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Volume CXXXIII, Number 4 |
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Students "work it!" four times a week
JOY LEE
STAFF WRITER
Tae Bo is one of those near-extinct relics from the late 1990's, like Ally McBeal and boy bands. Yet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a small group of Bowdoin students are keeping the movement alive, and keeping fit at the same time.
"Work it!" the man on the screen screams.
"Some days are rougher than others," one of the girls listening to him says.
Step into the Chamberlain second floor common room at 5:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the voice of sweaty TaeBo founder Billy Blanks can be heard, yelling at the 10 to 12 students punching toward the screen.
"Work it! Work it! 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 now double time!" Blanks yells as weary students move to his commands.
"Some days are rougher than others," said club member Carla Rosser '04.
On Mondays and Fridays, the pack that shows up numbers about a dozen. On Wednesdays, the participation drops to about a handful, since the workout is especially painful.
TaeBo, which was started by martial artist Billy Blanks, combines dance beats with traditional Tae Kwon Do moves. The cardio workout is short, but intense, focusing on all different parts of the body. According to the official TaeBo website, a TaeBo workout can burn an average of 800 calories an hour.
This is the first year a TaBo club has been around here at Bowdoin. Rosser says that she started doing TaeBo with her friends last year, and decided to open it to the rest of the Bowdoin community this semester. Rosser and friends don't see TaeBo as passé, or as the 90's answer to Jazzercise and Jane Fonda Aerobics. Instead, they see TaeBo as a fun way to get in shape.
Exercise while having fun is an important aspect of Bowdoin's TaeBo group. As Senior Melissa Hudson says, the TaeBo group relishes in community.
"Here, we all encourage one another and support each other when someone gets tired," she said. "At the gym, you might be all by yourself but here we cheer each other on."
Another reason why many prefer TaeBo is its convenience. Most participants live close to or in Chamberlain, and they favor the comfortable and intimate settings. The group is informal and aims to keep the atmosphere loose and friendly. On Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, the group plays one of two Advanced Tae Bo workout tapes while on Saturday, they use the Eight Minute Workout tape.
Those that are involved in TaeBo see exercise as an integral part of everyday life and encourage all Bowdoin students to get involved.
"I think it's important that everyone has a group that they're comfortable in that they can get in shape with, because freshman year definitely puts on a few pounds on the figure and it takes effort to lose them," Hudson said. "Support is also important in helping each other stay healthy. I encourage everyone to come to TaeBo or join another group."
There are many incentives to pick up Tae Bo to stay fit and have fun.
And as Billy Blanks says, "If you have the will, TaeBo is the way
to go."
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