Almost every year, the number one New Year’s resolution is to get in shape and the University of South Carolina is no different from the rest of the nation in this regard.
You can tell by the new safari theme that has taken over Strom.
Suddenly, everyone is searching for a spot in a Group X class or hunting for a space on their favorite machine.
Personally, I cannot tell you how many times I have circled the track upstairs eyeing the girl that’s on my favorite elliptical while also simultaneously trying not to look like a stalker.
And I get it, fitness is great! It releases endorphins, reduces stress, and makes you feel more comfortable in that pair of skinny jeans or new swimsuit you bought for Spring Break.
However, it’s a bit difficult to receive the full benefits of group exercise when you’re packed into a room with 50 other people, or have to show up to class 20 minutes early because the line is out the door and down the hallway.
I’m all about people coming to try Strom’s exercise classes because they want to be healthier or because the classes are a lot of fun, but dealing with the nuisances of overcrowding can be a lot for even the most seasoned of gym-goers.
The pre-planning and hassle of trying to get into one of these classes at the beginning of the semester has started to make going to the gym feel less like a enjoyable timeout from everyday life and more like a chore.
I’ve had to rush to get 5 lbs dumbbells from the rack, just so that I’m not stuck with those stupid sand weights during class. I’m still convinced that they are quite possibly the most awkward and difficult thing in the world to get a grip on.
I’ve accidentally kicked someone while changing my position in yoga class because the mats had to be so close together to fit everyone in (sorry, Megan).
The amount of anxiety and annoyance of all these things had almost made the cons of going to the gym outweigh the pros at the beginning of the year, but then I thought of a solution. The #NewYearNewMe crowd wants to come to the gym, and who am I to stop them? I was probably them once, too! I mean, everybody has to start somewhere, right?
What if instead of us all crowding the same classes, we spread the wealth of all these newcomers?
What if I got up early to go to yoga instead of hitting the snooze on my alarm five times before getting up to go to my first class of the day? What if we all tried something new like Pilates instead of yoga, or hip hop cardio instead of Zumba?
That way everyone wins!
I'll have the space to move around more in the classes I choose, like what’s supposed to happen, and you'll get to find that new source of exercise that you really love and makes you feel great about yourself.
Either way, I think this would be a good way to #MakeGroupXGreatAgain!
