Spring forward with group fitness activities

At long last, spring semester will see the full return of in-person group fitness activities.

“We kind of just went with the very basics (in the fall) and we didn’t do any specialized fitness programs. We just needed to get group fitness and personal training back up and running and make sure our F45 program was going strong. We have more activities planned for the spring semester,” said Tony Gregory, assistant director of well-being and fitness.

The F45 program will return in the spring with a more consistent schedule, Gregory said.

“Because that is a membership program, we really wanted there to be an understanding of when you purchase a membership you can memorize when the classes are happening. We’re going to be doing three classes a day on Monday through Friday, at 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and then on Saturdays and Sundays we’ll be hosting one class on each of those days at 12:15 p.m.,” he said.

Developed in Australia, F45 Training combines elements of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Circuit Training, and Functional Training. The fusion of these three training concepts has led to the development of 27 different 45-minute workout experiences, with more in development. This combination of interval, cardiovascular and strength training has been proven to be the most effective workout method for burning fat and building lean muscle.

Other group fitness activities, including cycling, yoga, cardio dance, and hip hop will also be available in the spring.

There will also be specialized activities to coincide with spring holidays and celebrations. On Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day), there will be free Cardio with Cupid dance fitness class to encourage people to get their heart rate up through dance exercise beginning at 8 p.m. The weekend of April 9 (Mother’s Day weekend) will be Mom’s Weekend, including a free F45 class and cycling event for students and their mothers.

“Other programs we are running in the spring are more series-based. One is community-based Learn to Lift program. Session A will run for six weeks starting Jan. 24 through March 7, and that’s going to be $25 for students to learn the fundamentals of barbell movements. Session B will run March 14 through April 25,” Gregory said.

“Another program we’re running is Women and Weights, and that will be a semester-long program. It will be an opportunity for women to come together and train in an environment where they feel surrounded by others with like-minded goals for weight training. That will happen Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Jan. 17 to April 22, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and it will run on a pass pay system, so students can purchase a semester pass if they want to do that or they can do a 30-day pass or a single-day pass.”

A complete list of spring activities will be available on the Campus Recreation website under the Well-Being and Fitness tab. Students can also go to this website to purchase personal trainer programs.

“As far as we know right now, masks will still be required for all of our fitness center participation,” Gregory said. “It’s just great to get back to normal and bring back some of our programs that are more series-based or education-based to provide more of a variety for students to get that experience. We are excited, for sure.”

Fitness activities are available to anyone with a Ping Center Membership, which is free and included for OHIO students. Community and staff members can also purchase a membership. For more questions or assistance, contact Tony Gregory at gregorya1@ohio.edu or call 740.593.9918.