The beat goes on and on and on at Whitman’s Z-Fit membership, the place booming music and high-energy dancing catch the eyes of passersby each Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. During these membership conferences, college students comply with a collection of rehearsed dances by membership leaders to varied standard dance songs.
These dances are high-energy and may simply make anyone, no matter health stage, break a sweat inside minutes. Z-Fit serves as a approach for college students to get shifting, particularly these on the lookout for various train actions apart from gymnasium exercises and formal athletics. Members come from all elements of campus to have enjoyable in a protected area that encourages college students to specific themselves and escape of their shells.
Naomi Johnson-McCann, a first-year at Whitman, talked about her expertise as a brand new member of Z-Fit and what it means to her.
“It’s given me something to look forward to on Mondays and Wednesdays,” Johnson-McCann mentioned. “I had a goal (when I came to college) of getting more active, and it’s been helpful with that.”
Beyond health, Z-Fit fosters an in depth group between members, who bond over their shared conferences and the eagerness that they put into each dance.
Sophomore Kaori Hodgkin, a returning Z-Fit member, continues to take part in conferences — not only for the exercise itself, however for the individuals she has met and fashioned connections with.
“I think it’s really fun,” Hodgkin mentioned. “It’s super welcoming, and you’re not ever judged for not knowing the [dances]—it’s really open.”
Junior Caitlyn Taylor, additionally a returning Z-Fit member, reiterated the high-spirited environment of the exercise.
“It’s a really fun time to listen to some music [and] move your body; there’s a lot of good people [there] that always have fun,” Taylor mentioned.
Taylor added that, although Z-Fit is supposed to be a enjoyable, low-stakes exercise, its bodily calls for require dedication from members.
“It’s exhausting and the people who come are the ones who want to be there and have a good time,” Taylor mentioned.
Both Hodgkin and Taylor share a deep love for the Z-Fit group, and it retains each of them coming again for extra dancing and enjoyable.
The same sentiment is shared by the senior membership leaders Emily Nichol and Lilli Black, who each, whereas they’ve their very own causes for becoming a member of and turning into leaders, share a ardour for Z-Fit.
“I started going my freshman year and kept up with it,” Nichol mentioned.
Nichol didn’t initially anticipate to develop into a membership chief, however she stepped up when earlier management graduated.
For Black, Z-Fit is an area to unwind.
“I call it my two hours a week of feeling silly and not taking myself as seriously,” Black mentioned.
Black, who has additionally been a member since her first yr at Whitman, shared how essential Z-Fit has been in boosting her confidence in public.
“We’re on Reid side lawn when it’s nice out, and that’s a very public space to me; it can be very intimidating, [so] it definitely took a little bit to get used to that,” Black mentioned.
Even when Z-Fit isn’t outdoors resulting from colder climate, the enclosed area within the Sherwood Athletic Center that conferences happen in offers one other intimidating setting.
“In here, we’re in front of these mirrors, and being that close, it’s a little startling at first to see your every move, but it’s made me so much more confident,” Black mentioned.
Nichol’s confidence has additionally benefited from Z-Fit.
“Going to Z-Fit every week has boosted my confidence,” Nichol mentioned, “and it has allowed me to be confident enough to be a leader too.”
Whether it’s to be energetic, to discover a group or to achieve confidence, Z-Fit members take part for an array of causes. This celebration of dance, music and enjoyable is a loud and proud instance of the variety of athletic alternatives out there to Whitman college students.