Dana Hanson

June CRW Blog Update

Fit Tip: Relax with some yoga this summer!

Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and multiple styles have been developed over time.
Yoga focuses on holding stationary poses called asanas, and most styles include breathing techniques
or meditation. Regularly practicing yoga has many physical and health benefits.
Physical benefits include:
Increase in flexibility
Improvement in muscle tone
Improvement in strength
Better overall posture
Overall health benefits include:
Improves circulation
Stress relief
Lowers risk of heart disease
Help battle depression
Prevents back pain
Aids in anti- aging
Helps cancer patients regain well-being
Decreases side effects of menopause
Helps reduce respiratory related health problems
Yoga is a safe non-aerobic form of exercise, but repetitive stretching can cause strain to the body. Here
is how to help reduce the risk of injury!
Yoga tips for beginners:
Consult your health care provider before starting a yoga program
Dont try to learn yoga on your own, work with an experienced instructor
Warm up properly, this reduces the chance of injury to muscles
Know your limits and dont over-do it
Take it slow
Wear appropriate attire
Stay hydrated
If you feel pain or discomfort, dizzy or overheated, just stop!

Dana Hanson

Recipe Tip: 35 Calorie Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1 cup of almond milk (PureAlmond Unsweetened Silk Almond Milk recommended)
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 tbsp of a natural or artificial sweetener (stevia)
6 cups of ice
1/2 cup of table salt
1 large ZipLock bag
1 smaller ZipLock bag
Directions:
1. Mix almond milk, vanilla extract, and sweetener together in bowl.
2. Pour the mixture into the smaller ZipLock bag. Seal completely and set aside.
3. Fill the larger ZipLock bag with the ice and add the salt to it.
4. Place the smaller bag with your almond milk, vanilla, and sweetener inside of the larger bag.
Leave the smaller bag closed, the ice and salt are not supposed to get into the ice cream
mixture.
5. Completely seal the larger bag and shake vigorously for 5-6 minutes until the contents of the
small bag thicken and become frozen.
6. Place contents in bowl and enjoy!
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 35 Total Fat: 3g Saturated: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 150mg Potassium: 60mg
Carbs: 5g Dietary Fiber: 1g Sugars: 4g Protein: 1g

CRW Profile: Jim Kirkland

43 years. Not many students or faculty members, almost no one in fact, can say that they have been a
member of East Carolina Universitys Student Recreation Center for that long. Jim Kirkland, professor
for the English Department, joined the rec center when he started teaching at ECU in the fall of 1969.
As well as teaching multiple classes, Kirkland was the assistant director of the University Writing
Program and then the director of the program. During his involvement he spent time talking to other
professors about the program, which aims to provide support for writers as well as instructors of
writing. One of his favorite academic memories at ECU was being named Teacher Scholar in 2002, as
he highly values teaching and research.
When Kirkland started using ECUs rec center facility, it was the Christenbury Memorial Gym. He
said that it wasnt the best and, the weight room was cramped.

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He came to the new SRC when it opened, and is credited with starting the popular noontime basketball
game in 1972, which is played by ECU graduate assistants and staff. It was a daily game, and
continues even to this day in 2013.
He says that he started the basketball game because there were very few faculty organizations, and
wanted an outlet for exercise. It began as small two against two, or three against three games, but
became a full court game once the word spread around campus.
His favorite memory of the rec center was playing against former ECU basketball player and 21st
round pick of the 1989 NBA draft, Blue Edwards. On a late afternoon Edwards came into the rec and
played on the opposing team of Kirkland.
It was just a pick-up game but it was, pretty cool to play with an NBA player, Kirkland said.
Along with basketball, Kirkland said that he has used multiple personal trainers in the past, as well as
taken fitness classes at the SRC. He said that the facilities and staff here are great compared to others,
mentioning a couple big schools that he had visited and expressing his disappointment in their
facilities.
Kirkland still occasionally plays in the games today, and tries to use the rec center 5-6 days a week
whether its for the basketball game or to use the weight room

