Recreational Services offers classes to meet a variety of members’ fitness goals from cardio inspired dance classes to calming, meditative yoga classes. With six different studios and two locations (CRWC and Field House) catering to diverse schedules, we hope it's easy for you to get in weekly cardio, strength, and flexibility workouts. Fitness classes are designed to make your fitness goals easily attainable by giving you a fun and energizing workout.
In person classes:
Individuals wishing to attend in person classes do not need to pre-register. Simply show up to the corresponding location and time and try it out!
Virtual classes:
Virtual group fitness classes are FREE for members, and count toward your monthly visits for the faculty/staff Recreation Member Incentive Program.
If you do not have login information, contact rec-services@uiowa.edu.
Participation policies
A Recreational Services membership is required to attend. All participants are required to present their Hawk ID or Membership Card for admission to Recreational Services facilities.
Group Fitness class participants must arrive before the class start time. Late arrivals will not be admitted into the class. This policy intends to reduce disruptions, ensure all participants have adequately warmed up, and to provide the best service to all participants.
Doors may be closed & locked once classes reach the max number of participants designated for that particular class. Max numbers are determined by the amount of equipment available, as well as how many participants may safely and comfortably perform the exercises for each given class.
We hope this is an easier process for our members!
We want your feedback!
Have you taken a group exercise class? Did you love it? Did you hate it? How'd the instructor do? We want to know! Your open and honest feedback will be used to improve our classes.
Group Fitness Class Descriptions
Cardio Plus is a high energy 45 minute whole body workout. This workout combines low impact aerobic activity, flexibility, and strength training in a positive, environment keeping you active and young at heart.
Barre Fusion is a low impact workout that may incorporate the ballet barre, pilates and strength movements. This technique uses small movements with high repetitions. Additional equipment may include mini stability balls, hand-weights, bands or pilates rings. This class is for you!! Dance background not required. Class size is limited, the door will be closed when capacity is met.
Our bootcamp class will provide you the opportunity to meet like-minded participants that are looking for a coach to provide fun, individual and team-based workouts that will include physical and mental challenges. You will gain confidence, fortitude, and discipline, all to take with you when you exit our doors and into life. We want to increase your strength and mind, but also to challenge you to become better citizens in our community. Through this training, you will become a well-balanced athlete, strong, gain endurance, and become powerful. The program will be led by our personal training staff, experienced in program design to train soldiers wishing to complete Special Operations Selection Program.
Tired of the same old routine? Ditch the treadmill and come experience a new type of workout where no two classes are the same. This whole body workout will not only tone your legs but also add definition to your arms, back, and core while incorporating varying resistance levels with climbs, intervals, jumps, sprints, squats, and much more! With the freedom to be able to personalize the workout to your own fitness level, this class will have you drenched in sweat before you walk out!
This class focuses on the fundamentals of yoga postures and breath work. Students will feel both invigorated and refreshed after this mindfulness based flow. This class combines a vinyasa style with restorative postures to reconnect you with your creative spark.
HIGH fitness is a high energy, intense, choreographed workout that is EASY to follow. It will give you an INTERVAL, PLYOMETRICS AND CARDIO workout all in one fun and upbeat class.
HIIT combines many modes of strength and cardio training to confuse the muscles and help break through plateaus, boost energy levels, and define exercise movement patterns. Sessions will enhance muscular strength and definition while maximizing caloric expenditures.
BodyBalance is a calming class infused with moves from yoga, tai chi and Pilates to build whole-body strength, center your chi and relieve stress.
BODYCOMBAT is a high-energy martial arts-inspired workout that is totally non-contact. Punch and kick your way to fitness and burn up to 740 calories** in a class. No experience needed. Learn moves from Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai, Capoeira and Kung Fu. Release stress, have a blast and feel like a champ. Bring your best fighter attitude and leave inhibitions at the door.
The perfect combination of music, dance and cardiovascular exercise, BodyJam is the ideal fitness class for anyone that loves to get their groove on. Throw shapes to the latest dance tunes, led by one of our expert fitness instructors, for a full body, cardio boosting, fat-burning workout.
BODYPUMP is a barbell workout for anyone looking to get lean, toned and fit – fast. Using light to moderate weights with lots of repetition, BODYPUMP gives you a total body workout. It will burn up to 540 calories**. Instructors will coach you through the scientifically proven moves and techniques pumping out encouragement, motivation and great music – helping you achieve much more than on your own! You’ll leave the class feeling challenged and motivated, ready to come back for more.
In a BODYSTEP workout you can expect a mixture of upbeat, rhythmic stepping, with squat and lunge patterns to work the legs. Combine this with movements like burpees, push ups and weight plate exercises, and the result is a fun, uplifting, full-body workout!
CORE is a scientific core workout that uses athletic training principles to build strength, stability and endurance in the muscles that support your core. The integrated core training moves hone in on the torso and sling muscles that connect your upper body to your lower body.
