High school coach helps teachers get in shape

Coach Brant Tryon, a physical education teacher at Kaiserslautern American High School, not only teaches his students the importance of exercise, he instructs the teachers too.
Coach Tryon began a weekly full-body conditioning and aerobic workout class in the high school gymnasium. Leading teachers, students, military members and other willing participants, the coach goes through a variety of exercises to get their heart rate working to optimum levels.
The hour-long class starts around 5:50 p.m. Tuesdays and focuses on working out the major muscle groups with high repetitions using dumbbell weights. The coach instructs participants on differing exercises set to a particular musical theme chosen for the session. Previous theme nights have included 1980s night, a Salsa night and even a dance-beat night.
Following a simple warm up, the class opens and closes with proper stretching techniques that Coach Tryon demonstrates.
According to the coach, the importance of the class is not how fast you can perform the exercises, but rather focusing on working particular muscle groups using proper form and technique, while maintaining a constant heartbeat and steady breathing.
“Teaching this class allows the participants the opportunity to learn a few things so that they can workout and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” said Coach Tryon.
Participants like Tammy Thomsen, a fifth-grade teacher at Kaiserslautern American Elementary School, said she enjoys the level of difficulty that Coach Tryon offers in his class.
He encourages interested participants, no matter what physical shape they may be in, to join the class and strive for goals that they can achieve.
Working out in a positive environment makes many adult teachers return week after week, Coach Tyron said.