As the days become shorter and colder and classes become more difficult, the number of students in the gym drops.
Summer Myrick, senior in communication disorders and Spanish, works as a group fitness instructor at the Recreation and Wellness Center. She teaches a U-Jam and a butts and guts group fitness class.
Myrick said she thinks less students spend time at the gym as the semester plays out because of reasons such as colder weather, the sun setting faster and stress from school.
"When it's cold outside you drink all of those hot drinks that are filled with sugar and it makes you want to cuddle up," Myrick said. "It's not as motivating as when it's hot outside and you are going to the pool all the time."
Myrick said she sees a decline in the number of students that attend her classes, but she puts in extra effort to encourage them to come back as the semester progresses.
"I try to build a relationship with them so that they will want to come back because they are my friends, not just another number," Myrick said.
According to Myrick, she tends to slack off on her own workout routine toward the end of the semester, but still works out a few times a week. Instead of spending an hour at the rec, Myrick said she does 10-minute YouTube workouts in between tasks that make up her busy schedule.
Myrick said she encourages students to participate in group fitness classes because "it keeps you accountable and someone else is making the workout for you."
"Don't beat yourself up if you get out of your routine," Myrick said. "Find ways to move your body."
Kindala Owens, group fitness graduate assistant for the Recreation and Wellness Center and graduate student in exercise science, said she also sees a decline in the number of students in group fitness classes toward the end of the fall semesters.
Owens said the number of students who attend group fitness classes is measured by using the IMLeagues online enrollment system. Students reserve their spot in the group fitness class through the website and then check in with the instructor when they arrive. The instructor then puts the data into the system.
"We generate our reports off of that," Owens said.
She attributes the decline to factors similar with Myrick's, including the weather.
"If it's raining, people won't come out," Owens said.
Owens said she also realizes with the New Year comes an increase in the number of students spending time at the gym because they want to get healthier or lose weight.
"It's a part of our culture, I think," Owens said.
Camille Huang, personal trainer graduate assistant for the Recreation and Wellness Center and graduate student in physical activity and health, said she attributes the lack of students working out to finals and the two-week break between Thanksgiving and Christmas break.
"The facility as a whole is less crowded, especially around the December month," said Huang.
However, she said she agrees with Owens that the number of students at the gym increases after New Year's because of goals to be healthier.
"I think people just have it on their mind," Huang said. "New year, new you."
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