Past Events Recap: Functional Strength Training for the Home and Office

This workshop took place on June 5 from 12-1 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. It was a
workshop taught by Sam Combs, designed to inform and provide information about traditional versus
functional workouts. With an audience of mostly working and busy females, Combs emphasized that
fitting in any workout using what you have will allow you to be more fit by tomorrow. He also said,
if its not fun then dont bother, and that its important to find exercises that you will be able to
continue and live with.
Combs explained to the class that traditional exercise is thinking that each muscle group is considered
separate therefore you have to do an exercise for each, and this takes up way too much time. This has
been the way of thinking on how to exercise for decades, but he recommends functional exercises
instead. This way of exercising works multiple muscles at the same time, and is much more time
efficient. One of the functional exercises he demonstrated was a squat while using a resistance band,
lifting the band at the same time he squatted.
Combs spent much of the workshop informing the class about functional exercise and explaining that
you can use whatever you have wherever you are, and that little steps add up. Also that everyone

Dana Hanson
deserves to be fit, but it doesnt have to hurt, you just have to get up and move. At the end of the class
there was a question and answer session to answer questions that the attendees had.

Announcements: Where Can a Pirate Workout During the Summer?

Arrrgh you a part of the pirate family looking for a new workout spot to explore? You may not realize
you have access to multiple walking/running trails, a 10,000 square-foot weight and fitness area, an
outdoor beach, and that East Carolina Universitys very own Student Recreation Center was a winner
of the prestigious Facility of Merit Award from Athletic Business Magazine!
Students may have busy schedules, but it is important for them to stay active and make time for both
mental and physical health. Physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your
health. Its proven to reduce the risk of multiple diseases and illnesses, strengthen your muscles and
bones, help control your weight, improve your mood and mental health, and increase your overall
chances of living longer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).
Whether it is taking your workout outside to enjoy the warm weather or staying cool indoors, East
Carolina University Campus Recreation & Wellness provides a place for every pirate to exercise. The
summer is a great time to take advantage of all of the CRW locations available and various activities
each one provides, from the Student Recreation Center, Jones Fitness Pointe, to the North Recreational
Complex.
The Student Recreation Center is open to any student, faculty, or staff member with a valid One Card,
and is located on the west end of ECUs campus towards Cotanche Street. Summer hours are MondayThursday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m.
to 8 p.m. It offers a place for everyone who wants to be active, with three fitness studios, six
racquetball courts, six multipurpose courts, and a 27 ft. climbing wall. It also has a weight room,
indoor track, and a separate room with elliptical machines, and row machines, as well as a cardio deck
equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, row machines, and plenty of space to
stretch before and after a workout. The 150,277 square-foot facility also provides a place for students
to swim, in either its indoor or outdoor pools, and provides locker rooms and shower facilities for the
convenience of its members.
Jones Fitness Pointe, located on College Hill Drive in the basement of Jones Residence Hall, is also
open to faculty, students, and staff with a valid One Card, but may be more convenient for students
staying on, or close to College Hill. During the summer it is open Mon.-Fri. from 2 p.m.-7 p.m., and
closed on Sat. and Sun. This is a smaller fitness spot, but still provides students access to various
strength training equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, step trainers and
dumbbells.
For the pirate itching to take their workout outside, ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness also has the
North Recreational Complex located on Highway 264 East. The complex is only 10 minutes from
campus and offers an 18-hole disc golf course open from 9 a.m. to dusk, and a boat house open Mon.Fri. 2-9 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. 12-9 p.m. This great outdoor space is open to anyone, but if renting
equipment a One Card is required. Students and CRW members can rent stand up paddleboards,

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kayaks, and canoes from the boat house to explore the 6 acres of water on site. The NRC also has six
walking/jogging trails, a 5K running trail, eight multipurpose fields, sand volleyball courts, and a place
for horseshoes and corn hole. If you are feeling adventurous, the NRC has an Odyssey High Challenge
Course, which stands 40 ft. tall and 120 ft. long. There are 8 elements to the course and two 300 ft. zip
lines are offered to sweep you to the end of the course. For further information on any of the CRW
facilities check out our web page at www.ecu.edu/crw or call 328-6387.