Diverse fitness classes available to 451st Airmen Published Feb. 11, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley 451st AEW Public Affairs KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Super Bowl Sunday started early at Kandahar Airfield. At 3 a.m. Airmen, temporarily authorized to wear team football jerseys over PT clothes, gathered in a large conveniently empty room to watch the Super Bowl. Soon, however, Airmen at Kandahar Airfield will not just be watching sports in the facility- they'll be learning them. Classes ranging from Insanity (intense cardio similar to P90X) to Pilates (designed to relieve stress and improve posture) are slated to start as soon as the building officially transfers to the 451st AEW. "It's a bigger space for us," said Staff Sgt. Ian Seagle, a recreation NCO, whose classes have been limited to the 451st Expeditionary Force Support Flight Morale, Welfare, and Recreation classroom. First Lt. Jenna Mirandette, who is scheduled to begin teaching Pilates, plans to hold the classes in the MWR classroom starting Saturday, Feb. 19, if the new fitness center is not yet available. "I found that, despite having four fitness centers, there aren't that many classes, that much variety here," the Lieutenant mentioned. "Pilates sounds fancy, but it's just a different kind of fitness. It's a way to invite people to try something new," she described. "It's a beginning level class, so people can have fun, be pleasantly surprised." Kickboxing instructor Staff Sgt. Fredrick Lee agrees. "Just drop in," he invited. "But come with an open mind and be ready to work." Sergeant Lee- who was a kickboxing state champion in South Dakota in 2005 and was the runner up heavyweight champion in Okinawa among other awards- currently teaches mixed martial arts in the nearby Canadian gym. He describes his class as influenced by a Thai style of kickboxing. "If a guy like me can get four black belts and accolades anyone can do it," he added. Other classes, such core strength, aerobics and even self defense have been tentatively scheduled to kick off the grand opening of the 451 AEW's new fitness center in the month of February. The deadline to sign up for the self defense class (which is scheduled to be held every Wednesday evening in March) is Feb. 25. Each individual instructor has the option to ask students to sign up in advance, or simply to show up. Anyone with a desire to teach, or just an idea for a class, is welcome to make suggestions to MWR for the future facility. Lieutenant Mirandette paid for her own certification to become a Pilates instructor while working at the fitness center in her last assignment, so she was naturally inclined to volunteer. Other instructors, however, do not need to necessarily be officially certified. Sergeant Seagle stressed equipment for classes is limited and the schedule is still flexible. Once the gym opens, it will be a 24-hour facility to locally support Airmen at Kandahar Airfield. He plans to enforce a clean shoe rule- gym patrons must carry a second pair of shoes to be worn while in the facility- and noted a shoe rack has already been installed in the building. Eventually, the fitness center will grow beyond classes. Workout equipment is slated to arrive and fill the new facility. In the midst of new free weights, stationary bikes, elliptical machines and stability balls there may not be enough room to host the scheduled classes. "We'll find room," Sergeant Seagle stated, affirming that MWR would continue classes that proved popular. Other fitness offerings from MWR include an upcoming Saint Patrick's Day 5K fun-run, and guidance from a personal trainer. "A lot of people's goals during deployment are about fitness-- losing weight, or gaining weight," Sergeant Seagle described. "There are a lot of programs out there and if we can't provide it we'll point them in the right direction." The final morale activity offered to 451st AEW Airmen is to return home with a sense of accomplishment.