As the weather starts getting colder and classes start getting more difficult, it can be hard for many students to find inspiration to do things between the swarm of class assignments and final projects. Fortunately, NC State offers over 100 group fitness programs every week, in which students can work out while also socializing and forming bonds with other students.

From various yoga classes to High-Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T.), and with each one being offered at different levels, there is a group fitness program for everyone. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to working out, and NC State has a class to match almost every individual’s wants.

Delaney Thibodeau, a fourth-year studying psychology, is trained to teach many of these classes, including H.I.I.T., Yoga, Cycle, Barre Burn and fusion classes called Cycle Barre and Cardio Dance. She has been teaching various group fitness programs at NC State for three years now.

“The great thing about group fitness is that there are so many available options to help reduce stress that will each work for different people,” Thibodeau said. “For myself, I like to do yoga to help ease some stress; whereas, for other people, classes like BODYPUMP™ or H.I.I.T. help them to ‘sweat it out’ and relieve stress that way.”

Even for people who do not necessarily enjoy working out, each individual student can find a program that fits into their areas of interest. For students that enjoy dancing or working out to the beat of music, programs like ZUMBA or Cardio Dance would be ideal. For students who prefer challenging themselves and testing their limits, they might enjoy faster-paced workouts like H.I.I.T or BODYPUMP™.

Additionally, students’ ability to pick and choose the programs they participate them allows them to tailor their workout to their individual preferences. While one student may prefer participating in yoga to stay in shape, another student may find the group cycling program more effective, like Gaby O’Brien, a second-year student studying biomedical engineering.              

“I like group cycling because it’s a lot of fun,” O’Brien said, “and it’s a great workout.”

Many of these classes are so effective because they allow students to push their limits in order to get the best workout possible, but they do so in a way that is more effective than if students were to be working out on their own, as Thibodeau mentions.

“Blending different styles of group fitness classes and exploring the strategies used by the instructors to understand what those classes are each targeting would be the most ideal scenario,” Thibodeau said. “It’s all about taking care of yourself and making sure you’re having fun while doing it. Our classes are first and foremost focused on being safe for our participants, as well as ensuring that they are enjoyable and effective workouts.”

Everyone can reap the benefits of NC State’s group fitness programs, even people who have not taken a workout class before. Instructors for these classes know that everyone is not simply born with an automatic ability to work out at the same skill level as someone who has been working out for years. These programs allow students to work their way up. However, staying in shape and relieving stress is not the only benefit of participating in these classes. In her three years of experience, Thibodeau has seen many students achieve a level of personal development that they were not expecting.

“When people first start coming to the gym and are trying out a class for the first time, they are generally more shy and reserved,” Thibodeau said. “After a few weeks of attending, however, those people become total social butterflies that help welcome the next group of newer gym-goers. From improving cardiorespiratory and muscular health, to providing students the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests to building relationships between the instructor and participant, group fitness is a fantastic program for students to get involved with.”

Students can learn more about the large variety of group fitness programs on NC State’s Wellness and Recreation website and can sign up to participate a program through IMLeagues.