Get Fit For Free!

I’ve jumped off a waterfall. I’ve been white water rafting. And I embarked on both of those adventures not long after deciding I would do so. Going to the gym, however, was an entirely different matter. I “thought it over” for months. What if I couldn’t make the machines work? What if everyone stared at me? What if I fell down, or started making weird noises trying to power through a workout?

Well, I eventually went, and it was actually fun! But the next step was group fitness classes.

Campus Recreation Services offers about 20 fitness classes, which are FREE to students and are featured at four different places: Eppley Recreation Center, Cole Fieldhouse, the School of Public Health and Ritchie Coliseum. With so many options and locations, there's no excuse not to try out a few and find the one that’s right for you!

GET READY

Get a group fitness pass. It’s much easier to sign the class waiver once, get the card and then just flash it at the instructor before walking in the room, rather than asking the instructor for a waiver before every class. You can pick one up at the information desk in the ERC immediately to the left of the front doors.

Check the times. You can check crs.umd.edu for a list of class descriptions as well as their locations and times. The descriptions often explain how intense the class is and whether it helps you “Get Power,” “Get Creative” or “Get Strong.” Make sure you know what you’re signing up for.

Wear comfortable clothes and bring water. Whatever you would normally wear to the gym is fine for the classes. But be warned, you will sweat like crazy no matter what the class. CRS also recommends that you bring your own water bottle, towel and yoga mat. Mats are available at the gym, so I never had to bring one, but definitely bring a water bottle. You’ll need to stay hydrated.

Eat beforehand! Not immediately beforehand, of course. But make sure your body is ready to take on a good workout. Overall health is more than just burning calories, and staying well-nourished is important!

GO!
 

Don’t be afraid of standing out. The student instructors are very welcoming. In the classes I attended, instructors asked if anyone was new, but they didn’t make the new people stand in the front or shout scary things like, “You in the blue tank! Lift your legs higher!”

Don’t be afraid of intimidating boys. Why not? Because there really aren’t that many! I attended three different classes, and all of them were almost entirely or entirely composed of girls. What was the greatest number of boys in a single class? Two, not counting the instructor. Sure, there’s a muscular guy or two in the hallway who might glance into the ERC Aerobics Room (see image below) where you’re working out, but I didn’t notice anyone lingering and staring or judging.

Don’t be afraid of not knowing what to do. The instructors responded to verbal and non-verbal feedback from the class. If they said something like, “We’re going to do jab, cross, hook, lift,” and everyone looked confused, they would explain or demonstrate again. Instructors aren’t just shouting directions, they’re yelling out encouragement as well. It’s a very motivational atmosphere from the moment you walk into the gym. Don’t be afraid to ask staff any questions about things like room locations or lockers.

Don’t be afraid of not making it through. “Nobody died!” one of the instructors said cheerily during the post-workout stretches. “But I don’t actually want you to die, I just want you to get a good workout.” From what I’ve seen, the other instructors share that feeling. They work you hard, but they also make sure you don’t push your limits. I started feeling a little lightheaded during one class, and one of the instructors came over to make sure I was okay and encourage me to take a break. I wasn’t the only one who needed to rest for a minute and grab a little extra water, and I didn’t at all feel like I’d slacked off. It’s a group fitness class, but it’s for you; you can do it just the way you want to.