By Claire Hargreaves, fourth year French and German student
Bristol SU’s Fit and Fabulous programme offers a range of exercise classes for female staff and students at the university.
Unbeatable value for money and a diverse range of classes makes it hard to understand why you would fork out for the university gym membership instead.
All classes are based at the Richmond Building in one of the various dance studios, activity rooms and the swimming pool. Competitively priced at £24.99 for the whole academic year, you can go to as many classes as you like per week provided that you sign up on the SU website at least 48 hours in advance of the class.
This means that for the most popular classes, you have to be on the ball to avoid missing out. Despite this, the membership package is very well-priced for the number of classes you can attend – up to 17 a week, if you’re feeling active – and it pays for itself within a few sessions’ time.
The range of classes offered is refreshing and varied, from Boxercise to Barre Fit, with the more traditional yoga and Pilates in the mix, too. A big fan favourite is Afro-Caribbean Fitness on Monday evenings with a feel-good playlist and a high-quality instructor.
One of the other most appealing aspects of Fit and Fab is the inclusive ethos of the programme. Most classes are set at beginner-level and the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly rather than exclusive. That said, the Dance Fit class on Tuesdays should be avoided if tricky choreography is not your thing!
Masters student Anna Young, a regular attendee of Fit and Fab classes, praised the programme, saying that 'it gets women together and empowers them and creates a real sense of community.
'For people trying to get active and do exercise, it’s a lot less intimidating than the gym.'
Classes are mostly scheduled at convenient times, but there is, unfortunately, a lack of classes at the weekend. Also, the rooms can feel a bit crowded at some of the busier sessions, especially for cardio classes which - due to moving about, up and down - is inevitable.
For students based in Clifton, it would be difficult to find an excuse not to attend Fit and Fab classes, but it could be inconvenient for students living in Redland, Cotham, and the city centre. Overall, though, Fit and Fab provides excellent value-for-money fitness classes for those who want to get active on a casual basis in a non-intimidating environment.
Featured image by Bristol SU
Have you attended a Fit and Fabulous class? Let us know what you think of them!
