Wellness and Recreation Center offers more group fitness classes

A classroom is filled with laughing students who move to the beat of contemporary music while they motivate their bodies toward greater fitness.

In response to numerous suggestions brought up by students, the fitness staff at the Wellness and Recreation Center will introduce new classes this semester. Also, due to popular demand, students will notice that classes will be offered at more times and on more days.

Included on the list of new courses is the unique hybrid Spoga. The class consists of 30 minutes of spinning (or cycling) and 30 minutes of yoga. These two exercises combine to create a workout that is both cardio and resistance training; however, this is a popular class and only 20 people can participate at a time.

Assistant Director of Fitness Operations Laura Childs says group fitness classes appeal to many college students.

“It’s socializing at the same time you’re getting your fitness in,” Childs said. “Group fitness in general is fun. It removes that aspect of it where you’re in there with a lot of people doing the same thing. You have an instructor who is there to teach you and guide you and show you what to do.”

Also new to the WRC is a yoga class taught by Georgia College alumna Xan Nichols on Fridays from 9 to 9:50 a.m.

Nichols found a passion for yoga through a meditation retreat during her time at Berry College.

“I try to keep it beginner friendly,” Nichols said. “Because no matter what class you teach, you’re always going to have someone who has never tried yoga before.”

Nichols considers yoga to be an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

“When you’re doing yoga, you are becoming more aware of your body,” Nichols said. “You get more in touch with your body’s limits and what it needs.”

Nichols believes yoga can lead to better choices not only in diet, but in life, and can also improve concentration and balance.

According to Childs, the WRC works to make the gym environment as accessible to as many people as possible.

“Doing something is always better than doing nothing,” Childs said. “The gym exercise setting, for a lot of people, can be very intimidating and we try to reduce that as much as possible here in the facility so that it is a place where everyone can feel comfortable.”

Childs says trying new things is important.

“Try to move a little bit more than you did yesterday,” Childs said. “Try new experiences, you never know what you’ll like until you’ve tried it.”

In addition to yoga and Spoga, the center also offers a class called Saved by the Bell, which uses a Kettle Bell. This calorie burning workout utilizes a bell shaped weight that is manipulated in order to build muscle tone in target areas, and also in those hard-to-develop areas.

Zumba classes are also available as well as Hip Hop.

Cycling is another class taught at the WRC. Although it isn’t a new class, new technologies have made it more accessible to a greater number of students.

Senior mass communication major Rebecca Thuns enjoys cycling because it works out every part of the body.

“I like it because I can use my own speed, whereas in other sports and exercises, you have to work at everyone else’s speed.”

If you are interested in attending one of the classes, a schedule can be downloaded from the WRC website at www.gcsu.edu/wellness/groupfitness.htm or can be picked up at the front desk as you enter the building.