• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

Marguerite Cravatt uses the equipment at Curves, the new fitness center for women that recently o

The newest addition to Westwood is throwing an innovative curve on fitness.

Located across the street from the UCLA Medical Center on Le Conte Avenue, the new women’s fitness center, Curves, opened Jan. 5.

Geared toward female members of the UCLA and Westwood community, Curves already has over 200 members.

Curves, which was founded seven years ago, has already expanded to over 7,000 centers and over 2 million members worldwide.

The Curves fitness program caters to women with busy schedules.

“Curves offers them an opportunity to come in any time of the week, for a short amount of time, which is incentive enough to most people,” said Kim Kortlander, the manager of Curves in Westwood.

The program consists of a 30-minute workout three times a week.

Curves members can go in and out of the facility quickly after completing a sufficient workout in a short amount of time.

“One of the reasons I joined (Curves) was because it was the only thing that would fit into my schedule,” said Caroline McIntyre, Director of General Services at UCLA’s Medical Center.

Curves’ unique method of circuit training is like a system of fitness musical chairs.

To the timing of upbeat music, members rotate from one of the 10 workout stations to the next, spending 30 seconds at each.

Musical cues are played on a CD, telling the exercisers when to get up and switch to the next station.

This quick-switch method of working out prevents boredom due to the fast pace and constant change of scenery.

“I’m motivated because it’s so easy and I know it’ll be over faster,” said Curves member Abby Stevens.

A Curves staff member supervises from the middle of the circuit, ensuring that the machines are being used correctly.

The circuit workout employs hydraulic resistance as well as cardiovascular and strength training. 

Women do as many repetitions of a strengthening exercise as they can in 30-second intervals – the optimal time for weight training.

Strength training can be particularly important for women, as it helps to maintain bone density and decreases the chance of osteoporosis, a bone-weakening condition which affects millions of women every year.

The available cardiovascular exercises are based on a push-pull system. The faster the exerciser pushes on the machine, the more resistance is provided.

Many women enjoy and prefer the friendly exercise environment offered by Curves.

“Everyone has something to be happy about here, and it’s more intimate so women can make friends,” said Kristin Latempa, a second-year philosophy student, and Curves staff member.

“There is no pressure here,” she said.

The smaller and more personal setting of Curves also provides an alternative to the UCLA Wooden Center.

“I used to go to Wooden, but it was too crowded and the lines were really long,” said Jennit Stevens, a recent UCLA graduate.

Curves also offers several promotional programs for members each month.

During the week of Mar. 8-12, Curves will sponsor a “Food for Friends” drive. Members can bring in a bag of food for donation to a local food bank in exchange for a zero service fee that week.

In addition, the ongoing grand opening promotion allows UCLA students and staff to receive a 60 percent discount off the regular membership fee of $149.