The University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is home to many activity rooms in the large facility โ one of which holds a mindful yoga class. Free to UI students, the clean scent and calming music provided a space for attendees to find a moment of peace.
Lately, when scrolling through various social media platforms, fitness or health content seems to run rampant. From workout regimens to tips on hitting protein goals, wellness has seeped into the online sphere.
Many creators on these platforms are considered โfitness influencers,โ sharing what they eat in a day, their lifestyle choices, and motivational mantras. These creators gain a following by inspiring others to better themselves both mentally and physically.
With the rise of this content has come the increased popularity of pilates and yoga among college students and young adults. Students are, more than ever, prioritizing physical fitness, stress management and mental health, which makes these low-impact exercises very appealing.
Various free yoga and other fitness classes are being taught and instructed at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, along with multiple other studios around Iowa City.
Pat Kutcher, former associate director of fitness and wellness at the UI, is now a fitness instructor and teaches classes at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
Kutcher said her class mostly consists of women, but she has been seeing more men start to join her classes as of late.
Kutcher said there is a mix of faculty, staff, and students in her fitness sessions, and there are usually a lot of individuals participating via Zoom. She said after the COVID-19 pandemic, there were more mind-body classes added to the schedule to help with mental health and getting studentsโ bodies moving while being isolated in dorms.
UI fourth-year student Karoline Kroll added these classes to her fitness routine and has gone one to two times a week for about a year.
Kroll also makes her own โmorning wellness shotsโ and takes a prebiotic and probiotic. Kroll said she was not affected by influencers online. However, she said influencers have helped her try different forms of exercise besides exclusively weightlifting.
โI was scared at first, and then I tried it and loved it, so I just kept attending,โ she said.
UI fourth-year student Dionna VanGorkom said she has made attending these workout classes a priority recently, but she started attending them during her second year of college to help her set a consistent schedule.
RELATED: Students get creative to stay physically active at University of Iowa
VanGorkom said influencers helped her motivation and excitement to try new things.
โ[I] started after high school,โ she said. โI didnโt know how to workout without someone telling me what to do.โ
Not knowing how to workout without structure is common. The social aspect of these classes creates a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere for some participants, making the setting more engaging compared to exercising alone. Group exercise classes play a vital role in the success of many fitness programs, inspire enthusiasm, and foster a sense of community that encourages regular appearances in class.
This idea is discussed among college students, sharing how their experiences with group workouts help with motivation, accountability, and making exercise more enjoyable through social interaction.
Kutcherโs yoga class at the UI Campus Recreation and Wellness Center offered many motivational quotes to keep attendees engaged and encouraged.
The words โLetโs have some funโ and reminders for attendees to work out at โyour own paceโ were shared throughout the class, and smiles and laughs were brought to all participants.
โWe give options and modifications to all levels in our classes,โ Kutcher said. โNot everyone has a ton of experience, and thatโs alright.โ