Alma fitness classes: A campus hit

CHARLOTTE ROCKWELL
PHOTOGRAPHER

ANDREW SECORD
STAFF WRITER

3/16/2026

The Stone Recreation Center at Alma College has seen a large increase this year in the attendance of several of their group fitness classes, namely Cardio Drumming, Cardio Boxing and Pilates. Both students and community members have contributed to this increase.

Another part of this increase is due to the increased social media and online presence of the Rec Center.

The Pilates class was added this year due to its recent nationwide popularity. It is run by a Zenlightenment Wellness Center staff member, located in Alma. 

“I believe the increase in group fitness participation is a direct result of that work [to build a wider online presence]… I believe [that] the growth we are seeing is a healthy combination of students and community members looking for new ways to live a healthier lifestyle, with the added bonus of being able to participate with a friend or partner,” said the Associate Athletics Director, Dahmir Noel. 

“The classes build a strong sense of community among participants, which has played an important role in retaining many of them on a weekly basis,” added Noel. 

Noel has high praise for all the instructors of the group fitness classes—Tincy, who leads Cardio Drumming; Bobbi, who leads Cardio Boxing; and Emily, who leads Pilates.

“[The three leaders] are… great at adjusting their classes as needed to ensure the experience is appropriate and enjoyable for everyone involved. Throughout the semester, they incorporate new workouts and music to keep the classes fresh and prevent them from becoming repetitive or boring. Lastly, they take the time to get to know the participants and really create a sense of community within the class,” said Noel.

“We always see an increase in people coming to the Rec Center during the colder months as people want to be indoors. As the cold starts to fade, I hope that our participation for our fitness classes continue to improve and consistently remain high,” said Noel.

Cardio drumming is a high energy, low-impact full-body workout combining drumming, music and aerobic exercise. It involves “using drumsticks to hit an exercise ball placed on a bucket or step risers,” according to the campus calendar, and it is intended to improve cardiovascular health, balance, and endurance. The Cardio Drumming classes happen on Wednesdays each week at 5:15pm in the Stone Rec Center Multipurpose Room.

Pilates classes focus on core strength, controlled movement and breathing, with a goal of improving posture, flexibility and awareness of the body through low-impact exercises, often with specialized spring-resistance equipment or on a mat. The Pilates fitness classes take place weekly, at 7:15am on Tuesday mornings. They can also be found in the Stone Rec Center Multipurpose Room.

Cardio boxing combines the traditional training movements of a boxer, such as jabs, hooks, and kicks, with aerobic activity  to improve cardiovascular health. Unlike boxing, however, it is a non-contact sport. Cardio Boxing classes do not seem to take place each week, but keep an eye on the Tartan Ticker or the Campus Events page on Inside Alma. When they do happen, they take place on Mondays at 6:30pm in the Stone Rec Center Multipurpose Room.

The classes are free for all Alma students, staff, faculty and Rec Center members, or five dollars for non-members. No experience or equipment is necessary.