The Ringling College of Art and Design Recreation and Wellness program seeks to provide the very best opportunities aimed at promoting and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.  By providing a variety of specially-sculpted group fitness to choose from, we believe that we can meet the needs of each and every individual regardless of "athletic" capabilities.   From the very basic beginner to the advanced extremist, we offer a class for you!  Whether you want to increase your cardiovascular endurance, increase your lean muscle mass, reduce body fat, decrease stress, or just add a little spice to your life, we can help you!  

Spring 2013 Group Exercises Classes Start Monday, January 9!  Click Here to see the schedule.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Venessa (www.venessayoga.com)

Vinyasa Flow Yoga uses movement of physical postures and breathing exercise to find the internal stillness in the mind.  It aims to purify the body as a tool for inner exploration.  Move, sweat, strengthen, and stretch.  Cultivate overall stamina, strength, and flexibility, while gaining focus and peace of mind.  Learn to breathe and move gracefully using traditional yoga postures to help heat and stretch the body comfortably.  Modifications for beginners and options for advanced students are provided throughout the class.  This class is performed to focus on alignment! 

Yoga with Ami (www.outdooradventuresinyoga.com)

Ami French has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She received her Teaching Certification from the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Madurai, India in 2009. Sivananda is classical Hatha Yoga based on the teachings of Swami Sivananda, his disciple Swami Vishnu Devananda and the “5 Points of Yoga for Healthy Living”; Proper Exercise (yoga asana), Proper Breathing (pranayama), Proper Relaxation, Proper Diet and Positive Thinking & Meditation. Her decision to train in India was based on a desire to learn traditional yoga with an equal emphasis on Mind, Body & Spirit. She has noticed immeasurable changes throughout the years as her practice evolves and grows helping her to face life’s challenges with a profound inner peace and physical strength.

K.I.C.K. Self Defense Program with John (www.womensafetyawareness.com)

John Merced is a retired Police Lieutenant and a 7th degree black belt in Goju Ryu karate.  He is a certified Law Enforcement Trainer and a Rape Prevention and Safety Awareness expert.  In addition he's been involved in the Martial Arts for over 40 years as well as having taught various agencies and civilian personnel for over 15 years.  John is a member of our own Public Safety Department and is hoping to share his experience in Law Enforcement to help keep all of us safe.  His K.I.C.K. class will be providing a practical and easy to learn set of Self Defense Tactics that are easy and fun to learn.  He will be utilizing traditional and nontraditional training techniques and covering various safety concerns and issues as part of the training.  Although the class is physically demanding, attendees will be allowed to work at their own pace and everyone is encouraged to attend.  It is requested that you wear comfortable and loose fitting cloting and also note that we will be frequently working barefoot.

Zumba with Danielle

Zumba combines high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow the Zumba participants to dance away their worries. It is based on the principle that a workout should be "FUN AND EASY TO DO" allowing Zumba participants to stick to the Zumba Fitness program and achieve long-term health benefits. Zumba is a “feel-happy” workout that is great for both the body and the mind.  ZUMBA is a fusion of Latin and International music - dance themes that create a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! The routines feature aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body. Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness interval training and resistance training to maximize caloric output, fat burning and total body toning.

Cardio Kickboxing with Omarr

Do you get stressed? The best way to get it out is to punch, kick, bob and weave. Open to all levels, man or woman with no experience necessary. You combine cardio, balance, coordination and strength incorporating  punches, kicks and blocks. Use the motions of Boxing and Muay Thai (kickboxing ) in a high-intensity workout that is both anaerobic and aerobic.

Intensati with Allie

Intensati is an active class that combines empowering affirmations with interval training, martial arts, dance and yoga. The moves are designed for any age or level of experience and you will leave class feeling stronger, uplifted and inspuired. The intenSati practice focuses on working out both your body and your mind, and encompasses the idea that what you think about, you bring about. If you are ready for a powerful and positive change in your life right now, give intenSati a try and join certified leader Allie Doersch in living a life we love in a body we love.

Reiki with Olga

Reiki is a method for stress reduction that also promotes healing. It is administered by laying-on hands. 
 The Reiki healing technique was developed  by Mikao Usui in Japan in the late 1800s. It was brought to the US in 1937 by Hawayo Takata and has gradually gained in popularity.
 Reiki heals through gentle energywork with the human body. All forms of healing whether traditional, complementary or alternative have an impact on the human subtle energy system. Each method also carries a unique vibrational frequency and consequently will create different effects. A beautiful characteristic of Reiki is that it has the ability to harmonize energies that may normally be incompatible and can create the best possible outcome. Therefore Reiki enhances anything we do.
 Reiki is being embraced by many prestigous hospitals where it is offered as a part of standard care.
 Reiki can:
 •    Accelerate healing
 •    Assist the body in cleansing toxins
 •    Balance the flow of subtle energy by releasing blockages
 •    Help awaken the ‘healer within.
 •    Assist in the manifestation of goals
 •    Help heal relationships
 •    Assist in elevating our communications with others.
 •    Discern the appropriate next “step” on our spiritual path
 •    Assist in the process of transition
 •    Enhance creativity
   

Yoga with Careth

A fusion yoga class, blending together Anusara with Power Yoga. Anusara is a relatively new practice of yoga, it places together the principles of muscle alignment and balancing, while maintaining a high energy playful spirit. In Power yoga, postures may be challenging, each individual will be encouraged to push past their own levels of comfort into a present conscious state. It is here that the breath begins to coach the practice. The importance of breathing into each stretch will be emphasized, as well as the importance of stretching individual muscles. Learning to breathe and stretch on a daily basis will improve the body's circulation. The goal of this class is help students become more sensitive and aware of what their physical body needs. Yoga is a great practice that unites the mental and physical together, creating unity and awareness within the person.