By Magdalayna Drivas | Reporter
Baylor Wellness is offering a new type of fitness class to their Group X lineup.
Gentle Yoga, Gentle Tone and Gentle Barre are 45-minute lunch break classes designed for those who do not wish to break a sweat but could use some deep stretching and gentle conditioning, according to the class description.
“Students might have an hour between classes, they don’t want to get sweaty, they can just come and do a 45-minute class and re-energize themselves,” Van Davis, assistant director of wellness, said. “They will leave feeling less stressed and re-energized at the same time.”
The classes are held from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s in the Bearobics studio on the third floor of the McLane Student Life Center. Students can attend any Group X fitness class Aug. 28 through Monday, Sept. 4 for free.
The Group X program offers over 50 different group exercise classes a week to Baylor students, staff, faculty and alumni. The classes range from Gentle Yoga to Mixed Martial Arts conditioning.
Davis said the gentle classes require no experience and can be done in street clothes and tennis shoes.
“This will be the perfect place for someone who is just a beginner and who always wanted to do yoga,” Davis said. “I think once they try this class out they’ll be able to go to other classes and feel very comfortable.”
Those who want a more intense workout can find a challenge in these classes as well.
“For someone who has been doing yoga a while, they can still do the program, they just do a little bit more according to what they can do. It really can tailor for someone who is gentle in work clothes all the way to someone who wants to dress out and come to class in full gear,” Davis said.
The Bearobics studio was full for instructor Leah Gagnon’s first Gentle Yoga class on Monday. Gagnon led the class through poses that are designed to release stress and finished with relaxation.
“My goal for this class is just for you to connect with yourself,” Gagnon said.
For students who say they can’t do yoga, Davis has one piece of advice: just show up.
“The hardest thing to do is make it to the class. Do the hard part – get there – and let our FitWell staff do the rest of the work,” said Davis.
The full schedule of group fitness classes can be found online at www.baylor.edu/wellness.
