Weighing In: Kickstart Your Workout Your Way

Each week, our own fitness fanatics Christina Monteleone and Sabrina Evans will explore the latest workout crazes, diet fads and dish out tips for healthy living. Managing your schoolwork is tough enough- let us take care of your health.

It’s easy to find yourself in a gym rut – and whether that means you’re afraid to venture beyond the treadmill or you’re stuck on the couch binge-watching Scandal, your workout is in dire need of a facelift. After chatting with Liz Elberfeld, a fitness instructor at the White Building, Valley got the scoop on which classes you should be taking to shake up – or even start – your workout regime.

“Penn State fitness is actually one of the best university programs,” says Elberfeld. And if you’re already paying for a gym membership (Penn State – Y U CHARGE SO MANY FEES?), taking classes at the gym is a great way to prevent you from getting bored with your regular workout.

For those bravely taking their first steps toward their fitness goal or those who just can’t stand looking at another elliptical for as long as they live, Elberfeld says that a fitness class offers the benefit of an instructor motivating you as well as motivation from the energy of the other people in the room – making it a better environment for a workout.

So obviously the classes are a no-brainer, but that begs the question – which classes are right for you?

If you’re someone who’s new to the gym and aren’t sure where to start, Elberfeld suggests trying Full Body Workout, which she says can be intense, but doesn’t have to be. It gives you a taste of both cardio and muscle workouts.

“If you liked more cardio, you could try Kickboxing or Calorie Killer or something that’s a little more fast-paced, and if you liked the muscle you could do Total Muscle Conditioning,” says Elberfeld.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the different classes until you find something that fits your skill level.

On the other hand, for those who spend so much time at the gym they’ve become immune to the smell of sweaty rubber mats, the White Building has the solution to your monotonous routine of daily ab sessions and 10-mile runs.

“Vary your workouts and try to do different classes all the time,” says Elberfeld, who suggests Calorie Killer, Kickboxing, Step or even a Power Remix or Zumba class to help you shimmy your way out of a rut. Constantly going hard at the gym can take its toll and Elberfeld insists on trying a Pilates or Yoga class – “some kind of stretching” – to balance out your workout.

But if you feel like you’re lost when it comes to fitting the gym into your busy schedule, there are plenty of classes that offer a combination of workouts you can try when you only have the chance to lace up your sneakers once or twice a week. Elberfeld recommends you pick classes that combine muscle and cardio workouts like Calorie Killer or Full Body, but a class like 20/20, which combines 20 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of stretching and mat work, is great for a beginner on a tight schedule.

And for those days when you literally can’t fathom picking up a weight or setting foot on the treadmill, you ask? Pilates and Yoga are a perfect substitute for a sweaty workout, and if the different Yoga class names have you confused, Elberfeld breaks it down. “Hatha Yoga is a slower and meditative style whereas Vinyasa is fast paced and goes with your breathing,” she says. Actually wearing yoga pants for yoga? Impossible…

The gym doesn’t have to be a place we dread, and by putting a spin on your workout, hitting the gym can even be a little – dare I say it?! – fun!

Photo by Sabine Clermont