Fitness enthusiasts are feeling the power by participating in the Power Hour fitness class at Starker Functional Fitness Center.
Power Hour is one of the new fitness classes being offered by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation that focuses on cardio and strength by utilizing dumbbells and exercise bands.
Lorrie Smith, Power Hour instructor, has been teaching fitness classes for 11 years and uses her extensive background in dancing to help participants muscle through the weight-lifting element of the class with the power of music.
“We want to build muscle and at the same time have their mind not concentrate on the muscle part, but just the fun dancing part,” she said. “We use the weights … that they can work with, nothing too heavy. Then we just go through the motions of balance. We start with our neck and work our way down. I let them know it’s from head to toe.”
Emily Cox, Fitness Program specialist with DFMWR, said it was important to add Power Hour to the new roster of classes.
“You’re getting a little bit of everything in one full class,” she said. “You’re leaving with not only that really great strength workout, but the aerobic workout. And leaving with the happiness and Lorrie’s energy is a whole other game changer.”
Smith said keeping her students safe while they have fun is of the utmost importance.
“(I) make sure that people understand the importance of making sure that they don’t get hurt and that they are doing the exercises and movements correctly,” she said. “If you don’t do it correctly then you’re going to have injury and we don’t want that.”
Smith said Power Hour is perfect for anyone at any level of fitness. In fact she also teaches the class at the Lions Club Park Senior Center. Her goal is to make everyone who participates in her classes feel comfortable and confident.
“It’s a fun, engaging kind of exercise,” she said. “You don’t have to have a beat or rhythm. It doesn’t matter. Just be yourself and have fun. I love it because it fills my soul and it makes you feel confident about your body.”
Power Hour is held at noon on Tuesdays at Starker Functional Fitness Center. For more information on Power Hour and the other fitness classes being offered at Fort Cavazos, visit cavazos.armymwr.com/programs/group-fitness-classes.