Want to improve your health? Take a kinesiology class.

Students in Kristin Wagners kinesiology classes learn how often adults should exercise each week and develop the skills, discipline, and correct techniques to meet or exceed those goals.

Every 40 seconds one person in the U.S. dies from cardiovascular disease according to the CDC, said Kristin, a Collin College adjunct kinesiology professor. Its a shocking statistic, but heart disease is still the leading cause of death for Americans and much of it is preventable.

Kristin explained that kinesiology classes can benefit all students, even the ones who are not going into her field of expertise. Her students agree.

An Intermediate Weight Training student, Hassaan Arien plans to transfer to a university to earn a business economics degree, further his real estate career, and help others as a business consultant.

I need to feel healthy to be productive and motivated, Hassaan said. This class helps me get that morning push and gives me a drive for the rest of the day. The professor teaches you how to work each muscle group, and you are with other students so you don't feel out of place like you could in a gym.

Students Audrey Brassfield and Liam Davis are both taking the Beginning Weight Training class. Audrey plans to transfer to a university to earn a Christian-based counseling degree.

When you develop a habit to work out in the morning it sets you up for the rest of the day, Audrey said. Its a discipline that helps with whatever you do. Professor Wagner is very encouraging and explains things. She creates a space where it doesn't matter where you are physically and tailors the class to you.

Liam plans to transfer to a university, earn a degree in game art, and become a lead game designer.

I really like working out, Liam said. The professor has broadened my horizons with weightlifting and gives tips so you can pursue your own goals. This class is a nice environment for beginners, and it gets me up, ready, and energized for my other classes.

Kristin hopes that her students will continue to be active throughout their lifetimes.

Physical activity is one of the most important ways you can take care of yourself, and we have great facilities on the Wylie Campus, she said.

The Wylie Campus is home to the CougarFit fitness center which offers programs in fitness, recreation, and intramural sports. The facility has a wide range of equipment including ab, upper, and lower body machines, free weights, squat racks, treadmills, and pull-up bars. The multipurpose room contains yoga and medicine balls, yoga mats, and kettlebells. Students, faculty, and staff can use the equipment for free, and students can also receive free personal training.

This fall the Wylie Campus will offer a variety of kinesiology classes including Beginning Weight Training, Intermediate Weight Training, Introduction to Physical Fitness and Wellness, Concepts of Physical Fitness, Beginning Hatha Yoga, Personal/Community Health, and Intermediate Hatha Yoga.

To register for kinesiology classes at the Wylie Campus or for more information about the campus, visitwww.collin.edu/campuses/wylie.

Photo by Nick Young, Collin College photographer.

Reprinted with permission from Wylie The Connection magazine.