GRIT is a 30-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout, designed to improve strength and cardiovascular fitness and build lean muscle. GRIT takes cutting edge HIIT and combines it with powerful music and inspirational coaches who will be down on the floor with you, motivating you to go harder to get fit, fast. GRIT comes in three different formats: Strength (this workout uses barbell, weight plate and body weight exercises), Cardio (this workout focuses on speed, power, and agility; no additional equipment is used), and Athletic (this workout uses a bench and weights, also focusing on speed and power). Classes will rotate among these three different formats.
RPM is a group indoor cycling workout where you control the intensity. It's fun, low impact and you can burn up to 500 calories a session**. With great music pumping and the group spinning as one, your instructor takes you on a journey of hill climbs, sprints and flat riding.
It’s a short, intense style of training where the thrill and motivation comes from pushing your physical and mental limits. A high intensity, low impact workout, it's scientifically proven to return rapid results.
The minutes you put into a LES MILLS SPRINT workout drives your body to burn calories for hours. You combine bursts of intensity, where you work as hard as possible, with periods of rest that prepare you for the next effort. The payoff? You smash your fitness goals, fast.
Combine blocks of strength, cardio, and core training into one complete and convenient workout. A LES MILLS TONE workout includes a mix of exercises to work the whole body and elevate the heart rate.
Mat Pilates is a Pilates training practice that can be done on a mat, meaning, no reformer is used. In this class, you hold movements like planks, side planks, and core exercises to build your muscle groups and core strength.
Pilates Fusion is a blend of classical Pilates movements... with a twist! We will strengthen our muscles while also increasing balance, flexibility, and body awareness. This class encourages fun and creativity in a low stress environment that is sure to get your muscles (and brain) fired up!
This challenging, flowing sequence of poses increases your heart rate and makes you sweat. Expect high energy, playfulness, and inspiration to move your body and clear your mind. The emphasis is on increasing strength, flexibility and stress reduction. Playlists are designed to uplift and invigorate you, support your practice, and generate a whole lot of positive vibes.
Do you long to cultivate a practice of relaxation in your busy life but have a hard time giving yourself permission to slow down and be present? In this restorative yoga class, the focus will be entirely on deep relaxation. Through extended Savasana and slow deep hatha and yin inspired stretches this practice will allow you to let go of stress and prepare for deep sleep.
Restorative yoga focuses on long holds, stillness, and deep breathing with supports such as bolsters and blocks intended to help you relax and rest and be present in the moment. Restorative yoga is a style that encourages physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. This is a safe, quiet, no-hands assist space for one to find a sense of grounding that can help you connect to your mind and body in a way that feels secure. There are no hands-on adjustments. As you are guided through a supportive experience, you may observe sensations and emotions that arise without feeling triggered or overwhelmed.
Get ready to dance and sweat it out to the most energetic music genre: Soca! Easy to follow moves, lots of smiles, and a great workout all wrapped up in one dance fitness class. Let’s dance!
A full body workout using the step, strength training and more. Performed interval style (alternate aerobic and anaerobic training). Choreography is introduced using the step adding interval training throughout the workout. A high-intensity workout that can be adapted for all fitness levels.
Total Body Conditioning-Arms, abs, glutes, and legs; this class will focus on your whole body to improve cardiovascular fitness, endurance, strength and flexibility. A variety of equipment (dumbbells, physioballs, bands, gliders, and steps) as well as body weight exercises are incorporated into the class.
Vigorous Vinyasa! Varied from week-to-week, this class is full of variety and vigor! Sequences and segues vary but always working strength, balance, flexibility, determination, endurance – all fueled with conscious breathing. The pace will change – start slow, speed up, slow back down. Shaki/Shiva, yin/yang -- we mix it up all the while flowing together like a flock of birds. Emphasis is on the benefits of group practice. Exchanging energy, we come together with a common purpose to practice our yoga with love and support for one another. Namaste.
Vinyasa Yoga is a flowing and energetic form of practice. The sequence begins with a series of sun salutations followed by a mix of standing poses, inversions, balancing, and stretching asanas. This is a total yoga workout that will increase your flexibility and strength while reducing stress and muscle tension.
WERQ is the wildly addictive cardio dance workout based on today’s hottest pop, rock, and hip hop music.
A body strength training workout using body weight and performing controlled yoga poses and movements. Additional equipment would include light hand weights. Build strength, balance and body alignment with innovative exercise combinations and a touch of cardio!
Yoga Mix incorporates Kripalu and Vinyasa Yoga methods to provide a practice that promotes breathing, integrity, asana (pose) technique and peaceful relaxation. You will gain muscle strength, muscle stamina, flexibility and overall well being. Instructions will emphasize correct alignment in the pose and awareness of the body.
Yoga Sculpt is a unique combination of power yoga and strength training designed to create a full-body workout. Combining traditional yoga poses and principles with strength training and hand weights, this high-intensity workout will leave you feeling stronger, refreshed and uplifted.
When participants see a Zumba class in action, they can’t wait to give it a try. Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before participants know it, they’re getting fit and their energy levels are soaring! There’s no other fitness class like a Zumba Fitness-Party. It’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning students.
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