Following the New Year and in anticipation of Spring Break, many Stags are on a fitness journey. Personally, I find it easier to stay motivated to work out by participating in workout classes. I find that workout classes hold me accountable to show up and they’re often more fun than working out alone. It’s nice to be surrounded by others with the same goal as you and sweating or struggling together. Students at Fairfield are lucky enough to be able to participate in fitness classes at the RecPlex for free. This is a great way to get involved on campus while achieving your fitness goals.
While I’ve attended many fitness classes at the RecPlex myself, this semester my friends and I decided to sign up for a free month of ClassPass in preparation for our upcoming Spring Break trip. ClassPass is a subscription platform for fitness classes. It allows you to try a wide range of fitness classes at established fitness studios with professional instructors. The monthly membership plans are credit-based, so you pay for a certain amount of credits that you then use to book classes. ClassPass offers a promotion for a free one-month trial that gives you 63 credits. Once your free month ends, there are plans ranging from eight credits for $19 a month to 150 credits for $299 a month. As long as you cancel before your free month is over you won’t be charged for a recurring membership. Each class is worth a different amount of credits, so eight credits would get you about one or two classes.
During my free month, I’ve attended classes at local studios including SoulCycle, Pure Barre, The Bar Method, R1DE and Yoga Synergy. I’ve enjoyed trying workout classes I probably wouldn’t have tried without the membership and it’s definitely spiced up my routine. Laura Anderson, a senior at Fairfield, agreed that her free month of ClassPass has allowed her to explore different fitness studios and types of classes.
The RecPlex also offers a wide variety of fitness classes including Spin, Pilates, Zumba, and Yoga Sculpt. So, why choose ClassPass over the RecPlex? With class sizes at Fairfield being higher than ever, it’s a common complaint on campus that the RecPlex is overcrowded. This could make it difficult to get a spot in fitness classes, especially the higher demand ones like Spin with Peter G. Assistant Director of Fitness and Programming at the RecPlex, Betsy Blagys, said “We seem to be going to waitlists on all of our classes every day right now. People jump on registration right at noon, three days prior to class, when the classes open up.” Blagys also shared her frustration with students not showing up for classes without unregistering and leaving empty bikes or mats. It’s important that students unregister for classes an hour before they are not able to attend, to allow the waitlist to be notified in time to get to class.
Another thing the RecPlex lacks is the feeling of leaving campus to work out in a professional studio surrounded by people other than students. Anderson acknowledges that she doesn’t always want to see people she knows while working out, which is inevitable at the on-campus gym.
It should be noted that all Group Exercise Instructors at the RecPlex, including those who are students, are required to have nationally recognized group exercise certifications. While they may be on campus, the RecPlex fitness classes are professionally run. This is great news for students who may not have the luxury of a car on campus to drive to classes elsewhere. Additionally, students interested in becoming certified can become connected with trainers through Blagys (eblagys@fairfield.edu).
Senior at Fairfield, Jenna Codey said, “I think there’s definitely a comfort in the RecPlex classes where even if you don’t like the class or feel the best at it, you’re still on campus and with other students.” The fitness classes on campus create a community of active individuals and could even be a great place to meet friends!
Codey further shared a horror story from a hot yoga class she took through ClassPass. While it didn’t ruin her ClassPass experience, she certainly will not be returning to the studio. One of the benefits of ClassPass is it exposes you to fitness studios you want to return to, along with those you do not.
Whether it be through ClassPass or at the RecPlex, I encourage you to give fitness classes a try. If you’re hesitant, keep in mind the great point Blagys brought up: “We are so much more critical of ourselves than others”. She added, “When in a gym, people are thinking more about themselves and their own workouts and goals.” My recommendation is, if you’re able to, sign up for the free month of ClassPass. It’s worth it to try new studios and classes to learn what you like. However, I won’t be continuing my ClassPass membership after my free trial is over. On my limited student income, I’d rather use my money elsewhere and take advantage of the free classes the RecPlex has to offer.
Leave a Reply