How UNCC Students Use Pilates for Well-Being
UNC Charlotte Students Embrace Pilates Health Benefits: A Toning Distraction from Academic Pressures
Pilates is gaining momentum among UNC Charlotte students who are looking to improve their physical and mental well-being or just want to have fun. At the UREC fitness center, students look forward to these free Pilates classes and discovering a plethora of healthy benefits guided by dedicated instructors.
Zoe Kirsch, a student Pilates and Barre instructor at UREC, has a dancing background that inspired her journey into teaching fitness. Looking for a new way to stay active, Zoe shares that she's always been “gym-shy” and was hesitant to work out in front of others until she discovered Pilates in college. She pursued certification through the STW Group Fitness program at UNC Charlotte and began teaching Pilates in her freshman year. "Teaching has grown my love for Pilates. I want others to enjoy it too," she shared.
Zoe has found Pilates helpful for her mental and physical health and believes it is doing the same for students who participate. "It’s best to start building lifelong habits of exercising in college, and Pilates is a great choice for that. Exercise is crucial for your overall health," she said. Despite the challenges of time management and meeting class expectations as a college student herself, Zoe finds teaching rewarding. “I’m in other organizations like campus ministry and the pre-dental club, and my class schedules are specific. I intentionally don't teach Pilates during the day or around those hours because I enjoy teaching so much I have to make time for it.”
Destiny Isler, a junior majoring in business management at UNCC, regularly attends 7 p.m. Pilates classes at UREC and shares her experiences. "Pilates has significantly improved my mental health and boosted my academic motivation," she said. Destiny came to UNCC seeking a more diverse and vibrant environment; she has been open to developing new experiences. She started Pilates spontaneously after a friend invited her to a class. "I thought it would be a fun way to get my mind off how stressful this semester was starting to be, including balancing work too," she explained. Destiny hadn't been active in quite a while and saw a great opportunity to reintroduce herself to the fitness world.
Her main motivation for continuing with Pilates was to manage stress and anxiety due to the pressure of academics and a part-time job. Destiny also noted that instead of aiming for unrealistic fitness goals, Pilates helped her enjoy gaining strength and flexibility.
A typical Pilates class at UREC is designed to be welcoming and effective. "I like a mellow vibe with light music. The classes focus on strengthening the core, hip flexors, glutes, legs, shoulders, and back, with an emphasis on matching breath with movement,” Zoe explained. Students appreciate the structured yet flexible approach, which allows them to progress at their own pace and keep coming back. The flexible hours accommodate early risers at 6 a.m. or night owls who prefer an 8 p.m. class.
Pilates at UNC Charlotte is more than just a workout; it's a way to enhance students' college experience with a campus community that encourages well-being. Students like Destiny feel supported in finding new ways to stay healthy and balanced with the support of the UNCC UREC fitness center. Zoe and Destiny highly encourage others to try a class and experience the benefits for themselves.