With classes like Moonlight Yoga, Black Light Cycle, Diva Dance Off, Beyonce Circuit Cycle, Boy Band Dance, Zumba Pool Party and Hogwarts Express Cycle, who wouldn’t want to workout? The recreation department at The Ohio State University (OSU) is going above and beyond, thinking of unique ways to encourage students to live a healthy lifestyle.
The department began adding special event classes to the recreation schedule in 2012. According to Alice Adams, group fitness coordinator for OSU rec sports, they viewed the classes as a way to attract people from the university community that might not have participated in any of their fitness programming before.
“We wanted people to discover that fitness can be fun and encourage them to make fitness a part of their lifestyle,” said Adams. “Special event classes are also a great way for us to test new fitness trends out on our participants and receive feedback in order to determine whether we will offer that fitness class year-round.”
Besides classes, the department also launched several fitness events including: Fighting Cancer Fitness Challenge, Nike Training Club: Buckeyes Don’t Stop, Deadlift Competition and Hunger Games Fitness Challenge. According to Adams, the Nike Training Club event had over 150 participants, several of whom had never been to a class before.
Recently, the rec center decreased the number of special event classes offered per semester in order to make them more intentional and remain unique, but Adams explains when they are offered, they are a hit with students.
“Our themed cycle classes, which are limited to 40 people per class, always fill up at least 30 minutes before class starts,” she added. “Special event classes not only attract new people to our facility and to our programming, but they also help to keep our current participants and instructors excited about our programming as well.”
