New equipment aimed at reforming couch potatoes
Carmel Ecker
Staff writer
March 25, 2008
Stephanie Burr
Lookout
A defence Team member works out on one of the new exercise machines at the dockyard gym. PSP staff hope the new equipment purchased for both the Naden and dockyard gyms will motivate military members to incoroprate a workout into their daily routines.
As part of the Chief of the Defence Staff’s Health and Fitness Strategy, Personnel Support Programs (PSP) will unveil its newly revamped fitness equipment next Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Base personnel are invited to check out the $500,000 worth of new cardio and weight training equipment from Aloyd Fitness at both the Naden Athletic Centre and the dockyard gym.
PSP Sports and Fitness Director, Switch Rousseau says the new equipment caters to both seasoned athletes and those new to the gym. Most of the new weight training machines have features that make them user-friendlier than the old models. They have more adjustable levers to suit a broad spectrum of body types.
Many of the new units can also isolate individual limbs, which is especially useful for people recovering from an injury, or for elite athletes who need to focus on a particular muscle group or specific movement as part of their training.
The biggest change is the addition of two multi-purpose machines capable of performing many different exercises.
“A person can work every muscle group with this machine,” says Rousseau.
Intimidating to look at, the two machines are incredibly complex and require a bit of training and familiarization. Fitness and sports staff have been trained to use it safely and are on hand during peak hours Monday to Friday to teach others.
Plans are in the works to host regular training and orientation sessions on all equipment in the coming weeks.
The equipment in the Naden Athletic Centre overflows from the weight room into the multi-purpose room, where machines are placed to give someone a complete workout by moving around from one machine to the next. It’s a great way for a beginner to get started.
While the new cardio equipment just down the hall doesn’t offer any great technological leaps over its predecessors, their numbers have nearly doubled. Plus cyclists will find more comfort in the mesh-backed seats of the new recumbent-style exercise bikes.
With equipment arriving throughout March, some people have already tried the new equipment and given it a thumbs up, says Rousseau. “I’ve talked to a few people who are regulars and they are very pleased.”
She hopes the improvements will draw people who have steered clear of the gym in the past.
“I hope this is going to encourage and motivate people to come and make a gym workout part of their day-to-day lifestyle,” she says.
The influx of new equipment here has also benefited lodger units outside the Greater Victoria area.
To make room for the new equipment, PSP staff shipped most of their old equipment, which is still in very good shape, to lodger units such as 443 MH Squadron, the Bay Street Armory, Albert Head, 11 Service Battalion, HMCS Malahat, HMCS Protecteur, Nanoose, French language training school and units in Vernon and Rodger’s Pass.
“I’m very happy we were able to help our CF and Defence Team members not in proximity of Naden and dockyard,” says Rousseau.
