(This article appeared Friday, June 19, 2009 in the Centre Daily Times column "On Centre" featuring State College and Centre Region news.)

By Stephanie Koons

A lot of people in the Centre Region are interested in getting fit, but running on a treadmill or doing mindless repetitions of weights isn't for everyone.

Many also want to give back to the community, but may not be able to fit volunteer work into their schedules.
One on One Fitness Consultants Inc., 424 W. Aaron Drive, State College, has made it possible to accomplish both goals. The company started its Give Back Group Fitness Training program earlier this year to raise funds for Centre Volunteers in Medicine and the Centre County Youth Service Bureau.

CVIM provides free medical and dental care to uninsured Centre County residents, and YSB provides community- based, family-based and residential programs for children, youth and their families.

One on One, established in 1986, offers mostly personal training services, said Kym Burke, who co-owns the business with her husband, Bruce.

Seeing that local residents were being "hit hard" by the recession, she said, the company started offering its first group training class several months ago.

"We're looking at how we can give back to this community that has been so good to us," Burke said.
Group Fitness Training is offered Monday through Saturday at various times, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the classes goes to CVIM and YSB, Burke said.

But they aren't yet seeing the kind of attendance they'd like. One on One recently started approaching businesses, she said. Many local companies already donate to CVIM or YSB, she said, and could sponsor employees to take group training classes.

At a class Tuesday night, instructor Moe Shirvani led a circuit of 15 stations that included medicine balls, free weights, jump rope and resistance tubes, as well as standard floor exercises like crunches and lunges.
"We just try to keep it spicy," Shirvani said.

The exercises, which are performed in 40-second intervals for 45 minutes, are designed to engage your core while using your whole body.

In addition to the Give Back campaign, One on One is starting a new community initiative this weekend with a program for participants in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Ryan Burke, Bruce and Kym Burke's son and a Penn State sophomore, will lead a cross-training class for children and their "Bigs."

For a schedule of State College Group Fitness Training classes and a list of fees, visit www.fitnessconsultants.com or call 234-1625.

For more information about the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, call the Youth Service Bureau at 237-5731.

Stephanie Koons writes about news in the Centre Region. Contact her at skoons@centredaily.com or 235-3927.

See this article on the Centre Daily Times website.