Whether in or out of school, finding ways to stay in shape can be difficult for many, no matter their lifestyle. Students may find themselves lacking the proper equipment or knowledge on how to safely workout.

Because of this, many students decide to take Personal Fitness (Pfit).

“I found out about the class because Coach Bibbee had told me about it a couple of times, so I decided to attend the session for it during the electives fair,” junior Molly Lutz said. “I have always enjoyed working out as a way to relieve stress, so being able to do that during the school day sounded perfect for me.”

Unlike the required gym class for freshman and sophomores, Pfit covers more than basic exercises .The class teaches students how to safely use exercise equipment and the importance of having a structured workout routine. Students are allowed to choose which exercises they want to complete. 

“Pfit has taught me how to lift weights the right way without hurting myself, which will benefit me for the rest of my life,” junior Ryan Plott said.

Studies have shown that regularly working out has many health benefits. John Hopkins Medicine states that working out can improve sleep cycles, relieve stress and boost self esteem. Working out regularly can also greatly decrease the likelihood of having long-lasting chronic illnesses, like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. 

However, beyond the physical benefits of exercise, Pfit has improved students’ confidence in their athletic abilities.

“A few years ago, one of my students came into the class with extremely low self-confidence,” health teacher Melissa Bibbee said. “But by the end of the school year, she had lost over 20 lbs and got a gym membership to continue working out over the summer. She still emails me about 

once a month to thank me for pushing and believing in her. This was definitely one of the most positive and rewarding situations in my teaching career.”

With course selections for the next school year around the corner, students interested in learning more about fitness can get more information through the curriculum fair. 

“My favorite memory from the class so far has been hearing about everyone’s creative solutions to working out at home,” Lutz said. “We’ve all had to get creative with the lack of space, equipment, weights, etc. It’s been really interesting to hear about how everyone has adjusted and overcome their obstacles with working out at home.”