Jennifer Rillamas (The Beacon)
By Jennifer Rillamas, Staff Commentary
Recently, The Beacon came out with an article about the overcrowded fitness classes in Howard. In the article, it mentioned that a few instructors are limiting the number of participants in their classes, and how students aren't too thrilled about being told they can't attend a class. As an instructor, it isn't the most thrilling thing in the world to have to tell people they can't attend a class either.
My philosophy for my Zumba class is: The more the merrier. However, at UP I'm realizing I have to alter it to: The more the merrier … given that there is a sufficient facility. The capacity of the aerobics room in Howard Hall is 25 to 30 people. With all the equipment in the room, it comfortably holds somewhere around 22. And by comfortably I mean no one is running into equipment or each other.
Two weeks ago while taking another instructor's class, I tripped over a step and almost fell into the rack of weights. Last week, two guys took bicycle handlebars to the stomach.
I'm thinking that's anything but comfortable.
To remedy this, there is one easy and readily available solution for the time being: putting a limit on how many participants can be in a class.
The point of coming to a fitness class is to work out, and it's my job to make sure everyone has the best opportunity to get the workout they came for. When students are squished together with limited space for dancing and jumping, it's going to be difficult to get your sweat on. The last thing I want my students to do is leave class feeling like they wasted their time.
Zumba classes, with all the high-impact movements, require a decent amount of personal space for each student. It is a pain to keep telling everyone to scoot more toward the front to make room for each person, which by the way also limits the amount of space the instructors have to dance. If the instructors can't do the dance moves properly, it makes it 10 times more difficult for students to try and follow what the instructor is doing.
To those of you who don't mind being crowded and just come for the great time, I thank you for adding to the spirit of my class. You make it everything it is.
To those of you whose conversations I overhear about how you feel like you barely get a workout in my class, I apologize that due to the limited amount of space you guys get frustrated and discouraged and aren't able to put 100 percent into all the routines.
Please, don't think this is my way of discouraging you from coming to class. Just keep in mind that if a class is crowded and you get turned away, it's nothing personal.
We work as instructors because we're dedicated to making fitness fun and safe, not because we believe fitness is a highly selective activity. We're doing our best to accommodate everyone. Just ask us for the other times we teach or what days would be better to come. We'd be more than happy to help.
