My name is Eliza, and over the course of the next few weeks, I will be your on-campus fitness guide taking you through almost all of the classes, both wet and dry, offered here at the university.
First, a little bit of background on me: I’m a fourth year student, and a first-time volunteer for The Ontarion. I have not always been an athletic person, however, over the last two years I have really taken an interest in physical fitness, and am looking to develop my skills in any way possible. I have never participated in any of the on-campus fitness classes before, so all of the experiences I share with you will be brand new.
This past Saturday at 11 a.m., I attended my first Bosu Playground class. Now, let’s make one thing clear: this is not child’s play. This full body interval workout is actually quite intense; it will test your balance, cardiovascular stamina, and muscular strength. Each circuit is designed on a three minute interval scale, alternating between strength and cardiovascular based movements. Leaving no muscle group behind, you are sure to get a full body workout, no matter what variation of movements you do. I like to consider myself a fairly fit person, but this workout had me switching between beginner and intermediate variations, as well as draining my bottle of water.
From here on out, I will be ranking each exercise class based on a number of factors: level of difficulty, level of fun, level of socialization, and whether the activity is dry land or in the water.
Report card for Bosu Playground:
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
While you will find yourself needing some basic balance and core skills, this class is great in the sense that it is as difficult as you make it. If you’re just starting out, you have the option to take the strength movements a little lighter, and move through the cardio sections a little slower. That said, this class also gives you great opportunities to advance and really challenge yourself by upping the weight and speed of the cardio.
Level of Fun: Medium
The upbeat music and enthusiastic instruction will definitely keep you pumped throughout the workout. However, you will need to keep yourself focused throughout the class.
Level of Socialization: Low
Trust me on this one: neither you nor your neighbour are going to be feeling particularly chatty during this class.
Overall Rating: 8/10
If you’re looking for a class offered a few times a week that will get the job done, this is the one for you. Bring a friend or come alone and get down on the playground!
The University of Guelph offers a variety of socially stimulating and physically challenging fitness classes, hosted in either room 302 or the red pool within the campus Athletic Center.