On Thursday, Oct. 30, the campus group fitness team hosted a Halloween-themed pop-up class titled “Here We Glow,” combining spin, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and circuit training in a one-of-a-kind workout experience that brought students together for fitness and fun.
The event was part of Group Fitness Week, a lineup of themed fitness classes designed to get students moving while celebrating the festive season. The week blended creative energy with health-focused programming, encouraging participants to embrace wellness in an engaging, community-oriented environment. Thursday’s pop-up was an electrifying combination of cardio, strength and endurance that left participants glowing in both neon and accomplishment.
Students rotated between high-energy circuit stations and cycling intervals, guided by the beat of themed playlists. Circuit training provides an ideal balance between strength and cardio, keeping participants moving and engaged while maximizing calorie burn. Combined with the high-intensity intervals of spin training, the class delivered a comprehensive fitness experience designed to improve aerobic and anaerobic capacity, boost endurance and build strength.
HIIT stimulates both aerobic and anaerobic systems, increasing metabolism long after the class ends. Participants leave not only with a sense of accomplishment, but also with improved cardiovascular health, muscular strength and endurance. Mixing modalities like cycling and circuit work keeps your body guessing. It prevents plateaus and helps students develop functional fitness, strength and stamina they can use in everyday life.
Corinne Nestor, occupational therapy major and spin instructor for the RecWell, wishes for her students to have fun while feeling empowered. “We try to do a pop-up once a month,” Nestor said. “And since obviously it’s Halloween, it works out really well. And then last year we did a glow theme then, so we just tried to do kind of something similar because everyone really liked it.”
Maddy Fratis, a public relations major, has been teaching Circuit Training and Strength Circuit as a fitness instructor for three years. “I want to have some new participants to gain experience in both spin and strength in a fun way,” Fratis said. “Our goal is to provide fun experiences that get people interested and motivated, to have fun in fitness.”
The community atmosphere is one of the primary goals of group fitness at Elizabethtown. While students are encouraged to challenge themselves physically, the broader mission is to cultivate holistic well-being: body, mind and spirit. Group workouts foster accountability, reduce stress and build social connections, all of which are critical to maintaining balance during a busy academic semester.
Many of the participants shared the overall goal of feeling good in their own bodies.
“I do go on a lot of walks,” Kelly Salvatore, a participant of the session, said. “I go to the pilates courses, the yoga courses, I just always try to do some relaxing stretches before bed, all that stuff.”
“I loved it and I couldn’t stop going,” another participant, Abby Stine added.
Beyond the physical benefits, “Here We Glow” served as a reminder that fitness can—and should—be fun. Themed group events like this one break the monotony of routine exercise, attracting students who might not otherwise attend a traditional workout class. They also highlight the Bowers Center’s commitment to providing accessible, creative programs that support every aspect of student wellness.
It is a celebration of health, friendship and the vibrant spirit that makes Elizabethtown’s fitness community so unique. Students come for the workout, and stay for the people and the energy.
