FORT BELVOIR, Va. - July 21 was a Wednesday morning like most at Graves Fitness Center - save for the Soldiers performing over/under hurdles, push-ups and tire throws as part of the gym's new functional training program.
Recreation Specialist Herb Lechuga stood at the helm, barking out directions and encouragement. "If you think you're tired, you're not," he said. "You've got to keep pushing yourself."
The six-week program, currently open to active duty Soldiers, uses 20 different stations to strengthen, stretch and test agility.
Participants weave their way through the stations in one-minute intervals, pushing their muscles to a rapid-fire breaking point to improve their core strength. "Our workout is 95 percent core strengthening," said Alicia Balanag, a recreation specialist who assists Lechuga with the classes. "The core is the temple of the body, so it's important to develop that."
Over time, the stations become more challenging. "I tell everyone - we walked into this. Next, we're going to run, and then we're going to sprint," Lechuga said. "There's no looking back."
Lechuga decided to bring functional training to Fort Belvoir after a prior stint at Fort Bliss, Texas, where the regimen pushed Soldiers to their physical limits. Belvoir's program, he said, is a prototype of what he picked up in the Lone Star state.
"Our goal is to make Soldiers better than they were before," he said. "I took the program, tweaked it a little and presented it to Belvoir."
Lechuga explained the Army is looking into changes beyond the usual PT requirements, which seem outdated. Soldiers needed a program that would truly benefit them, and functional training - which has already been implemented in several military installations around the country - seems to be the answer.
The stations offer versatility, more than the traditional sit-ups and push-ups associated with PT. "The great thing is the equipment and exercises are all interchangeable," explained Balanag. "We can change what they do at each station so that we work different muscle groups. It makes it fun."
So far, so good. The program boasts about 70 members in its inaugural session, with most people attending the 6:30 a.m. class.
On the Tuesdays and Thursdays when functional training is not on the schedule, participants are encouraged to run on their own time. "It could be one or two miles, however much they feel comfortable with," Balanag said. "We just want them to keep moving."
The response has been positive. Balanag said a patron in the class with 11 years of military service called it the best PT she's ever received.
Ideally, Lechuga said he would like to three or four sessions a day throughout the entire week, an increase from the current twice-a-day sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also hopes to incorporate additional stations to challenge Soldiers to push their physical limits. There's also a possibility of introducing the program to civilians.
Functional training will also expand to older youth in the Child, Youth and School Services program. While the intensity level will be much lower and the laughs more plentiful, Lechuga said the idea is to get children active and moving for a couple of hours of exercise.
While the physical benefits are the most obvious, both Lechuga and Balanag can attest to an improvement in confidence as well.
"A lot of people came in unsure of what it was like," Balanag said. "It was hard, but they still pushed through it. They realized the more they do it, the easier it gets. They push themselves because they know they can do it. They develop real dedication for it when they see how it helps them."
Editor's note: The Belvoir Functional Training Program is at Graves Fitness Center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. Hourlong sessions are available at 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. More information is available at 703-806-5368.
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