Active Living launches new student-focused fitness classes for Winter term
By Vama Saini, January 2 2026—
The University of Calgary’s Active Living program is rolling out a set of student-focused group fitness classes this winter in an effort to make wellness programming more accessible, affordable and less intimidating for students.
“We just started to introduce these student-focused classes,” said Julie Eldridge, Coordinator for Personal and Group Fitness with Active Living. “Students make up a really small portion of people who attend our classes, so we wanted to offer something that’s designed specifically for them.”
Three classes — Self-Defense, Half Hour Hustle and Mobility and Recovery Express — will run weekly starting the week of Jan. 12, with registration already open. Minimum enrolment numbers must be reached five days before classes begin for them to run.
Classes built with students in mind
Eldridge said the goal was to create offerings that meet students where they are: limited budgets, busy schedules and a desire for community.
“We are not trying to make a profit off of these classes — it’s more of a service,” she said. “Really what we’re looking at is: what is the minimum number we need to run the class and what covers our costs?”
Two of the classes, Self-Defense and Mobility and Recovery, were designed and are taught by instructors who are also students.
“It was [the students] idea for those formats and timeframes,” Eldridge said. “We want to make sure students know that they have resources on campus. For a lot of people, the fitness centre can be really intimidating or it’s just super busy.”
Self-Defense: Building awareness and confidence
Self-Defense, running Tuesdays at 7 p.m., has historically been popular among students.
“Our instructor Maya is really passionate about helping people be aware of their environment and taking steps to be confident and safe,” Eldridge said. “Self-Defense is a good class for mental health because it can give you a bit more confidence if you’re unsure about your safety.”
“The classes are much more affordable than other classes in our programs,” she said.
Half Hour Hustle: A fast, mid-day boost
The new Half Hour Hustle class, offered Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., is intended to give students a quick, efficient workout between classes.
“I think Half Hour Hustle is going to be popular because it’s going to be super time efficient,” Eldridge said. “It’s in the middle of the day, when students typically need a little break and a pick-me-up.”
Mobility and Recovery Express: Undoing the week
Fridays at noon, students can unwind with Mobility and Recovery Express, a session designed to counter the physical strain of studying.
“This one is focused on recovering from the week, especially if you’ve been studying at a desk and being super stationary,” Eldridge said. “Normally we charge more for our personal training classes since trainers are more expensive.”
The class is taught by a certified personal trainer, but offered at a reduced rate.
Lowering barriers and building community
Eldridge emphasized that the classes are intended to make it easier for students to join structured fitness without feeling overwhelmed.
“You show up, you don’t have to think about it, you do the class and you can go,” she said. “There’s also the social aspect. You get to meet other people who might have a common interest because you both signed up for the same class.”
She added that demand for mental and physical health–supportive programs continues to rise.
“We do notice that there is a demand for programs that are supportive of mental and physical health in general. I think students are aware of how important it is to be active and social as well.”
Although the classes are open to everyone, Eldridge said the priority is making sure students know they’re the intended audience.
“We’re just hoping students realize that these classes are made for them,” she said.
Active Living hopes to collect more student feedback after the term to shape future programming.
Registration and full schedules are available through Active Living’s website. Classes begin the week of Jan. 12.