A new student collective called Wexercise has begun offering a variety of non-credit fitness courses that were previously organized through the Office of Health Education (WesWell). An open-level “Hatha Yoga Blend” class, which explores a variety of yoga styles, marked the first class sponsored by the group on Sept. 18.
Sylvie Stein ’12 and Maggie Cohen ’12, who both managed the program last year, became the co-managers of the new group and have worked closely with Director of WesWell Tanya Purdy to make a smooth transition to a student collective.
“It’s for students, by students,” Stein said. “So we thought, in that ideology, we should maintain it as a student group as opposed to an affiliate with WesWell.”
Ever since the move, the group has been classified by the Wesleyan Student Assembly as a student club and received part of its funds from that body. According to Stein, the shift has taken place with the unequivocal approval of WesWell.
“There’s no drama or conflict with WesWell whatsoever,” she said. “It was a collective decision for the well-being of both groups.”
Purdy agreed that there were no difficulties caused by the transition. She also noted that prior to her arrival, Stein and Cohen ran the fitness classes without an advisor or information about previously existing non-credit classes.
“They were just running it on the fly,” Purdy said. “They did an amazing job because they were so passionate and dedicated and have their own personal experience.”
WesWell will still maintain a connection with Wexercise in a long-term advisory role. Purdy, who was appointed to the position of director in April and is the first holder of that office after a two-year interim period, currently serves as the group’s advisor. She will provide aid in terms of room reservations, the maintenance of records for managerial purposes, the storage of certifications and records from the era of non-credit classes, and other logistical functions.
In the short term, Purdy will also collaborate with Stein and Cohen in creating manuals for instructors and co-managers, as well as general procedures to ensure a sustainable logistical foundation for the group.
“I think that we’re still in transition,” Purdy said.
She has also helped read applications by prospective student instructors. The primary criterion for prospective instructors is certification by an appropriate outside party, usually a national organization. Such certifications, according to Purdy and Cohen, are the results of rigorous training periods over a given number of hours, a specific course load, testing, and other components.
“We have [had] all these instructors apply,” Stein said. “They’re extensively trained and certified. They’re amazing instructors. I think it’s an unbelievably positive student service.”
The shift has also caused the price of semester-long classes to decrease from last year’s sliding scale of $85 to $125 to a flat rate of $90. The drop-in rate of $10 and the six-class rate of $50 have remained the same. A new break-dancing class run by Sam Choi ’12, with respective prices of $5, $25, and $45, is an exception.
“We’re really working on making things more accessible for everyone,” Cohen said. “[Affordability] is something we really value as a collective.”
Early responses to the classes have been positive, particularly towards instructors, whom the students deemed extremely helpful and competent.
“I felt like I was at one of the yoga lessons that [I’ve attended outside of the University],” said Christine Treuhold ’13, after attending junior James Gardella’s first open-level class for yoga in the style of Sri Dharma Mittra.
Cohen added that the group has considered collaborations among instructors, events in conjunction with program houses, and other special activities over the course of the semester. Student instructors already participate in others’ classes and are in regular contact, according to Stein.
Wexercise has posted its schedule, class descriptions, and instructor biographies on the blog http://wexercise.blogs.wesleyan.edu/