Fast-paced, circuit-based fitness program open to students

 The new F-45 studio, located in Mackal Field House, allows students to go through an intense workout in a timely manner. PHOTO CREDIT: Maddie Bataille

Functional 45, or simply “F45”, is a global franchise and now has a home inside Tootell Aquatic Center on campus. 

The F45 is a functional training program led by trainers that provide students with different workouts that focus on different muscle groups each day for 45 minutes.

F45 trainer Mia Dunn, she has been excited to see the reception of the new program and calls it a high intensity class. 

“I’m pretty excited,” Dunn said. “It’s a new kind of group exercise class, circuit style training and high intensity and a new way for people to learn in a judgment free zone. I think a lot of people like it, we are getting a lot of regular people that come now which is great because we have different exercises every day.”

Courtney Mackey, the Coordinator of Health and Well-Being at Campus Recreation, helped organize the effort and has enjoyed the uniqueness of the workouts. 

“Throughout the days of the week some days are more cardio-focused and some days are more strength-focused or hybrid,” Mackey said. “High quality workouts provided by F45.”

Not only are there trainers in the studio, but the F45 studio has televisions that allow students to keep up with the workout and work on their form with each exercise. 

“In F45, we have TVs in front of the room [demonstrating] what the exercises are for each station,” Mackey said. “The students always have that visual of what they should be doing plus the trainers go over it at the beginning of the workout so they can physically see it.”

It provides the students with so they can work not only on the workout going on but also on their form. The trainers at F45 show what the workouts should look like before the students do it, then when class starts they go around the studio and they tell and show students how to properly do the exercises. 

The trainers are also very energetic, which creates an environment where not only the music can get students going, but also the energy being put out there by the trainers helps students complete the workout.

The program is relatively new in the fitness world. F45 was found in 2013 in Australia and has quickly become popular across the world. Campus Recreation began plans to bring a F45 studio in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the completion of the project until last year. 

“In March 2021, we built the studio,” Mackey said.  “We had a team of myself and some students, mainly student employees, who work with us in different areas of campus recreation, worked all week on building the studio.”

To register for a class, search for “Fitness” on the IMLeagues app and from there you’ll be able to find the available F45 classes for the day. Registration opens at 12 p.m. the day prior to class and students can sign up until it begins.