Class Descriptions
NOT ALL CLASSES ARE OFFERED EVERY SEMESTER. Please check the Group Ex Class Schedule for class availability.
All Abs
Everybody wants better abs! But more than just looks, strong abs help contribute to overall core strength. This class has hit ‘em hard abdominal work firming up transverse, obliques, and rectus abdominus. No warm-up included so be ready to work!
Ballet Basics
Participants will learn the fundamental forms of ballet including an introduction to the core positions for the feet and arms, the basic movements of the body core, basic jumps, turns and cross-stage movements. The class is designed for participants who have no former dance training or experience. The focus is to dance for fitness and health: to use the fundamentals of ballet to improve posture, muscle tone, balance, coordination, flexibility, and body awareness. Participants will work both on the floor and at the barre, and receive an introduction to choreography. Classes will be tailored to the abilities, goals and desires of the students. No tights or leotards required!
Barre
Barre-based classes use postures inspired by ballet. The barre is used for balance and focuses on isometric strength training (holding your body still while you contract a specific set of muscles) combined with high reps of small range-of-motion movements. Barre technique is low-impact while improving your balance, flexibility, and range of motion.
Belly Dancing
An art of movement from the far East, Belly Dancing is fun to learn! Instructor will teach and lead practice in individual moves, teaching terminology and steps. Bring a scarf big enough to wrap around the hips; additional hips scarves with ornamentation can be purchased through the instructor if desired.
Butts N Guts
Want to firm it up? Get in here! Exercises for abs and gluteus maximus are the primary goal plus additional work for muscle groups connected to these areas. No warm-up included so be ready to work!
Boot Camp/Cross Training
Circuit Training / Cross Training has many forms but primarily involves moving from one station to another in set periods of time. Each interval varies from 1-3 minutes alternating between strength and cardio . Cardio work can include Step, calisthenics, Cardio Kickbox; or Strength work can include physioballs, bands, mat exercises, body weight exercise, and more.
Cardio Blast
This hour long cross training class uses a mix of interval training and circuit training formats combined with fun cardio routines that incorporate elements of endurance training, calisthenics, and strength training to help develop overall body fitness. Workout format and structure will change from week to week to meet class goals and offer participants a taste of the variety available in the world of group exercise.
Indoor Cycling
Using a stationary studio cycle, intensity can be increased or decreased by changing the resistance level on the flywheel. Cycling builds endurance and trains leg muscles to be strong while being kinder to knees and ankles due to minimal weight bearing.
- Beginners should work at their own pace!
- Please arrive 5 - 10 minutes before class to set up your bike.
- First come first served
- Water bottle is essential.
Group Training
In this subset of Personal Training, participants can get an amazing intense workout in a small group setting. Having a Personal Trainer helping you through the workout, this class provides great instruction for a small group (Max 8-10). A great way to help tone your body as well as getting direction and instruction.
Insanity®
Created by Shaun T., the Insanity workout now has a class format you can take with your friends! Using the principle of interval training, sets consist of 3-5 minute blocks where you work hard, take breaks to recover, then go at it again. You can work as light or as hard as you like, push yourself when you want, and get it all done in 45 minutes. Included are plyometrics, cardio, body weight exercises, balance drills, intensive core work for your abs and back, all to get you crazy good results. The class is different every time you come and you’re better every time you leave!
Cardio Kickbox/Turbo Kick®
This format combines various forms of martial arts and self defense moves in an aerobic format producing a great workout for the whole body. Using a non-contact approach, learn how to throw a right cross, kick with purpose, or bob and weave in the ring. Hand wraps not required but may help the individual focus on hit spots and accuracy. http://www.youtube.com/embed/jnzML0sK_sU
Physioball
This non-aerobic class uses a large air filled ball for strength, flexibility and balance exercises. Sometimes called a Swiss ball, it originated in Europe in the physical therapy setting. By providing a soft, movable surface, core muscles are strengthened through their work to stabilize the body, performing exercises for abs, back, legs, arms, and just about everything! All equipment provided.
