I FITNESS

GOO
RHYTHM

MSU fitness buff Paul
Gedrich shows men can
be popular aerobics
instructors, too.

MIRIAM KREINER

Special to The Jewish News

W

hile Paul Gedrich is
using physical fit-
ness to relieve his
stress, he is helping over 100
college students in East Lan-
sing stay in shape.
Gedrich, 21, of Southfield,
is one of the first. male
aerobics instructors in
Michigan State University's
intramural program.
"I really enjoy it," said
Gedrich, an MSU senior. "It's
like getting paid to exercise!'
The class Gedrich teaches is

"I just made up
the moves as I
went along."

about 95 percent female. Does
having an attractive man
teach result in more people
participating?
The question embarrasses
Gedrich, who diplomatically
responds, "Whatever I can do
that helps the class and helps
bring people in, is great!" He
also adds that while he can
motivate girls to come to
calss, more guys might par-
ticipate if they see a male
teacher.

58

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1989

"Paul's a great instructor,"
said Sheryl Rubin of
Southfield, an MSU merchan-
dising management senior.
"He gives the class a hard
workout and his enthusiasm
helps motivate us to work
harder!"
Gedrich attirbutes his •
aerobics success to his ex-
cellent sense of rhythm and
dancing.
"I love to dance and I love
music," Gedrich said. "There
is a history of musicians and
dancers in my family and that
is why I have good rhythm!'
Physical fitness is Gedrich's
main hobby. In addition to
aerobics, he lifts weights four
times a week. In high school,
Gedrich played football for
Southfield-Lathrup.
"I guess you could say I'm
a jock," Gedrich said. "I am
always trying to better myself
physically?'
Physical fitness is only one
important aspect of Gedrich's
life. Family means a lot, also.
"I am forever grateful to my
dad," Gedrich said. "He
adopted me when I was 4,
when he married my mom,
and he gave me his name.
Gedrich said his mother has
influenced him more than
anyone in his life.
"My mother is great,"
Gedrich said. "She sticks to

co

co

Gedrich's enthusiasm is infectious.

Dancing and music are favorite activities of his.

Aerobics compliments Gedrich's weightlifting.

what she wants and works
hard!'
Gedrich hopes to work as
hard as his mom does when
he gets a job. He is majoring
in labor industrial relations
and plans to get a master's
degree in it at MSU.
When Gedrich can socialize,
he likes going to the bar with
his fraternity brothers.
Gedrich got involved in
aerobics last summer when
he wanted an exercise to com-
pliment weightlifting. He
started taking the aerobics
classes and was asked to
teach by an instructor.
"After I got the job, they
asked me to teach a class the
next day," said Gedrich. "I
just made up the moves as I
went along!'
Although Gedrich wants to
motivate his aerobics class to
work hard, he says it is impor-
tant they listen to their
bodies and learn their
limitations.
"I am always watching peo-
ple and asking them to tell
me how they are doing. If they
yell and cheer, it makes me
feel good, because I know they
are okay and I am doing my
job well."
From the 100 students
cheering, it looks like Gedrich
is doing his job well.

❑