On her way into work, Alesia Aumock listens to the song “Maniac” from the movie “Flashdance” from her own mixtape for motivation. Her day starts with cycling at 8 a.m., then again at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., with Aerobic Dance at 5 p.m. and Mat Science at 6 p.m. Aumock has been active in the field of fitness for 30 years.
October 1st marked the 25th anniversary of the institution of the Hillsdale Fitness program, piloted by Aumock.
Aumock’s fitness career began in 1984. Ever since she was a little girl, Aumock enjoyed taking dance lessons and life guarding at Sandy Beach recreation area during the summers. She was a cheerleader at Hillsdale High School and College, and then was the college’s cheer coach for three years. She also taught fitness classes at locations in Jackson and Jonesville, Michigan.
On Oct. 1st, 1989, she was hired by the athletic director at the time, Jack MacAvoy, to start a fitness program geared towards the community. A few months later, she began formulating college fitness classes.
“Over the years, it’s just continuously doing something fresh and new, and you have a variety of choices,” Aumock said. “I want to give everybody something new and exciting. I dont get injured, because I don’t do the same thing all the time.”
Though she teaches a variety of classes, from cardio kickboxing to deep-water aerobics, Aumock says that her favorite thing to teach is a combination of everything she knows how to teach. She is recertified in five areas every two years, so she is always learning something new. Over the years, she has also worked with most of the Hillsdale College athletic teams.
“[The best part of my job is] making fitness enjoyable and valuable to the people that are participating, so they can reach their goals,” she said. “And on the side I like it when they sing in class. It makes it really fun.”
Director of Athletics at the college, Don Brubacher, who has worked with Aumock for the past six years, said that she has been committed to her work, especially towards the community members.
“She is very interested in the individuals she works with,” Brubacher said. “She provides an individualized approach to all her work. She cares a lot about her clients and students.”
He also said that fitness, especially in the new physical wellness core classes, reflects the liberal arts well.
“It starts with brain function and goes to every aspect of life: intellectual well being, physical, mental, emotional,” Brubacher said.
Aumock also said that fitness is an essential part of the liberal arts.
“In order to have a fit mind, you need a fit body,” she said. “It is the dimensions of wellness.”
Sophomore Rachelle Ferguson, who took Aumock for Physical Wellness, said that Aumock made the class fun.
“She has kind of a quirky personality,” she said. “In the lab especially she was super comfortable and very friendly and warm.”
Aumock, who has been patiently awaiting the opening of the new Dawn Potter Arena and fitness center, has used the racquetball courts for her classes for the last three weeks. She hopes that the new center will open this week.ww
“It’s like a dream come true,” she said of the new center. “It’s just fabulous.”
Aumock said that she has a growth mindset, and optimistic attitude which energizes her and enables her to accomplish whatever is set before her, despite the challenges. She has no plan to retire from fitness anytime soon.
“If they think I can do it, I can,” she said. “This type of work is in a very rewarding career field that can last a lifetime.”
“And when I get on the bicycle, it is automatic, I start smiling,” she continued. “I like it, it makes me happy. And the music, and moving and dancing. I love that. I guess you just really have to think it’s fun. I do.”
