Staying Fit in College Park

By AJ Goldbloom

Right before entering freshman year of college, many students hear the classic line, “watch out for the ‘freshman 15’!” The four years of undergrad are not linear when it comes to stress and oftentimes, a quick run to the dining hall or ordering food is a great way to cope with that stress. No student should feel like they are focusing much of their time on their weight and their diet. However, it is vital for students to remain active and keep their hearts, bodies, and minds healthy. Fortunately, our large campus and the neighborhoods nearby offer many different activities to stay active and healthy.

SoulCycle - Bethesda

SoulCycle is all about sweating out any fears, anxiety, and insecurities. Taking a cycling class at SoulCycle is not just about exercise. As you buckle into the bike, the lights turn off and the music pumps you to pedal faster than you thought possible. Students love these classes because they ride to the beat, sweat out the latest stressors, and just enjoy the workout. Avid rider Emma Rabinowitz cannot imagine her life without her consistent SoulCycle activity. She is so passionate about staying healthy through SoulCycle because it doesn’t feel like a workout. When asked “why SoulCycle?” Rabinowitz said, “I completely zone out and just ride to the music.” The studio is located at 4931 Elm Street, Bethesda, MD 20814 and a single class is priced at $32. If you call ahead of time and bring your student ID, the studio will give you a slight discount on the class!

Poshfit Cycling - College Park

If you want to experience a class similar to SoulCycle and don’t want to go far, Poshfit Cycling is a great option. In a Poshfit class, riders strap into the bike and face a large projection screen. On this screen, riders see a scene of many bike riders and can somewhat follow their character, as if they were riding in the environment they see on the screen. When you embark on this virtual ride, you can follow your own characters and race one another around this virtual track. This studio is smaller than the studio at SoulCycle, but the experiences are different. Poshfit’s cycling class is an equally great workout. The studio has many other classes aside from cycling and offers special packages for students. Poshfit is located at 9925 Rhode Island Ave and the studio offers a 7-day free pass upon signing up!

Campus Gyms

Fortunately for UMD students, our campus has many state-of-the-art gyms. Eppley Recreation Center has multiple cardio machines, weightlifting machines, a pool, various sports courts, and areas to stretch and unwind. One great aspect of Eppley is the array of exercise classes they provide for students free of charge. They offer everything from a kettlebell class to BodyPump to Zumba. Sophomore student Abby Franklin enjoys the challenge of taking Eppley’s BodyCombat and BodyPump classes. Franklin said these classes provide “a challenging, yet fun environment where you can workout while spending time with friends.”

The gym is open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to midnight, Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight.

The School of Public Health right next door also houses multiple courts and workout machines. Ritchie Coliseum, an off-campus gym, is another great space for exercising in groups or alone. All of the gyms are free, easily accessible spaces for students to exercise and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Numi Yoga - College Park

If you’re interested in yoga in an intimate studio, Numi Yoga is the perfect venue. Numi Yoga has one studio with many mats, blocks, and bands to guide your flow. The studio offers many classes and workshops, for all skill levels, to strengthen chakras and bring peace to the participants. First-time students can sign up for a drop-in class online for as low as $14. You can find the studio at 4513 College Ave.

These activities and exercise resources are great ways to stay active on and off-campus. It can be very hard to stay healthy in college, but with these numerous spaces, UMD students can genuinely enjoy the workouts they are doing. There are many other studios, clubs, and classes to help you stay fit; all it takes is a positive mindset and the drive to be a healthier student!