Elizabethtown College’s Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being is one of the school’s most popular facilities for not only athletes, but all kinds of students and faculty. The center offers a plethora of services including cardio and strength training areas, an indoor track, smoothie bar—the Fresh Nest—and group fitness rooms.

The group fitness rooms are a popular choice for students who do not prefer traditional cardio or strength training or for those who enjoy working out with friends. Group fitness classes range from Yoga and High Intensity Interval Training to Zumba and Pound and can be an effective way of motivation to get the most out of one’s workout.

Junior biochemistry major Darci Ott works at the Bowers Center as an instructor of the Pound class, a cardio workout consisting of up-beat music, squats and weighted drumsticks that students hit on the ground or other objects in rhythm with the music and squats.

“You don’t even realize how many squats you are doing per session,” Ott said. “It’s between 500 and 600 squats in a little less than an hour.”

She started instructing the Pound after the previous instructor graduated and several of her friends encouraged her to take up the position. 

“I really enjoy having a positive impact on others and honestly just putting a smile on someone’s face is really encouraging. I love being able to help someone along in their personal health and well-being journey,” Ott said.

Group fitness classes are beneficial for students who get motivation from seeing others sweating and working hard beside them. 

“I’m not really involved in sports because of my busy schedule,” Ott said. “However, when I work out on my own, I find myself being kind of lackadaisical about it…but with a group it really makes a difference. You are more motivated and push yourself harder than you would on your own.”

To view a class schedule and register for classes, visit the Bowers Center on the College’s website: https://www.etown.edu/bowers-center/group-fitness/index.aspx.