If you haven’t taken a Texercise class at UT yet, you’re seriously missing out. From dancing in disco lights to meditating, each class offers its own version of fun and reward. After taking multiple classes over the last two weeks, I can assure you that you’ll have a blast in any class you take. Even though it was tough to narrow it down, I managed to create a list of my top five class recommendations.
The first class I took was Yoga (Vinyasa) and Meditation. Yoga classes are a great way to wake up your body in the morning or wind down after a long day. I took this class after a stressful midterm, and I seriously needed it. The class focused on slow connected movements, with time at the beginning and end dedicated to self-reflection. Fun fact: shavasana is my favorite yoga pose, and if you take this class, you’ll see why.
I’ve never taken a cycling class before, but the one I took through Texercise will certainly not be my last. This may come as a shock, but if you’ve ever seen a cycling class depicted in a movie or TV show, it’s exactly the same. The energy, the loud music, the lighting: luckily, I managed to stay on the bike, unlike Amy Schumer in I Feel Pretty, but the energy, loud music and lighting was all a parallel.
I also took my first Pilates class this week. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking to feel sore for a full week. Pilates is core-intensive, which is definitely an area of my body where I have room to grow. It was one of the most challenging classes, but the instructor was fantastic, and the class as a whole was a lot of fun.
Mind Body Fusion was another one of my favorites. I didn’t do my research, so I went in expecting a relaxing yoga or meditation class — I’m glad I was wrong. This class combined the fluidity of yoga and the intensity of crossfit, so I left feeling both energized and wicked sore. I also absolutely adored the instructor, as her coaching allowed me to easily follow her movements and stay engaged throughout class.
Finally, I’ve been itching to take a Zumba class forever, so I was super excited to take one this week. If you have any passion for dance, then Zumba is the perfect class for you. Zumba classes typically focus on cardiovascular fitness with intense dancing to Latin music. I find that the best way to relieve stress is to dance it out, which is why this is my favorite form of exercise. Plus, it’s basically a way to trick yourself into working out — I mean, how can dancing be anything other than fun?
Breaking up the last two weeks with these classes has been like a breath of fresh air. Exercise is so important to our mental and physical health, but it can be hard to find the discipline to work out on your own. I’ve found that it’s a lot easier to convince myself to show up to a 6:30 a.m. cycling class than just the gym. These classes are super enjoyable, and I encourage everyone to try them!
Featured image by Morgan Scruggs
