By Ella Karoline Hendricks

Are workout classes the new fad of the health-minded community? Soul cycle can be soul-sucking, yet workout classes seem to be the latest health fad. Many young people are using workout classes as a way to connect with the community and create healthy habits that can last a lifetime. 

Working out is not only great for the body, but for the mind as well. It can be a great strategy for stress relief and working off extra anxious energy. 

But with an overwhelming amount of local options, choosing which studio and class can be a tough decision. There are options all over Fayetteville, from Spoonmoon to Hot Worx, Orange Theory, Nooma, on-campus options and more, varying in price range, difficulty and accessibility. 

Abigail Barker is a junior at the University of Arkansas and is a recent convert to the world of workout classes. She often goes to Nooma Fayetteville, a local workout studio with a focus on mental and physical well-being.

“I started attending Nooma pretty recently with my roommates, they started going and raving about how fun and motivating the classes are,” Barker said. “And so, I decided to go with them one day and haven’t looked back.”

For Barker, it is as much a social commitment as a workout. It is a way to connect with others who share the same love for being active. One thing that separates Nooma from other workout classes in the area is that it offers “hot workouts,” or workouts with temperatures ranging from 90 to 102 degrees. 

Nooma offers a wide range of intensity within their classes, from relaxed to high energy to intense. Barker’s favorite class is HOTMIX, a heated, high-energy, low-impact class focusing on muscle control and light weights. 

“I like the sauna aspect of Nooma, and for me, it’s a fun way to exercise that doesn’t involve heavy weight lifting or running,” Barker said. “It’s more guided than other studios I’ve tried. I tend to be less motivated by myself, and so the communal support system there is great. The instructors really get to know you.”

Orange Theory is another option many college students are leaning toward. Orange Theory is a high-intensity interval training class, or HIIT workout, that allows for rotating stations instead of a group-focused class such as Nooma. It is more individually focused, with stations ranging from strength training, rowing, treadmill and more, varying on location.

Haylee Mangum is a junior psychology major who regularly attends Orange Theory classes at the Fayetteville location.

“I like going to Orange Theory because the workouts are different every day,” Mangum said. “You don’t know what it’s going to be until you get there.”

Despite the advantages of these studios and others like it, they often employ egregious pricing policies with purposely ambiguous pricing on their websites and in-person classes. For example, the Nooma website does not have clear pricing on their website, even when booking a class. They often offer monthly passes, where members pay a certain amount for a certain number of classes. These studio classes vary in price; they can be expensive and are not always the most affordable choice for university students. Instead, consider trying one of the University offered classes at the UREC. 

The UREC fitness center is free to all U of A students. The classes offered change each semester, offering classes ranging from cycle and cycle strength classes to yoga, pilates, zumba, body sculpt and barre. The classes are offered at different times on different days of the week from 6:30 a.m. all the way to 7:30 p.m., allowing for all kinds of schedules. 

Nora Cowen is a sophomore who has taken a wide range of UREC classes and encourages everyone to try one out. 

“I’ve taken yoga, pilates and zumba classes,” Cowen said. “Zumba was a fun and free way to get involved on campus.”

She attends the classes with her friends and cites it as a good way to get together each week. Cowen also appreciates how each instructor truly makes the class their own. Each class slightly varies based on instructor and their personal preferences, creating a new and unique experience each time. 

The UREC also offers more personalized classes with personal training. You can download the UREC app to register for workout classes and build a schedule of classes that fit in with your schedule. 

With finals approaching, workout classes can be a great resource for stress relief. In tandem with creating a community of like-minded people, this health fad can be a great way of creating positive habits in your everyday life.