Centre County virtual wellness classes help community members cope with social distancing

Typically, the appeal of group fitness classes is twofold: encouragement from instructors and the motivation that comes from being surrounded by others. But in light of the coronavirus pandemic, group fitness is taking on a new meaning in Centre County — one that involves setting up a computer and sweating from home.

Following Gov. Tom Wolf’s Thursday announcement that all “non-life-sustaining” businesses in Pennsylvania must close, fitness studios and gyms are among those businesses now strictly off-limits for those practicing social distancing.

But this doesn’t mean sacrificing your health and wellness regimen. State College fitness studio Wellness in Motion began its transition to the web last week. It now offers many of its regularly-scheduled classes through Zoom, a remote conferencing platform.

Mandy Sergent Glitzer, the owner of Wellness in Motion, said there were three reasons she decided to introduce the virtual classes rather than close: to support her business financially, to provide payment to the instructors and to help continue the fitness routines of Wellness in Motion regulars.

A majority of the class offerings are yoga-based, ranging from gentle yoga to “Pi-Yo,” an hourlong session that fuses Pilates with yoga. Since the classes are virtual, there is no limit to the number of people who can take part, and participants have the option of turning their own cameras on or leaving them off.

“We’ve received feedback that members like it when other members turn their cameras on, because it makes it feel like they’re in the class doing it together instead of doing their own thing at home,” Sergent Glitzer said. “So, before a class, we gently encourage (participants) to leave the cameras on.”

Sergent Glitzer said that Wellness in Motion will continue to offer online classes as long as schools, nonessential businesses and other institutions remain closed.

Other local gyms to offer at-home classes include CrossFit Nittany, Mountaintop Jazzercise, F45 Training State College, Fitology, Ki’netik Fitness, East Coast Health & Fitness, One on One Fitness, Planet Fitness, Powertrain Personal Fitness and YMCA of Centre County.

For Marisa Vicere, president and founder of the Jana Marie Foundation, it’s important during times of crisis to have outlets for self-care and creative expression. Fitting in with its mission to promote mental well-being in the State College community, the Jana Marie Foundation has partnered with volunteers and local experts to offer a series of classes through Facebook Live.

Offered Monday through Friday, each class will focus on a different subject, with the goal of bringing the community together through mindful activities. The topics include yoga, drumming, step-by-step painting and guided meditation.

Experience and equipment is not required, Vicere said.

“For the drumming class, you don’t need a drum, you can just use the floor or your lap,” she said. “We tried to have all of our classes involve things you can find around the house so that everybody can join in.”

The classes, found at www.facebook.com/JanaMarieFoundation, will run for at least three weeks, and then the organization will reassess where to go from there.

“We just hope that people have the chance for a break,” Vicere said. “During this time of uncertainty, we just want to remind people that we can still find unique ways to connect and be part of our community.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 5:00 AM.