VILSECK, Germany -- U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria officially opened "The Box," a room completely devoted to Functional Fitness, in the Rose Barracks Memorial Fitness Center, Jan. 12.
Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation created the Functional Fitness room in Rose Barracks to provide Soldiers, civilians and family members an alternate space to work out.
Functional Fitness -- a CrossFit-inspired workout -- focuses on muscles and strength-building that aids in every-day tasks. Participants go through a circuit of exercises designed to keep them moving to improve both cardio and strength.
Family and MWR designed The Box to meet the specific workout needs of Functional Fitness, said 2nd Lt. Chris Brown, Charlie Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, who is a Functional Fitness trainer for The Box.
"Functional Fitness to me is about going from exercise to exercise," said Brown. "What's exciting to me about this is that it's a space to go from movement to movement to movement without having to wait for [equipment.]"
The Box is also set up to ensure that each exercise can be modified according to each person's strength and skill level. For example, if someone cannot manage a pull up, they can use gymnastic rings to do an easier, adapted version of the exercise.
"It's designed for different abilities," said Brown. "There are a lot of variations."
The Box will offer Functional Fitness classes, open gym-use and specific times for unit-organized fitness. Prior to using the area for open gym or PT, individuals and unit-leaders must take a safety and orientation course led by certified trainers.
The orientation focuses on safety, proper form, equipment usage and ends with a short workout, explained Serge Kearse, chief of sports and fitness for Family and MWR.
"We want to make sure that when people are using this room, they're fully trained and using it properly," said Kearse.
The next orientation training is on Feb. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The class is limited to 20 people. To register, go to https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/Grafenwoehrrectrac.html. For more, call DSN 476-2214, CIV 09662-83-2214.
Currently, The Box is open under temporary hours. Starting Feb. 2, the space will be open seven days a week.
For now, operating hours are, Mon - Fri, 5:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. The center's schedule is as follows:
5:30-8:30 a.m.: Unit orientation and fitness, by reservation only. Requester must coordinate a certified trainer.
8:30-11:30 a.m.: F&MWR Functional Fitness classes for family members and U.S. ID card holders.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Open gym. Participants must attend a safety orientation prior to attending open gym. Area will be supervised by certified staff.
1:30-5 p.m.: Unit orientation and fitness, by reservation only. Requester must coordinate a certified trainer.
5:30-8:30 p.m.: Combination of open gym and Workout of the Day classes. Participants must attend a safety orientation prior to attending open gym.
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