Feminine-focused health courses out there by way of Recreation Companies | Information

Iowa State University offers many recreational opportunities for students to get involved.

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Iowa State Recreation Services is currently offering free fitness classes for women at Beyer Hall.

“The classes are aimed at anyone who identifies as a woman,” says yoga teacher Cass Brower. “It is meant to be an inclusive, safe place for women to exercise as traditionally going to the gym can be intimidating.”

Brower is a graduate student who has been teaching yoga in the state of Iowa for four semesters. In the third semester of this fall semester, she leads women-centered yoga. As she leads her classes, she incorporates several restorative routines that build confidence and strengthen mental focus.

“One thing I like to do is formulate an intention at the beginning of the class. So if you feel like your mind is wandering, you can go back to that intent that we set, ”said Brower. “We’ll choose a mantra at the beginning of the class and just repeat it in our minds as you flow and hold your poses.”

Some of the mantras that Brower used are “Self-care is not selfish”, “My body has my back” and “I am worthy as I am”.

“This can be done in all yoga classes, not just women, but I have a feeling that many women, especially those with body image struggling social media, benefit from these types of mantras,” said Brower.

Exercising and being fit is a stereotypically male activity. This stereotype has constantly evolved, but fitness is still a male-dominated occupation. As a result, women are more likely to feel judged and out of place when exercising in the gym.

“I can recommend it 100 percent [the female-focused classes] because I’m a woman who gets very nervous when I train in front of people and I didn’t feel judged at all, ”said sophomore Ryleigh Hudspeth. “I had the feeling that everyone in the room was cheering [me] and even if we didn’t say it out loud, we knew it. “

The classes currently available for women are HIIT and yoga. For timetables and registration, see Iowa State Recreation Services website.