Fitness at Iowa State University is no joke. Students take their physical health and fitness more seriously than one might think.

To meet all the students’ needs when it comes to fitness, Iowa State offers a variety of classes and athletic training taught by Iowa State students.

Paige Perkins

Perkins became a group fitness instructor because of her obvious love of fitness. 

She teaches Insanity Live, Cross Training Fitness and Cardio Kickboxing.

Although she is comfortable being at the gym and working out, she realizes that others may not be. She believes a group fitness setting is the perfect way to get people loving fitness and being comfortable in their own skin.

“I went through the 12-week Learn to Teach program, and at the end of it, I took the ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification exam,” Perkins said. “The program took us through a different fitness modality each week while preparing us for the ACE exam.”

She also had to take classes she was interested in instructing. 

“To be chosen as a group fitness instructor here, I had an audition where I taught a class I wanted to teach to a group of other instructors while my boss evaluated me,” she said.

Perkins understands the need for students to be healthy and happy with themselves. She looks forward to teaching many more students who are eager to attend her classes.

Amber Meyer

Amber Meyer is also a fitness instructor at Iowa State. She teaches Insanity twice a week, and Cyclefit once a week.

Meyer loves that she gets to combine two of her favorite things as an instructor — guiding people on their fitness journey and helping others.

“As instructors, we take on the responsibility of making sure that we are well prepared to teach a new class each week,” Meyer said. “In addition to this, we make sure that we offer these workouts in multiple levels. This is done so that we are challenging those who are very fit, while still helping those who are just starting to work out.”

Meyer said that before being able to instruct, students have to learn a little about all of the fitness classes that are offered. This gives them general knowledge of everything going on and basic safety practices, so they are always well equipped.