Getting fit and healthy is on the top of a lot of people’s to do lists, but actually finding the motivation to do it is harder that you might think. During our long and not so sunny summer holidays, I was lucky enough to try a few different classes at my local gym. As someone who really struggles to find the motivation to exercise without someone literally screaming at me, I found that taking regular classes were a great way to keep fit while actually enjoying myself. Unfortunately for us poor students, classes can be an expensive habit, so here’s a brief rundown of my favourite classes which I think most people would love.
I’d also like to point out that all of these classes were advertised as suitable for beginners, as I am extremely unfit, so they should be suitable for all fitness types.
1. Spinning
I think there’s an unfair stereotype that only super fit gymophiles go to spinning classes, so when I signed up I was super nervous thinking that I’d be the worst in the class and wouldn’t be able to keep up. However, the first thing I noticed when I walked into the fitness suite was the diversity of people and fitness ranges there; stretching from students such as myself to dedicated bodybuilding twenty-somethings men and even (slightly awkwardly) my middle-aged high school maths teacher. It was a really encouraging environment with the whole group keeping each other motivated and the instructor getting to know our own fitness levels and setting us personal goals, so you never felt like you were out of place or falling behind the group. The pumping music actually had a surprisingly large effect on the workout as well, putting you in the mood to be on your A-game and pushing you harder. I’ll be the first to admit that it was intense, but there is such a sense of satisfaction when leaving the room with your muscles burning and face red as a post box while knowing that you didn’t give up despite how hard it was. Maybe it’s not the best for a first time class, but if you’re ready to throw yourself in at the deep end, then spinning will yield noticeable results very quickly.
2. Yoga
When I told my friends that I was taking yoga classes they couldn’t stop laughing at the idea of me, a girl who has never been able to touch her toes and who frequently trips over her own feet, bending myself into ridiculous shapes and saying ‘om’ a lot. This (thankfully) could not be further from my experience. A lot of the exercises we did focused more on breathing than flexibility and focused on getting the mind as clear as possible. The first time I went with a friend, which was actually a bad idea as we kept getting the giggles and forgetting what we were supposed to be doing, as well as probably annoying everyone else there. I much preferred it as a solo experience in the evening, as I had time alone to my thoughts and I could process all that had occurred during the day so that I was relaxed before going home to bed. This is definitely a class I would recommend during exam season as your mind becomes so relaxed that it’s easier to avoid overthinking.
3. Legs, bums and tums
This was the most difficult of all the classes I attended and after the first week I struggled to walk properly for 3 days. It is a toning class set to music, using a mixture of Insanity moves and weights to work on the three key areas. Again, it is easy to adapt the workout to your own fitness level as you can choose how high to put the stepper, how heavy your weights are and how low to squat, but if you struggle with back injuries I would seek advice before starting this class as it can put a bit of strain on your lower back.
The class usually went something like this:
10 minute cardio warm up,
10 minutes squats (using stepper)
5 minutes bum/leg raises (using stepper)
10 minutes sit ups (using weights)
5 minutes lunges,
5 minutes crunches,
2 minutes plank,
5 minutes cool down.
Definitely not for the fainthearted, but really fun to do with friends.
Gym classes may be slightly expensive, but they’re a great way to socialise with friends, boost your energy and meet new people, so why not try something new?