back and has all the facilities we have with everything for boxing,” Kristofferson said.
Brokaw said the gym does not usually get too crowded.
“Ninety-five percent of the time there is open equipment,” he said. “There are only a couple times during the day when there are more than 20 people here at a time.”
Students who sign up for a month’s membership at Malibu Fitness can get $10 off by showing student identification. Monthly membership prices range between $89 and $129.
The center is located 29575 Pacific Coast Highway in the Zuma Beach Plaza.
If students are looking to treat themselves to a day of balance, Malibu Health Club, located south on PCH, may have just what they need. The club offers both fitness equipment and a day spa, so those in attendance can recover from their intense workouts.
It is located at 22917 Pacific Coast Highway, across from the pier.
So, head to the gym, whichever you may choose, and start resolving to live a healthier life.
Better late than never.
09-07-2006
