By CHRIS ANDAYA
As the days get shorter, the temperature colder, and the end of the semester draws near, you are left sitting there, wondering “What is there to do?” You cry. You are left simply pleading for something to do, something to replace the warm summer days when simply being outside meant that you could feel the warm, gentle sunlight grace your skin. It’s ok. Stop crying. I’m here, baby. There are still so many things for you to take advantage of in the lead-up to winter. This article is the solution to all your woes. This article is an advertisement for the Beloit College fitness classes.
Beloit College offers a multitude of different fitness classes. From Dance Jam to Jiu-Jitsu, there’s a class for you. This article will focus on two: Zumba and Yoga.
The Zumba classes are a 50-minute dance/workout session instructed by Heather every Wednesday at 4:30 in the Powerhouse. For the person who wants to have fun while taking care of their heart, these classes just might be for you. Like many others, I hate cardio. I also hate trudging up a large flight of stairs. What am I left to do? Perhaps Zumba in the Powerhouse is the solution. Maybe the creative expression that is dance could distract me from my little, helpless lungs begging for just a tiny bit more air. In the case of Alison Eubanks’26, a Zumba regular, it’s just a bit of fun; “I’m not usually a fan of cardio, but Zumba is a fun way to get my heart rate up! Heather has such an energetic and fun personality, which makes it easy to follow her,” says Eubanks. Take care of your heart and try out a Zumba class.
The yoga classes, accompanied by the instructor Liliana, are on Thursdays at 4:30 in the Powerhouse. As someone who regularly goes to these classes when I can, I would encourage anyone to go to at least one of these classes. For me, the yoga classes provide a space for me to focus on both my body and mind, a much-needed break from the pressures of school. It’s such an important part of wellness to check in with your body, how you feel, and just breathe. Liliana teaches in a way that anyone can get something out of the class, making sure to provide variations that can make the practice either easier or more challenging. Whether you are someone looking to improve that inner aspect of your life, or just looking for a way to make sure you stay flexible, the Thursday yoga classes are a great way to add a fun element to your day during the colder weather.
Winter is on its way. It’s getting less pleasant to be outside and there’s less sunlight. Life’s pressures, whether it be school or world events, might be building up as if you could get crushed at any moment in time. It’s tempting to just let it be, to let yourself get crushed in what feels like a swirling sea of everything that matters and everything that doesn’t. Take care of yourself. Take care of your mind. Take care of your body. Try out a fitness class. It won’t be the solution to all your problems, but it might make you feel a bit better. You deserve it.
Featured Image: Students working out at a Powerhouse fitness class, via Beloit College
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