Waco Parks and Recreation at Lions Pool
8 to 10:00 am on Saturdays
Creative Conditioning
Aqua Athletes
*An Ultra-Strenuous, 2 hour workout for athletes of high-school age and older meeting each Saturday morning for 10 weeks this summer!
A perfect summer conditioner for any athlete stressing cardiovascular system, muscle endurance, flexibility, power, speed & agility.
FITNESS PARTICIPATION WITH AN EDUCATION INCLUDES:
physiological testing guest speakers informative notebook relaxation/mental imagery cooperation and competition new games video taped performance nutrition, drug and aging insights stroke techniques variety professional staff
COST:
$20 for 10 Saturdays starting June 4 ending August 6
REQUIREMENTS:
physician's permission, liability waver, and enough water courage to dunk yourself. *Manditory physical exam and blood testing if over age 35. Otherwise, both are strongly encouraged.
REGISTRATION:
at Lions Pool on Saturday morning June 4 or later Saturdays or at morning swimming lessons
For questions and more information call for Mark Rauterkus at Department of Parks and Recreation, 753-0223, or home phone, 757-1576.
Creative Conditioning
Deb Johnson, testing coordinator, has furnished this initial list of some possible physiological tests which we might be interested in doing. The details will be forthcoming.
Cardio Vascular Fitness
Physical Work Capacity 170, fitness level
Astrand-Ryhming Bicycle Test, fitness level.
Harvard Step Test, recovery rate
Field test, 12 min. run or 1.5 mile run
Muscle Strength and Endurance
Isometric strength
Isotonic Strength
Margaria Muscle Power Test
Agility tests
Coordination Tests
many other basic strength and Endurance tests
Flexibility Tests
Sit and Reach
Back and Stomach
Shoulder rotation
Mark's Flex Test with tape measure
Mark's Flex Test with a partner and body parts
Body Composition
Skinfold Determination
Anthropometric Measurements
Posture Evaluation
Back weakness tests
Grid Evaluation
Others
Blood Testing
Height, weight
ECG (modified)
Blood lactate
Blood sugar level
Creative conditioning in vogue
By DAVID PINTO
Tribune-Herà ld Sports Writer
Aerobic dancing and Jazzerise have made quite a hit with fitness buffs recently. The idea is to keep physically fit and enjoy it with a musical beat.
However, for those less musically inclined (or perhaps more athletic in nature), Mark Rauterkus has developed a way to make fitness fun and games.
Rauterkus, a Baylor graduate student with an assistantship in physical education, is director of a local "creative conditioning" program. The program is for anyone of high school age and over.
"We're striving to make this program attractive to adults of any age,” says Rauterkus. “While it is open to high school students, it is also geared for the adult who wants to improve himself physically."
Rauterkus, 24, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., graduated from Ohio University in 1982. lle has a strong background in swimming instruction and has taught a variety of aquatic sports, diving, softball and weight training.
"We have an excellent facility at the Lions Pool." Rauterkus says. “We've found that using the water in summer has some natural advantages. You can exercise easily in a cool environment. The buoyancy of the water supports the body, and you can exercise a particular part of the body, strengthening it significantly, without undue stress or injury. This type training has been used extensively on the West Coast, and they've done some pretty interesting things in aquatic training."
The program, now entering its third week, has weekly meetings each Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m.
Counting this Saturday, there are eight meetings remaining in the original 10-week schedule.
“We try for a variety of things,” says Rauterkus. "We strive for a new theme each week." Because of that, Rauterkus has lined up several specialists in their fields as weekly instructors.
"David Scott, who works with Baylor's intramural program, finished third in the Big 10 in wrestling,” Rauterkus points out. "We will have him for one session. And Dr. Norman Gilchrest of Baylor's Department of Physical Education is a scuba diver and mountain climber. He's climbed something like the 50 tallest mountains in North America and plans to climb Mount Everest later this summer.
Other projected guest instructors include:
- Patrick Yates, who was named the outstanding water polo prospect at last year's Sports Festival;
- Dr. M. Mahan, Dallas chiropractor and consultant to Olympic teams;
- Bob Fix, Baylor's strength coach;
- Larry Newell, Baylor physical education professor whose specialty is golf; and
- Shirley Early, yoga instructor.
“But we can't schedule any of these outstanding people,” Rauterkus says frankly, "until we build up our classes to ensure a proper forum."
For Rauterkus, sessions with the experts are vitally important to creative conditioning, which he terms "fitness participation with some understanding of why you're doing it" or "working out for a reason.
People don't like to work out with pain for no gain," he says simply. “This gives us a chance to be educated as we are doing the exercises."
The weekly two-hour sessions consist of a one-hour group workout, a half-hour of optional activity (tennis, golf, weights, swimming), and a half-hour group discussion or instruction by a specialist in a particular field.
“At Lions Park," Rauterkus says, "we have the use of the swimming pool and tennis courts adjacent to it. There is ample area for jogging on the Heart O’ Texas Coliseum grounds or at Paul Tyson Field or we can go in convoy to the Baylor track.
“But we're not limited to just those activities. For example, if someone can improve a part of his fitness by taking up golf, we can arrange for that. We may turn someone onto golf that never played golf before.
“Essentially, this is a cross-training program, one that stresses variety," Rauterkus says. "We urge our clientele to adapt a game to suit a conditioning need. If that happens to be swimming, we can have more swimming at Lions Pool. It's up to the clientele, as well as the individual."
Originally, the 10-week program was projected to cost $20 for each participant. But that price will be adjusted for those taking part just the last eight weeks only.
"That (the price of the sessions) is not that important,” says Rauterkus, “we can adjust it with the individual. The main thing is to let him know he can improve himself physically and enjoy it and learn something about what he's doing at the same time."