Pillar 360 device gives schools new workout option for students, sports teams

By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Publisher When Mainland Regional Athletic Director Mike Gatley first saw the contraption known as Pillar 360, his first thought was — pure genius. His second thought? “Why the heck didn’t I think of this?” Mainland physical education teacher Cynthia Anderson was instrumental in getting the school some grant money, Gatley said, and when it came down to deciding how to spend that money, acquiring a couple of Pillar 360 poles seemed like a no-brainer. The device in simplistic in nature, but its uses are wide-ranging. Basically, if you can think up an exercise, you can probably do it using Pillar 360. The brain child of Point Pleasant resident and former physical education teacher and coach Don Blair, Pillar 360 is basically a pole that fits into the existing floor mounts that high schools and colleges use to set up the poles for volleyball nets. It comes in lengths of four feet and eight feet. The four-foot model has a hexagon of rings at the top and five rings on the bottom, and coaches can attach any number of exercise equipment to them — resistance bands, ropes, TRX contraptions. The eight-foot model is simply taller, and instead of one hexagon ring at the top, it has one in the middle and one at the top, along with the five vertical rings on the bottom. The idea is that entire teams or gym classes can use the device simultaneously. The attachments fan out like spokes on a wheel, meaning that with the eight-foot pole, theoretically you could have as many as 17 attachments — hence 17 athletes or gym students working out at the same time, or more if students pair up for a particular exercise. It’s reminiscent of that carnival ride that features dozens of swings that sail people through the air in a circular motion. During an in-service day at Mainland Regional High School in October, physical education teacher Cynthia Anderson tries out a resistance band exercise on the Pillar 360. “Cynthia Anderson in our physical education department really has done a terrific job. It’s really exciting. Typically when you are getting equipment, not only are you concerned with safety, but also storage. The whole philosophy of Pillar 360 is so simple and so sound, and I guess that’s what makes it so attractive,” Gatley said. “The poles go right into established volleyball standard holes in the floor, and adding the bands and the ropes — it’s just a very simple philosophy that I think, when you look at cross training, there were a couple things I looked at. With our weather patterns, in P.E. class we’re spending three or four months inside, so this gives us an opportunity to do some cardio and strength training. We can get anywhere from 12 to 15 kids on both poles. When teams can’t get outside, this is an awesome alternate program that the kids can do.” The Mainland physical education department had an in-service day earlier this month when Blair and his partner, former Wall Township High School trainer Mike Hackett, delivered a presentation on how to use the Pillar 360 and the various types of exercises that can be utilized. “Not all of the coaches could be there (for the demonstration), but I sent the video out to all the athletic directors in the Cape-Atlantic League,” Gatley said. “I told them if you are looking for something to take your program to the next level, this is a nice option.” Blair said that not only are schools beginning to use Pillar 360, but so are various community centers throughout the region. He said community activity directors like the idea because it is so easy to use and can maximize limited space while giving whoever uses it optimal results. “Kids are using muscles (on the pillar) that they normally don’t use, such as the abs and legs. And with the bands they are able to do those things. You can be in great shape, but after you do a few of these exercises, the next morning you are sore,” Blair said. “What’s nice is that it’s portable. It’s easy to set up and you can break it down and put it away. A lot of people have trouble finding an anchoring system that works like this. Riverwinds Community Center in West Deptford purchased it for that reason. Now they run classes for the Pillar 360.” For more information on Pillar 360, visit the company’s website, www.pillar360.com. Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays [adsense]