Pump it Up

The fall semester is in full swing, and students can breathe easy knowing that group fitness classes are offered ten times a week, both online and in-person, giving everyone multiple opportunities for a solid workout. 

For students who chose to remain off campus enrolled in online courses, they are able to stretch out from the comfort of their own home. 

Online classes include Basic Yoga/Meditation, Chakra Vinyasa Yoga, Gentle Flow Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga.

Students back on campus can also get their hearts pumping in the West Center with Indoor Cycling or Cardio Hip-Hop. 

Isabella Schepisi, a student at Winthrop, said that while she is currently only teaching and attending classes that are virtual, in-person classes are what originally piqued her interest in yoga.

“I had my first real introduction to yoga via a group fitness class. It inspired me to deepen my own practice and eventually get my certification.”

Others currently teaching classes were inspired to get their certification because of in-person group fitness classes, too.

Kim Perez, senior elementary education major, teaches the Cardio Hip-Hop classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“My freshman year, I attended Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Hip-Hop, and Aqua Zumba classes, which started my love for the classes and led me to get certified and teach my own classes,” Perez said.

The number of attendees for each in-person class depends on what the class is and where the class is taking place. For instance, Perez’s Tuesday class can have twenty participants, whereas her Thursday class can only hold twelve, as the two classes are located in different–sized rooms.

“I’ve always enjoyed the Cardio Hip-Hop and Zumba classes because of the high energy levels, great music choice, and the chance to dance and have fun with your friends,” Perez said.

Even though Perez leads weekly in-person classes, she also enjoys participating in the virtual fitness classes.

“The best part about the virtual classes is that they can be done anywhere. So even when it’s raining or you’re joining halfway, you can just pop in and get started,” Perez said.

Now that most students have a grasp on their classwork, virtual classes are becoming more popular.

Stephanie Lawson, an associate professor of marketing, is one of the new leaders for virtual yoga classes, beginning to teach only a couple weeks ago.

“I had a 50% increase in participation this week from six to nine participants. I hope to grow our class throughout the semester,” Lawson said.

“The most difficult thing for me is setting the camera up properly so participants can see me in both floor and standing poses,” she said.

Although Lawson misses playing music and getting to know her students while leading an in-person class, she believes online yoga is still especially beneficial for students as “they can find time to move their bodies, which helps every aspect of our lives.”

Yoga is an excellent class for beginners, but all group fitness classes are available for people of all skill levels.

Jen Bossi, an assistant professor of exercise science, teaches two in-person cycle classes — one on Tuesdays and one on Wednesdays.

“I was pretty nervous at first going back to teaching cycle,” Bossi said. “With people breathing hard and sweating, things like that. However, the West Center staff did a really good job on ensuring safety and also training us on what we needed to do before and after class to make sure everybody is safe.” 

Instructing cycling classes at both Winthrop and the local YMCA before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bossi is glad to be back and have things running smoothly.

“So far so good,” Bossi said. “I think the biggest thing for me is watching people either try something new or work towards achieving their goals. It’s just a really cool feeling to be a part of all of that, which is what I enjoy the most.”

Regarding the cleaning of equipment, Bossi explained that instructors wipe down all bikes and set them up on specifically marked spots that are six feet apart to follow social distancing guidelines. This extra spacing allows for only twelve bikers per class.

Bossi also mentioned that towels are under each bike to catch sweat, but the floors are still completely mopped after each class. Cyclers also must wipe down their bike after class, followed by a second wipe down by the instructor for maximum cleanliness.

Bossi believes the social connection part of in-person classes is beneficial, even if it is socially distanced.

“I think social and mental health is just as important as physical health, so I try to really encourage students to try these in-person classes as long as they feel comfortable,” Bossi said.

However, Bossi noted that any type of exercise is worthwhile, and she does understand the appeal of online workouts.

“I found that people like virtual classes because they don’t feel as judged, especially with beginners who may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed doing something new,” Bossi said.

Group fitness schedules are set for the semester as the variety of classes depends on what instructors are available. Regular attendees will never be bored as each class may be a similar format, but the order of exercises is always switched up. 

“I’m always going to do some hilltracks, some sprinting, we’ll do some recovery, but I’ll change up the order we do them,” Bossi said.

Switching workout routines is not the only thing that helps make a successful fitness class, but also rotating music playlists.

“I think something that really mixes up the class is changing up the music. If you have different music, a lot of times different participants won’t even notice if the class is exactly the same.”

For students interested in joining virtual group fitness classes, visit the Recreational Services Instagram page, @wu_rec. Students looking to participate in classes located in the West Center can register beforehand on the WU Rec app.

Graphic courtesy of Winthrop Recreational Services