Marne Soldiers, Family Members participate in Aerobic-thon

By Spc. Michael Adams, 3rd ID Public AffairsFebruary 1, 2011

Aerobic thon pic
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT STEWART, Ga., - The U.S. Army has always taken the opportunity to make sure that Soldiers and their Family Members are physically fit. On Jan. 22, Newman Fitness Center helped to make sure that people in the Fort Stewart community knew there was a fun way to keep in shape, by holding the 2011 Aerobic-thon and Health Fair.

The aerobic-thon was a four- hour aerobic event, which featured many different kinds of aerobics, including belly dancing, zumba, kickboxing, even hula hoops. The health fair was a chance for participants to get health screenings as well as a chance to see different ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Devin Bradley, a sports specialist for fitness with the Newman Fitness Center, was one of the organizers of the events.

She hoped that all of the fitness events and nutrition information at the event would lead to healthier lifestyles and combat a growing problem among the American population.

"We have the highest rate here in America of obesity," she said. "It's a growing problem, not just amongst the adults but amongst the kids. It's an area that we need to really focus on.

" Bradley added that she hopes the classes and vendors at the event will serve as a stepping stone for people to lead a healthy and productive life.

For Nathaniel Robinson, a master fitness personal trainer/supervisor with the Newman Fitness Center, fitness is a way of life. He was one of the instructors who led the approximately 130 participants in the event.

"I taught for the military 21 years," he said. "I taught it in college and high school. Fitness is a life source. If you're not fit, you don't feel good about yourself. If you make it a part of your lifestyle, you're going to be healthy, you may live to be 120 years old."

For Robinson, this event serves as more than just an opportunity to get in shape.

"It gets the Family Members involved, it gets the Soldiers involved," Robinson added. "It gives a chance for us to meet people and communicate with people. And it's good for the community."

One of the attendees, Jamisa Gibson, a Family Member, enjoyed the class a lot."It's fabulous," she said. "I'm having an excellent time because there's such a variety of fitness training that you're not getting bored and you have the option to do some really different things."

She added others should come and take the opportunity to participate in the class. "I highly recommend it," she said. "You can start on whatever level you're on and be able to benefit from whatever they're offering in the class. [People should] come out and try it."