Sometimes it’s difficult to find time to work out while in college. Family Student Markin Recreation Center offers a variety of group fitness classes designed to help students lead a healthy lifestyle, but attendance shows students aren’t taking advantage of them.
Shelly Walker, a group fitness instructor at Markin, said raising awareness on group fitness at Bradley has been a priority for her.
She started teaching R.I.P.P.E.D., (Resistance, Interval, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance and Diet), a class designed to focus on cardio using weights and resistance in the spring of 2015.
“With R.I.P.P.E.D. it’s more about toning and getting healthy,” Walker said. “That also leads to better academic performance.”
Despite the benefits group fitness classes offer, Walker said attendances at the classes are low. In a class that fits 25 people, Walker only sees an average of 10 to 15 people in each class.
“It’s a shame because I do not think they are attended like they could be,” Walker said. “I get it because life gets in the way … but it really is for a healthy lifestyle. We all know obesity is an issue for our nation. There are also studies that show being active in some sort of exercise program also promotes brain health. So, I think academically that would be helpful for students if they were more active in the gym.”
However, Walker said she is positive attendance can improve, especially with the free fitness courses offered during the first week of classes.
“For my class, it was the best turnout during the free week that I had ever had,” Walker said. “To me, that spoke that students cared about their health and were interested in maybe trying something new regarding their health. So, I was really encouraged by that.”
According to Walker, there are many added benefits to taking a fitness class.
“One, I think it is the knowledge background of kinesiology, anatomy and so forth that you might be missing out on,” Walker said. “Two, I think an instructor, at least the experiences that I’ve had, makes or breaks the class. If you have a really good instructor that is motivating and fun, you want to go back.”
Currently, Markin has a total of seven group fitness instructors who have backgrounds in teaching exercise courses.
“Right now we have got a great team of instructors, and I think if people tried it and got into it … that would really help a lot of students on campus,” Walker said.
“For any student who may be hesitant to attend a group fitness class,” Walker said. “There is no harm in trying.”
“It is better to try it and figure out that you don’t like then not do it and miss out on some of the training benefits,” Walker said. “I would suggest trying different things. Even if you’re not a bicycle person, just try the cycling class. Don’t limit yourself to what you think you’re good at or you know you like.”
Students who have tried the group fitness classes said their experiences were beneficial.
“The fitness classes have really helped me get into a consistent workout routine,” Rachel Gardetto, a sophomore psychology and nursing double major, said. “I’ve taken a lot of the classes, and they are really great.”
Group classes offered at Markin include yoga, cycling and Zumba, among others. Students and staff at Bradley can pay $2 for each class or can purchase a 15-punch card for $25, a 20-punch card for $30 or an unlimited-punch card for $35.
