At Messiah, having fun is no joke

For Messiah employees, group exercises at the Falcon Fitness Center provide a 45-minute energy boost during the workday. Taught by staff, alumni and even some students, the classes run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., depending on the schedule of the academic year, and change each semester.

You simply sign up through the IM Leagues application, and you’re ready to workout.

Although students can participate in the group exercise class, 25 percent of the participants are employees, according to Kevin Ogden ’14, director of the center.

“I have seen employees come to class exhausted and dragging. After completing a class, they walk out with more energy and excitement,” he said.

Queenax, a circuit-training class using suspension system equipment and battle ropes, is just one of the offerings available for an afternoon pick-me-up.

“As a former Messiah College student athlete, Queenax feeds my inner competitor and pushes my physical and mental limits,” said Brooke Good ’03, Messiah women’s field hockey coach. “It keeps me energetic for the remainder of the day.”

For those looking to start the work week in a healthy way, Will Franken ’15 teaches the early-bird Spin class on Monday mornings.

“Messiah employees and students, both grad and undergrad, who participate in my Spin class leave more energetic than when they arrived,” said Franken. “Together, we work hard, and we have fun.”

Fellow Spin instructor Luiza Cliver, assistant director of International Student Programs at Messiah, said, “I love teaching Spin class at Messiah, because it allows me to meet new people who I might not otherwise get to know. I love creating a space for Messiah employees to escape the worries and stressors of their days and simply focus on themselves.”

These group exercise classes create a sense of accountability and camaraderie that might otherwise be missing from the usual 9-to-5 grind. 

“Group exercise at Messiah offers a fun and engaging workout that gives Messiah employees a distraction from the fullness of life, while simultaneously developing new relationships with other employees,” said Ogden. “The Falcon Fitness group exercises classes are an incredible benefit to Messiah employees.”

—Emily Koontz ’20 and Anna Seip