Sun Devil Fitness Group Wellness classes offer students community, career skills and more all summer long

Photography by: Evan Nicolay

For Arizona State University students looking to stay active this summer, Sun Devil Fitness and Wellness Group Wellness classes are still in full swing across the Tempe, West Valley and Downtown campuses.

The Group Wellness program offers a wide variety of classes, from cycling and reformer Pilates to cardio sculpt, designed to meet students where they are and keep them moving no matter the season. For those who want to take their involvement a step further, there's even an opportunity to become an instructor.

Megan Chester, a rising senior studying psychology, discovered Group Wellness her very first semester at ASU. 

"I saw that they had group wellness classes and that they were free, and I was like, oh, that's a perfect way to stay active," she said. "I grew up dancing, so I liked that it fit in that weekly schedule type of format."

What began as a way to stay active quickly turned into something more. Chester completed the Sun Devil Fitness Complex's (SDFC) Instructor Prep Course halfway through her first year and hasn't looked back since. Today, she teaches both a cycling and a cardio sculpt class at the Tempe campus.

"I love class planning…I love picking music, picking the choreography, how I want the class formatted," Chester said. "But, now I love seeing my regulars, and I love when semesters restart, and I get to watch everyone grow from their first class to their last class."

Beyond the fitness benefits, Chester says her involvement at the SDFC has shaped her entire experience at ASU. As both a fitness instructor and fitness coordinator, she has developed skills in event planning, team management and peer leadership, which are all things she carries into her coursework and plans to carry into her career. 

"I have a lot of experience in campus rec now," she said. "Being able to manage a whole group of people, especially your peers, is a skill that I learned through these positions."

The community aspect, she says, is just as valuable as any line on a resume. 

"Our co-workers are so much fun, we're all best friends," Chester said. "No matter if I'm having a rough day, my co-workers are so awesome and the people I teach are so awesome. I've never dreaded going into work."

For students who want to get involved, Group Wellness classes are open to all ASU students and can be reserved online year-round at all campuses during the school year! Those interested in becoming an instructor can complete the Instructor Prep Course, offered each fall and spring semester, which includes access to certification coursework. Requirements include current ASU enrollment and completion of CPR/AED certification.

To view the full Group Wellness schedule for Tempe, West Valley, Downtown and Polytechnic campuses, visit fitness.asu.edu/training/group-wellness.