Like many students on campus going to the fitness center for the first time without much workout experience, I was incredibly nervous and lost. So, of course, when I saw all the flyers promoting instruction-based fitness classes, I was delighted and excited to have some direction to follow in the fitness realm.  

This excitement soon faded after realizing there was a hefty price tag attached to the classes. While one class for $10 may not seem like a lot, that can quickly add up. Luckily, there are offers for discounted prices per class when a student purchases a class bundle.

So, what’s the problem? The prices are still too high for what college students can realistically pay.  

For 24 days’ worth of classes, it is $80 for students. Assuming a student is using the classes on a regular five-to-six workouts a week, that would be about $80 a month. While for some this may not seem like a terrible price, it heavily outweighs the cost of other fitness centers near campus. 

Planet Fitness, about three miles from campus, is $10 a month. Besides just being a gym, it also offers one-on-one training and small-group classes to all members for only one-eighth of the price that the University offers for group classes.  

However, for college students without personal transportation, Planet Fitness is not exactly a convenient distance. Another option is Anytime Fitness, which is situated less than a mile from campus. Anytime Fitness offers one-on-one training, group classes and physical therapy. It is pricy, with biweekly payments of $30, so essentially $60 a month. 

While Anytime Fitness is on the pricier side, it is still a whole $20 cheaper than the University-offered classes with a couple of additional services. Both options are financially better than the services offered on campus, but are inconvenient for students without their own car or other source of transportation.  

Even with the prices being high, it is very difficult to get into these classes. Specifically, the reformer Pilates classes are $50 for six classes, and there is no discount on 12 classes, as they are still $100. Not only are these classes extremely expensive, but there also is a very long waitlist for them.

 While this is partly because of only having a few machines, it is also due to the fact that the classes are not exclusive to Villanova students and staff. The website lists that reformer classes are available for “Friends of Villanova.” The fact that they are already asking for large amounts of money and allowing the few spots to be taken by those who don’t even attend the University is completely unfair to all students. It is especially unfair to those who have already paid yet are on a waiting list for every session.  

Group fitness classes have many benefits to those who struggle with working out. The biggest benefit is, arguably, motivation. It can be incredibly hard to motivate yourself to work out, but knowing there is a group of people there to encourage and push you can be extremely rewarding. However, having to pay an unnecessary amount of money and be on a waitlist is extremely discouraging, especially if students are new to working out.  

Another benefit to group classes is they can actually benefit participants’ mental health. Exercise is a very common way to release endorphins and help a lot of people deal with stress and negativity. Also, being in a social setting with a supporting group of people can do wonders for someone’s confidence and mental state. In a day and age where prioritizing mental health is so important, the University should allow easier access to the fitness classes that Villanova students deserve.