Pilates
Developed by Joseph Pilates in the late 1800’s, the focus is to connect the mind with purposeful exercise. When emigrating to the United States in the 1930's, his method became a unique combination of stretching and strengthening. Adding the integral mind-body connection, it requires the individual to pay close attention to the movement performed and the details that make the movement work. Matwork class may also use rings. Power Pilates uses more upbeat contemporary music; Traditional Pilates stays truer to the original form of slower, focused movement and uses calming or Classical music.
PiYo®
Piyo is a low-impact exercise program which uses Pilates and Yoga inspired moves set to faster paced music. Using your body weight as natural resistance, there is no choreography to learn as you move to strengthen your muscles, increase your stamina, and get flexibility training in one class.
This non-aerobic class brings weight training and body sculpting to the studio in a group format. Power Cut barbells (with 2.5, 5, and 10 lb removable weight plates) plus hand weights (2lb to 15 lb) are used for split sets, pyramid sets and more. Weight training helps shape and strengthen muscles while building your body to use more calories during cardio workouts. Please arrive 5 minutes before class to set up your equipment.
SHiNE Dance Fitness
Want your workout to feel like a play date or escape with your besties? SHiNE keeps things fun! With original choreography rooted in traditional jazz, ballet, and hip-hop, this workout provides the perfect balance of cardio, toning, and strength components. Each routine is designed to get participants out of their head and into their bodies by using the best and most current music out there!
Tai Chi
T’ai chi ch’uan – also transliterated as taijiquan – has been described as a form of moderate slow-motion exercise, a type of moving meditation, and a system of martial art. The movements can be adapted for various degrees of relaxation or rigorous exercise, depending on the needs of the practitioner. Health benefits include stress relief and improved balance.
TurboTone
A 60 minute combination of Turbokick and strength training. We mix up our favorite high impact parts of Turbo with resistance exercises targeting the major muscle groups for an intense and effective workout.
YOGA
Each yoga instructor leads a type of class in which they excel. Try different classes to find a style and instructor that fits your needs!
Ashtanga Yoga
A type of yoga class that helps you to work on deeper stretching and modifications within each pose. It is a series of the core poses of yoga. This class will focus on correct alignment and pose positioning.
Detox Yoga
A guided class featuring gentle and powerful postures, emphasizing poses that rejuvenate your physical and emotional energies. Class also includes meditation and balancing postures to support emotional and physical grounding. The class is designed for helping you feel your best!
Lunch Time Yoga:
A forty minute quick and easy reset to a stressful day.
Slow Flow Yoga:
Slow Flow Yoga is aimed at helping participants get in touch with their bodies and feel what is going on. Participants can utilize this class's approach to increase personal energy and quality of life. Each session is carefully sequenced to creating an energized effect through a combination of posture, breath work, visualization, and meditation.
Vinyasa Yoga:
This is a style of yoga in which the poses are held for only a short period of time (45-90 seconds), moving from one pose to the next, building strength and fluidity of motion. Options are given for making each position more challenging or simpler as each person chooses. Connecting breathing with moving is essential to these sessions.
Yoga Private Lessons
Your instructor will work with you one-on-one to develop the goals you want to achieve thru yoga. This can include dealing with injury issues, increasing flexibility, achieving better sports performance, deepening meditation skills, and more. Instructors are required to have at least 200 hours of training to be certified for this level of service. Please contact Bianca Guess, Assistant Director guessbi1@msu.edu to arrange an appointment.
Yogalates
A blend of two popular types of mind-body connected exercise: Yoga and Pilates. Done to calming, relaxed mode music, each discipline has postures which are duplicated with the other, so a blending of these two types of exercise styles is a natural.
Zumba®
ZUMBA® is a fusion of Latin and International music / dance themes that create a dynamic, exciting, and based on the principle that a workout should be "FUN AND EASY TO DO." The routines feature aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body. Zumba is a “feel-happy” workout that is great for both the body and the mind.