by Michael Martinez, staff writer

Are you sick of once again claiming “this is the year I lose weight?” The motivation to drive to the gym seems impossible after six draining hours of tedious lectures. The combination of classes, work, and life causes stress, tension, and exhaustion. At PPSC, you can get rid of all of your problems right next door. Pushing limits, chasing goals, and coming together as a community in the hunt for strength and stamina.

Personal trainers and state-of-the-art equipment at the Fitness Center make so much possible, like pushing limits, chasing goals, and coming together as a community in the hunt for strength and stamina. The gym’s goal is to help you transform your body, and tap into your inner strength and your fullest potential.

“The fitness center at Centennial is not a public gym! We are here to service the students and staff,” says personal trainer Brandon Cuevas Dias. “We offer all levels of fitness – it’s an all-functional fitness center. We are proud to be inclusive to only those affiliated with Pikes Peak State College. You no longer have to wait long hours for dumbbells and treadmills that you would have to at gyms like VASA,” he says.

At the fitness center, running and lifting are more than just a workout — they’re a lifestyle. And to help foster that lifestyle at the college, the main personal trainer began working at the fitness center to create a space where individuals can improve their physical and mental health. Employees of the gym are content to have opened up a health establishment where those who cannot afford an expensive public gym membership can work out daily without any additional cost.

The center has three personal trainers to help students and faculty achieve their physical goals. They offer drop-in times at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The only requirement to access the gym is to have paid your health fees. Student and faculty identification cards are required to enter the facility.

Additionally, friends and family directly associated with current students and staff are also able to work out at the center with a $25 fee per semester.

Those interested in participating in sports are also encouraged to begin actively visiting the fitness center. The basketball club runs every Friday from 3:00-6:00 p.m. The running club meets every weekend with times varying. Dance fitness classes meet bi-weekly at the Rampart Range location with numerous dates in March and April. Restorative Yoga classes will meet on March 14th and April 11th with certified instructor Nichole Pritchett-Hilliard.

Lastly, a volleyball club may be coming available to PPSC students.