Try Out These 5 Fitness Classes When You Return To School This Fall

By Christy Flom on July 29, 2015

Fitness classes are an ever-growing trend in the United States. With so many different types of classes popping up close to college campuses, students now have access to a plethora of ways to stay on the move.

While yoga has always been a big money maker on college campuses, there is now an entirely new collection of classes available that may be new or unknown to students. To help guide anyone interested in trying out a new class, here is a comprehensive list for all college students of what I believe to be the most popular fitness classes.

1. Zumba. This class is exercise through dance. Shake your hips, sway your hands from side to side and then add a complicated foot combination and voila, you have just done Zumba.

Image via flickr.com

Zumba classes vary in difficulty and style depending on where the teacher was certified. I have been to classes that use mainstream music to work out to and others that use salsa music that implement more hip movements during the workout.

Whatever type of Zumba class you attend, it is sure to be a good workout. People oftentimes underestimate the power of dancing as a workout. Not only is Zumba fun and hilarious to do with friends who cannot dance, but it is also a fantastic class that works all parts of your body.

2. Pilates. Most comparable to yoga classes, Pilates varies slightly in the main aspects of the class. While yoga works on endurance, flexibility, and spirituality, Pilates classes work on similar things but with a focus on core strength.

So, if anyone is looking to get killer abs before heading back to school I would definitely encourage checking out these classes. While they are less abundant than yoga studios, these classes are worth a short drive because it is such a relaxing way to get in a great workout.

3. Boot Camp. These military-like classes are a mixture of cardio and small weights that keep participants moving at all times. Many boot camps work the whole body, from arms and abs to butts and legs.

This particular type of class is usually high intensity and can be called other names, as well. CrossFit is the brand name of a popular boot camp class that has conquered the nation with classes available all over. This class is about doing certain circuits of exercises for a timed period as fast as you can.

Boot camps are especially nice because it allows for participants to push themselves as hard as they would like to, while also being pushed by an instructor to ensure you get the best workout possible.

4. Strength Training. This class focuses on using certain types of resistance to build and increase your strength and the size of your muscles. Strength training can include using bands to add resistance to weights, and different cardio exercises.

Strength training classes are very versatile meaning that you can choose to use heavy weights or lightweights depending on if you want to get big or get toned. Either way, doing different types of weights and resistance training with a group of people is highly motivational.

5. Kickboxing. Fake fighting is basically how I would describe kickboxing to a friend. Punching and kicking the air as a warm-up and then kicking a heavy boxing pad or glove can be extremely tiring. I tried a beginner class with several friends this past winter and was shocked yet slightly amused at how exhausting but fun the class was.

This class keeps you moving by rotating between punches and different types of kicks all while jumping up and down or jogging in place in between circuits. Besides being good exercise, Cameron Diaz does kickboxing in countless movies so it has to be one of the best types of classes ever invented.

Aside from these main classes there are smaller types of fitness classes like “butts and guts,” weight classes, simple circuit training, and water aerobics. Depending on the college, your recreational center may even offer student deals on student-run fitness classes.

In Ann Arbor, along with other areas and college towns, there are new and trendy classes called Barre. There are a variety of classes offered that incorporate a ballet bar, core strength, cardio, and flexibility. At a relatively doable price, these classes were massively popular with University of Michigan students along with my friend and her classmates at Northwestern University in Illinois.

Since many other fitness classes can be pricey, spending that kind of money can turn away the stereotypical broke college student. However, similar to how a school-owned recreational center could offer classes at affordable student prices, many privately owned fitness studios offer deals for students. Finding a good deal is important because else it may be more worthwhile to simply get outside and go for a run.

Fitness classes are worth the money if you make it worth your time. Dropping $100 for a month of unlimited classes is only okay if you go as many times as possible. Get a group of friends together and keep an eye out for a good deal and then go and enjoy all of the different classes available to everyone nowadays!

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