As the temperatures continue to drop and the winter comes around, Marshall University students are finding ways to set into their “winter arc” at the Marshall University Rec Center.
Outdoor workouts are not encouraged due to snowstorms, chilly winds and below-freezing temperatures. Still, the Marshall University Rec Center has stepped up to provide a heated, safe and welcoming atmosphere to keep the university active.
Michele Muth, the director of the Rec Center, said, “I think group fitness classes are necessary in any gym. They kind of drive membership, especially for women, so not a lot of women like to come and just work out on the fitness floor, so it gives them something to do, but they also have someone there to lead them through if they’re not quite sure what they should do while they’re in the gym. So, there’s a little bit of education there.”
“I think that the instructor and the way that they manage their classes is everything,” Muth said. “If they have a good personality and they can, you know, get people to work a little bit harder and encourage them, then that’s, you know, that’s worth everything. People are going to step up a little more if they have someone kind of driving the workout, so I think that parts are really important. Plus, you know, they can try something they’ve never tried before and have someone there to kind of watch over and make sure they’re doing it right.”
The Marshall University Rec Center is a spacious facility with something for everyone. It has a two-story gym, a rock wall, multiple basketball and racquetball courts and an indoor pool.
The Rec Center provides a diverse selection of workout classes, from invigorating yoga sessions to high-energy spin classes, allowing students to select intensity based on their personal goals and challenges they wish to achieve. The Rec provides a secure environment to escape the cold and receive motivation from a warm workout. Classes such as “Hot Yoga,” “Cardio Blast” and “Bootcamp Burn” have seen an increase in attendance as the colder weather approaches the Tri-State area.
Katie Gabhart, a first-year Marshall student, enjoys working out at the Rec.
“The atmosphere of being around a bunch of other people that also feel so motivated to work out and just keep themselves fit and good – it just really keeps you motivated and makes you not want to stop or take breaks,” Gabhart said. “Whenever I’m by myself, I like, want to stop and take breaks; whenever you’re in a group of other people, it just keeps you going.”
These classes allow students to focus on their physical health and improve their overall well-being. This also provides a way for students to meet others, which fosters a sense of community comfort. With convenient class schedules in the early morning, midday and evening, there is an opportunity for everyone to stay active and warm.
For a full schedule of the classes the Rec offers, visit the Marshall University Rec Center website or see them in person for physical copies.
Haven Steele can be contacted at [email protected].
