Research has shown the positive effects of exercise on physical and mental health which include:

1. Improving sleep
2. Improving strength and endurance
3. Stress relief
4. Improvements in mood
5. Increased energy and stamina
6. Increase in mental alertness
7. Weight goals
8. Improved cardiovascular fitness and disease prevention

Group X FAQ’s 

• Who qualifies for Group X classes?
  • Group X applies to current CMU faculty, students, and staff.

• Is there a limit to how many classes I can take?
  • There is not a limit on free classes.

• Do I need to bring any equipment?
  • No. Any necessary equipment will be provided.

• How early and late can I register for a class?
  • You can register for a class up to 3 days in advance and no later than 1 minute before the class begins.

• My plans changed, how do I cancel my registration for a GX class?
  • To unregister:
    • Click on the GX class you registered for
    • Find your reservation
    • Click "Unregister"

Group X:  How it all began at Carnegie Mellon

Aerobics is a fairly new form of exercise… well at least as far back as 1968. It was Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, an exercise physiologist for the San Antonio Texas Air Force Hospital who coined the term 'aerobics' to describe the system of exercise that he devised to help prevent coronary artery disease. Later he determined that this form of exercise was good for the general public and since then has been part of the general lexicon. Putting this form of exercise to music was how, according to the Jazzercise website, jazz dancer, Judy Sheppard Missett, created “Jazzercise” in 1969, thus starting the Aerobics Dance craze.

Carnegie Mellon soon followed in the 1970s with its first-class that incorporated Dr. Cooper’s guidelines. It was called Dance and Gymnastics and was a semester-long offering by the Physical Education department of Athletics. Half the semester was devoted to skills in gymnastics and the other half was dance, more formal forms of dancing at first, and then dance for exercise and fun.

The University started out with just three classes per week of this new exercise format, Aerobic Dance. After a short time, the interest was so high, that evening classes began popping up in the gyms and dorms as more and more of the campus enjoyed how this form of exercise made them feel even after just one class! They may not have realized that the benefits like stress reduction, stronger hearts and lungs, and a healthier well-being resulted as they simply just danced to music and had fun. Initially, these classes were taught by student-athletes from the women’s basketball and swimming teams and the athletics staff. After a short time, male students joined the team of instructors.

As this style of exercise grew, so did the demand and need for more instructors. The instructors had options to draw upon other forms of programmed choreography like Jazzercise or routines from celebrities like Jane Fonda. Props were soon added such as “The Step”, weights, balls, and bands. The gymnastic skills portion was eventually dropped.

One of the most popular classes was held in Thistle Hall of Skibo Gym at noon. As many as 75 participants comprised of faculty, staff, and students consistently attended this lunchtime class.

Over the years the program grew and developed into Group Exercise, which is now called Group-X. The current schedule offers 30 to 35 weekly classes in fitness (e.g., Zumba, kettlebell, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), strength training, indoor cycling, yoga, combination strength and cardio classes, kickboxing, and multiple dance and other forms of fitness classes).