A group exercise program at a college typically refers to a program where students can participate in physical fitness activities as a group, usually led by a certified instructor. These programs can include a variety of activities such as aerobics, yoga, strength training, and team sports. The goal of these programs is to promote health and wellness among college students and provide an opportunity for social interaction and community building. Many colleges and universities offer these programs as part of their campus recreation services.
Here at SUNY Cortland, the Student Life Center hosts a variety of Group Exercise programs, including Box & Burn, Yoga/Meditation, and Cycling. I decided to participate in one of these classes to see just what Cortland Group Exercise has to offer.
A cycling class is a valuable addition to a college’s group exercise program because it offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. Improvements to cardiovascular health and endurance, strength in lower body, and increased muscle tone? Sounds pretty good to me. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of physical and mental health is significant. Having a consistent exercise routine reduces stress, improves mood, and increases concentration. Participating in a group class offers a fun and social workout experience!
I elected to talk with cycling instructor and SUNY Cortland student, Samantha Wender, about her experiences as an instructor here. Growing up with a mother who taught cycling, Sam got certified in August of this year with the intention to do the same. In addition to teaching every Monday at 7 at the Student Life Center, “I teach at the gym where I’m from, Mesa Fitness, and I also will be starting in May at the college near my house, Colorado Mesa University.”
Talking to someone with so much experience made me wonder how teaching at Cortland compared to other gyms. Sam explained that “It’s different crowds. At home, more older people, shorter classes and done in a different style. Here at the Student Life Center, I teach what is called freestyle spin, unlike at home, where it is Les Mills style. It’s 30 mins of a HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout on the bike, as opposed to the Student Life Center which is 50 minutes of my own songs and whatever I want to do. At home, it’s more of an elite cycling group looking for those 30 minutes whereas here it’s more fun and more about bonding.”
I quickly learned that even amongst the college community there is a variety of fitness levels in group classes. For Sam, she finds that the best way to create an inclusive environment for all skill levels is by engaging participants with “all different kinds of music — even kinds I don’t like. Making sure every song is a different kind of workout, maybe it’s a strength track and we’re doing a hill, or power surges, or light resistance. Each song being different creates a different opportunities for success! Different bodies respond differently to different workouts.” After taking a spin class at the Student Life Center, I felt this. I quickly realized I was better at certain workouts than others. Light resistance was fun, depending on the song playing, whereas arm workouts made me realize I need to work on my upper body strength. “One of my favorite parts of teaching these classes is being able to connect with the people who take the class and meet them when they’re at. It’s really their workout so I like to make sure they get out what they put in. I love being able to accommodate a variety of different workout preferences.”
I found that Sam’s class was particularly memorable because she engaged her participants in ways other than queuing songs and shouting instructions.
“I like to be pretty vocal throughout the class. I love to be inspirational and try to pull out different lyrics that will get participants to lean in. I try so hard, and try to get them to train with me. I like to build them up throughout the whole class.”
“Anyone can play a song and tell someone to stand up and sit down, but I really try to connect during the class. That could be through eye contact or going up to their bikes and pushing them a little bit, but I think it makes it memorable after class ends.”
Truthfully, after completing the class, I could understand why people enjoy cycling so much. The Spinning Room at the Student Life Center comes equipped with color-changing lights, large fans, and loud speakers. With instructors being students, the music was varied between multiple popular tracks and remixes, really catering to the audience of the room. It was also clear that the commitment established within the room cultivated the general vibe of the class. Everyone being engaged and enjoying themselves led to powerful workouts.
“My main reason for instructing is because I love to share my love for fitness with others! It’s especially fun at the Student Life Center because I get to see familiar faces and meet new people, and be a role model for those who may not have seen me in this light before. I get to inspire younger students to do this one day!”
For $22 a semester, Cortland students can attend unlimited group classes at the Student Life Center. Alternatively, you can opt to pay $5 per class for any single session. Not bad considering a single yoga or cycling class can run anywhere from $30+ outside the school!