By David Kleinchuster

The Slane gym at High Point University is overflowing yet again with people fighting and wiggling their way toward the mirage of exercise machines that appear to only ever be available for ten seconds after the previous user. Even though all the equipment appears to be occupied, masses of gym-goers linger in empty spaces – which ironically leaves no empty spaces – in hopes to get a workout in. It seems that everyone is following the same workout routine for the same body group on the same days.

What is the cause for all this influx of people in the gym? 

“Last semester, our gym participation was a little rocky because we were coming out of COVID-19 and the restrictions we had on the gym created a barrier,” said Cheyanne Clouse, the assistant director of campus fitness programs. “We had a gym reservation system, which limited the amount of students allowed in the gym at specific times. We have been able to see an increase in participation in the gym this semester because people are feeling more comfortable with some of those regulations, as well as many ‘new year, new me’ resolutions.”

Within just the first month of the semester, Clouse shares that there has been over 50,000 student ID swipes to access the fitness facilities.

How difficult does this influx truly make it to train? 

“As a personal trainer, the increase of people who have come to the gym has affected the exercises that I can give my clients as well as the machines they use,” said Madison McFerren, an HPUREC personal trainer.  “If a machine is taken and they have multiple sets to go, I will have to find an alternative.” 

Although certain exercises may be unattainable at certain times, Clouse trains McFerren along with the remainder of the HPUREC trainers on the idea that every exercise has a desired outcome and a desired intent.

If you cannot pursue a specific exercise because the desired machines or weights are preoccupied, you can utilize alternative exercises that share the same intent and outcome, according to Clouse.

Despite the exponential increase of students coming to the gym, if you are looking to pursue fitness at HPU, don’t be intimidated by the crowds that go. Rather, ask how you can get involved and learn to surf along the fitness wave.

Personal training numbers are climbing higher than the stair-stepper machine. When Clouse joined the HPUREC team last year, there were only three personal trainers on staff. This only allowed for 41 interested participants in the fall of 2021. Now equipped with ten personal trainers, the program hosts 82 interested participants into their program.

“We do almost 200 training sessions per week,” said Clouse, doubling the previous efforts from earlier semesters.

Signing up for personal training guarantees six weeks of training, meeting three times a week. Clients sit down with their personal trainers to establish exercise goals and trainers formulate plans to execute their client’s intentions.

“Most clients accomplish their goals and I see them grow as people too as I train them, which is awesome,” said McFerren. “I love watching them flourish into beautiful little people.” 

Trainers and clients form trust not just through the fitness expertise of the trainer, but support one another through life.

“A lot of my clients will come to me with their issues and I’ll be able to help them out and I can come to them with something that is stressing me out,” said McFerren. “It goes both ways. Knowing that they have someone at the gym who genuinely cares about them and wants to see them succeed, and that there is confidentiality between us.”

If you find yourself reminiscing on an old look or desire to gain more strength, finding what motivates you along with getting involved with the HPUREC facilities and programs can better equip you to meet your health goals.

One student that has utilized these opportunities at the Slane gym is HPU senior Pate Dunlap.

“One thing is that staying away from the gym for so long is that you forget how good the post workout high is,” said Dunlap. “I definitely feel good every time I walk out of the gym.”

Dunlap was a three-sport athlete in high school, but since coming to college during a worldwide pandemic, the motivation to pursue exercise diminished drastically in his life.

“Now, a year and a half later, I realized how much I missed exercising and how much I do need to be in the gym,” said Dunlap.

Dunlap now exercises with a trainer who aids him in achieving his goal of increasing his strength in hopes to enjoy playing sports again. 

Personal training is not the only avenue for you to become acquainted with the gym. GroupX classes are reporting the largest increase of participation, more than personal training. 

Since taking over her position in HPUREC last year, Clouse has experimented with several different group exercise classes and timeframes to test the capacity, demand and popularity amongst the HPU student body. Reports reveal an average of 2.6 participants within the first three weeks of the fall semester to have taken a part of GroupX. First month reports this spring semester show double the amount of participants roughly across the board. 

GroupX offers 40 different exercise classes to sign up for per week, including popular and student favorites: yoga, cycling and different variations of dance classes on the rise. If heavy weightlifting doesn’t suit your fancy, there are a plethora of exhilarating GroupX classes to bring a boost to your physical activity – just don’t forget to invite your friends. 

It is never too late to start shredding the fitness wave with HPU Rec. No matter your goal, there are ample avenues of approaches to meet your fitness desires and needs with HPUREC.

“Everyone begins somewhere,” said McFerren. “Everyone begins where you’re beginning. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or to make mistakes in the gym. Everyone here just wants to see you succeed and everyone wants to see you become the best version of yourself.”

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For more information on how to sign up with a personal trainer and GroupX classes, all information can be found here.

David Kleinschuster is a senior at High Point University majoring in Journalism and double minoring in Political Science and Military Science. For contact inquiries, please email dkleinsc@highpoint.edu.