The room is packed with people, the floors are sticky with sweat, body odor permeates the air.  Such is the traditional environment of a Chapman fitness class. They give participants the ability to get their heart rate up while still fostering a space to make a few new friends.

Yet, the days of those workout classes are a distant memory. Due to COVID-19 regulations, in-person athletic events have been canceled to meet social distancing guidelines. As a result, Chapman has been forced to adjust its focus and shift to virtual workout instruction instead. 

Associate Director of Student Engagement Mike Keyser and his team have been working to shape these online classes. Currently, there are weekly virtual GroupX classes in Zumba, barre kickboxing, and hip-hop. 

“You can do this and try something new on Zoom without having to turn your camera on,” Keyser said. “A lot of students are taking advantage of this experience.”

During these workouts, students can expect small classes taught by Chapman students, with a maximum capacity of around 30. However, these virtual sessions are currently averaging about five attendees, he said.

Students who are interested in signing up for these free classes can do so through the Chapman Recreational Portal after they create a free account. These classes will be held virtually through the end of the semester, even if some limited in-person classes commence.

“We know that some students don’t feel comfortable coming to an in-person class and that some students are not able to be in Orange right now, but we want them to still be able to be fit and active,” Keyser said.

Although there is a great variety in the classes, which are offered six days a week for one to two hours each day, they present an adjustment for many students. Lauren Callella, a junior public relations assistant for the Department of Student Engagement, has been tasked with the challenge of maintaining interest. 

“When people think of Chapman fitness, they just think of the Henley Fitness Center and the Argyros Fitness Center,” Callella said. “We are trying to boost awareness and promote these weekly GroupX classes.”

While students will hopefully be working up a sweat during these classes to stay healthy and fit, another goal is to provide them with a sense of community. Although the platform of the classes may have changed, the basic message of GroupX has not.

“We know that students are home, in a dorm by themselves or they are in places that they didn’t expect to be,” said Maddie Hill, a graduate assistant for Fitness Facility Management. “We want people to connect to each other even if we can’t be in the same place … GroupX will always be by students, with students and for students.”