I tried these workout classes so you don’t have to

In 2022, spin was king on campus. Instructor Caroline Kirby’s classes were turning people away at the door. Many members of the Class of 2026, who arrived that fall, have become instructors themselves. But there are a variety of classes offered at the Class of 1986 Fitness & Wellness Center, also known as Dillon Gym, from Barre to Zumba to BodyPump.

Composed of a wide range of faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students, the Campus Rec’s group fitness instructors provide a variety of free classes. Through this program, Campus Rec offers lots of opportunities for members of the University community to stay healthy and move their bodies.

But getting to the gym can be difficult during busy school weeks, so I’ve reviewed some classes for you. I took up this challenge to try out different classes during Midterms week — eek! — but I managed to get to five classes across four workout types during the week.

Spin

On Friday evening I attended the 5 p.m. spin class led by instructor Stefan. I was immediately greeted and offered assistance in setting up my stationary bike — in the front row, as all the others were filled. Stefan led us through an intense rotation between climbs and sprints, decreasing recovery time throughout the ride.

We also did tapbacks (controlled movements of hips over the saddle and back to the center of the bike), arm crunches, isolations (keeping the upper body still while cycling), and a weighted arms section, creating a full body workout that included curls and extensions that pushed me to my limits. The high-energy playlist and his enthusiastic attitude encouraged exercisers to push through. Jamming to Lorde hits like “Ribs” and “Buzzcut Season” were highlights of my ride. Stefan emphasized that we should push ourselves to whatever level we could, making the class accessible while still a workout.

The next morning I attended Mateo’s 11 a.m. spin class. Mateo also assisted the smaller population of zealous weekend bikers with setting up their equipment. This class had a greater emphasis on full body movement and choreography during the increased hills and sprints. Mateo incorporated tapbacks, rotated grips, and arm crunches while keeping up with the pace set.

Mateo curates specific themed playlists for each class — this one offered a 2000’s club vibe with songs like “Club Can’t Handle Me” and “Where Have You Been.” Mateo also emphasized the importance of recognizing personal limits, and acknowledging these through the intensity you hold yourself to during the class.

Admittedly, I am an avid TigerCycle groupie and have attended both of these instructors’ classes regularly — the highest testament to the enjoyability and intensity of these workouts. They offered a great start to my pre-midterms weekend, allowing me 20 miles under my belt and plenty of new songs for my personal playlists.

Barre

On Monday at 5 p.m., after finishing my first midterm of the week, I ventured to Studio B for my first Barre class. Advertised as a blend of ballet, pilates, and yoga, the class was a full body workout with sections dedicated to the core, flexibility, arms and shoulders, legs, and more.

There was a variety of provided, necessary equipment including a mat, foam block, light weights, and a chair in place of the usual ballet bar. The class was packed, with limited space for everyone to lay out their equipment. The instructor, Madeleine, clearly had some dance training, which became obvious once we started some traditional ballet steps.

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While the instructor offered a clear explanation of each movement, I had difficulty as a beginner and noticed similar struggles throughout the studio due to the difficult technique inherent to the workout. I also found the quick, small movements in position to be exhausting and painful for those without a dance background. I would recommend this class for former dancers looking for a vigorous workout.

Vinyasa Yoga

The Tuesday of midterms week I dragged myself out of bed for 8 a.m. Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa is characterized as a type of yoga focused on continuous flow or connection through movement and breath. While I admit it did cross my mind to skip the class and soak up some more sleep, in the end I was extremely grateful I got the workout in and the opportunity to stretch my body and joints. This was more intimate, with only myself, one other student, and the instructor, Zehma.

Some of the more intense movements were difficult to execute, but the instructor offered various modifications or alterations, making the class extremely accessible. While the workout left me with some strain in my palms and lower body, the class allowed me to reset my body for the rest of the week.

BodyPump

Upon my return to campus for the second half of the semester, my first workout class after break was a Tuesday 5 p.m. BodyPump class, which I had no previous experience in. The full equipment setup I was met with only intimidated me more, but the instructor, Fionnuala, was extremely welcoming and assisted me in setting up my bench, barbells, and weights.

The class community was full with a crowd of regulars who seemed very familiar with the structure of the workout and equipment. The class focused on legs, chest, and abs with weighted squats, lunges, curls, and push-ups. We even completed a full over-the-head barbell lift, called a “clean and jerk lift,” which made me feel like a bodybuilder or an Olympic weightlifter. The next day, my body seemed to disapprove of this when sore muscles took over.

Marley Hartnett-Cody is a member of the Class of 2028 and a contributing writer for The Prospect and a print designer at the ‘Prince.’ She can be reached at mh8519[at]princeton.edu.

Please send any corrections to corrections@dailyprincetonian.com.

Friday, October 31

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I tried these workout classes so you don’t have to

Facade of Class of 1986 Fitness and Wellness Center

Mackenzie Hollingsworth / The Daily Princetonian