GroupX is a fitness program hosted by the Preston Center on WKU’s campus. The program offers about 30 classes a week and operates year-round, said Annmarie Brady, Preston’s graduate assistant in charge of fitness.
“Regardless of where you are in your fitness journey, there’ll be options for you, and there’s a class for you,” Brady said.
Each class is taught by an instructor who has trained with Brady to become certified to teach. Instructors consist of WKU students, faculty and staff as well as members of the Bowling Green community.
The classes have a wide variety of fitness training, from yoga to dance fitness. A schedule for selected dates is put out by Preston employees and lists each class time for every day of the week, which you can find on the GroupX WKU site.
Reggie Waters, a senior physical education major from Hendersonville, Tennessee, is also a Zumba instructor who first trained last fall and started teaching classes this semester.
“Since the official start of the semester, I’ve been averaging about 40 to 45 participants in a class, and I’ve just started teaching,” Waters said. “I truly enjoy it.”
Waters explained that Zumba classes involve a lot of movement and he always makes sure his classes go smoothly. After setting everything up, Waters plays music as guests arrive to encourage them to socialize before the class starts.
He begins each class by communicating that his class is a safe space and a chance for participants to destress. Waters said he wants participants to feel welcome and comfortable.
“So far, everything is just awesome,” Waters said.“All the other GroupX instructors are welcoming me into their little GroupX family.”
Emily Goddard, a senior exercise science major from Mayfield, recently started in the physical therapy program and is a yoga class instructor for GroupX. Goddard has instructed since 2019 after her training in 2018.
“It’s a really good way for me to get out and meet people I never would have gotten the chance to meet otherwise,” Goddard said.
Goddard encourages a calming environment in her classes. She leads a meditation at the beginning and end of class to help participants settle into a peaceful mindset. Goddard said classes can be very personal as each person’s goals differ.. As they start learning poses, participants move from starter poses into ones that are more complex.
“This class is a lot more about focus and the mind,” Goddard said.
Goddard said GroupX helps her escape her busy school schedule.
“It gets me out,” Goddard said. “It keeps me active three, sometimes four times a week,” Goddard said.
Brady describes GroupX as being less intimidating for people who may get nervous at the gym.
“One of the reasons why I love GroupX is it’s a positive, inclusive, welcoming environment,” Brady said. “It makes it more enjoyable to work out for a lot of people.”
The GroupX classes are free for WKU students and members of Preston. Non-members would have to attend with a member as their guest and pay a guest pass fee. More information on guests can be found on the Preston Center’s Membership site.
The classes have a wide variety of fitness training, from yoga to dance fitness. A schedule for selected dates is put out by Preston employees and lists each class time for every day of the week, which you can find on the GroupX WKU site.
More information can be found about GroupX on the WKU site or through the Campus Recreation and Wellness social media, which is located at @wkurecwell on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.