July 25, 2018

The Wellness Center on East Mississippi Community College’s Scooba Campus is accepting applications from the public for the fall membership, which runs from Aug. 13 to Dec. 7. The cost of the four-month membership is $120.

Application packets are available in the Wellness Center. The deadline to apply or renew memberships is Aug. 24.

Tentative Wellness Center hours are Monday through Thursday each week from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. reserved for EMCC employees and community members only. On Fridays, the Wellness Center will open at 6 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m.

The Wellness Center will be closed Labor Day and the week of Thanksgiving.

EMCC opened the Wellness Center to the public in June of 2016 as a means of strengthening the partnership with the communities served by the college, EMCC Director of Wellness and Intramurals Cathy Castleberry said.

“There are no other fitness or wellness centers in the vicinity available to members of our community,” Castleberry said. “We felt this service would benefit our area residents and provide them with the means to achieve their fitness goals while promoting a healthy lifestyle. We’ve kept the cost low at $30 a month, which is less than they would pay at most similarly-equipped facilities.”

The Wellness Center was renovated in 2016 and all new exercise equipment was purchased, including five treadmills, five elliptical machines and two rowing machines. The new equipment includes 17 cardio machines, two of which are handicapped accessible, and a full line of strengthening equipment.

Wellness Center members can also participate in fitness classes at no charge. There is a High-Intensity Interval Training (HITT) fitness class available at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays. HITT and ab classes are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning at 6 a.m. Other fitness programs are being scheduled to possibly include spin, step and aerobic boxing classes.  

Castleberry said most of those who have signed up for the memberships reside in Kemper County or nearby communities across the Alabama state line.

Scooba resident Marshetta Little was among the first residents to sign up when the Wellness Center first opened to the public. She is a regular at the center, arriving at 6 a.m. each morning and working out for about an hour.

Little said she has lost 23 pounds and has more energy than she did before she began exercising.

“I used to be afraid of the elliptical machine but now I can stay on it for 30 minutes,” Little said. “I have a lot more endurance and feel really good. I would encourage anyone who wants to get healthy and learn to make better choices to join.”

For more information about Wellness Center memberships call 662.476.5035 or email Castleberry at ccastleberry@eastms.edu.