Fitness and Recreation Offers Free Group X Classes for All Students During February

With the semester well underway and as winter settled upon Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Mellon University Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation launched a brand-new “Fitness February” promotion for the campus community. For the entire month of February, all undergraduate and graduate students can attend any Group Exercise class (Group X) for free.

“This initiative helps reduce some of the barriers that students might face in making the choice to head to the gym and get their bodies moving," said Director of Athletics Josh Centor. “It is important for our students to understand that there are a myriad of resources and programs at Carnegie Mellon that likely fit their interests. We hope that our Group Exercise program will be one of them.”

Midway through the initiative, Fitness February has been well received from students and classes have been full.

“With a school like CMU and such high academic stress, we want an outlet for all of our students,” explained Sara Gauntner, Assistant Director of Athletics, Recreational Programs. “Physical education classes, fitness classes and intramurals are great opportunities for students to step away from their academics to work out and socialize. We feel that a strong balance of exercise and wellness affords students a clearer focus and new energy to be more successful in the classroom and achieve more.”

The ambition of Fitness February is to encourage students to remain active and healthy during the winter and to learn about the programming available at the Cohon Center. In addition to the current facilities and programming offered, the Cohon Center is nearing the completion of a major construction project that will add 62,000 square feet of space, including fitness space, two exercise studios, a cycling studio, additional locker rooms, an improved equipment desk and a new entrance and lobby. Additionally, a new studio theater located just off of the lobby will serve a wide range of student groups and a variety of smaller performances in a studio theater environment. 

“The expansion of the Cohon Center will be transformative for our campus, and we will be able to more effectively meet the health and wellness needs of our community,” Centor said.  “We will have state-of-the-art equipment, new exercise studios with integrated technology and progressive programming. We can’t wait to open the doors in May.”

Popular Group X classes available during Fitness February include Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Deep Water Aerobics, and Indoor Cycling. For class times or more information about Group X, click here.

For updates and photos of the Cohon Center expansion, click here.