Community is one of the values that University Recreation holds, and it honors it through the Group Fitness program. Students, staff, and UREC members can attend a variety of fitness classes in group sessions offered at all UREC facilities.  

The Group Fitness program includes six types of workout classes; mind and body, cardio, cycle, cardio strength, strength, and water fitness. According to the University Recreation eligibility index, registration allows members “unlimited attendance” to these classes.  

Olivia Ouimette is a freshman fitness instructor for the program who primarily teaches dance fit. She also instructs her own core and mobility classes each week. 

She said the most popular class attended by students is the Zumba class, which falls under the cardio category.  

“It’s in the evenings so it’s a great time for kids who are done with classes and stuff,” Ouimette said.  

She describes her dance fit class as a “giant dance party”, where participants focus on cardio and legs.  

The size of the classes ranges and depends on the time of day and course during the semester. Groups can have as many as 30 participants per session, Ouimette said.  

However, some classes are uniquely designed to offer a break for students during stressful times. Such is the case with candlelit yoga, which is popular during finals week.  

Group fitness is a convenient program for busy students looking for flexibility in commitment and level of intensity. It also offers relief from the anxiety new gym-goers confront when beginning their fitness journey.  

“Having a class where you just follow along or don’t think about feeling weird or awkward is a great intro,” Ouimette said.  

Ouimette said she believes that motivation is an important benefit of exercising in a group. Her core class is only 30 minutes, yet students push hard and leave feeling good, she said.  

“Even if you’re not talking, just having them there is almost like accountability,” Ouimette said.