Delaney Ruth is a senior sport management major at SRU. Outside of class, Ruth teaches spin classes in the Aebersold Student Recreation Center (ARC).
Spin classes are offered to SRU students for free along with various other group fitness options.
Ruth is one of the spin instructors at SRU. She teaches on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m.
Ruth discussed what spin class consists of.
“Spin class is, you’re on a stationary bike. Usually, my classes tend to be more choreography on the bike, so that’s more arm movement, hand movement and also engaging your core, your abs, but also sometimes your legs,” Ruth said. “Isolations and stuff like that with hills, and also getting your heart rate up for sprints and other variations.”
Ruth shared how she found her love for spin.
“I feel like 2020 was the year you started trying new things, so of course, I saw it all over social media. By the time 2021 came around, I was like, this is something I want to try. Just going to different studios around where I live back home and trying that out, but also going to classes here at Slippery Rock,” Ruth said.
When Ruth was a freshman at SRU, she was excited to know that the school offered free classes and wanted to try them.
“I took a girl’s class; her name is Megan, she graduated I think last year. She was the choreographer and the teacher that I always went to, and I was like, ‘I love it, and I want to get into it,’” Ruth said.
Ruth was then able to get involved after interviewing, working for a certification and completing training prior to being able to teach the class.
“It’s a great opportunity. Seriously, I wouldn’t change it for anything. It gets me out of the house,” Ruth said. “It also relaxes my mind a little bit: gets my mind off of things when I teach, but also let’s me meet new people. Seeing new faces come in every class, it just makes me happy, and getting to spread that enjoyment of working out, or getting a little bit of exercise in, or even just coming out of the classroom for five minutes and just getting your mind clear; I just think it’s something great that more people should experience.”
Spin class is a free resource for all SRU students to participate in.
“I think it’s great, and I love showing that it is different than your typical walking on the treadmill and just listening to your own music. You’re coming into a class, you’re doing different things, you’re listening to different music…but you’re also being empowered and being motivated by other people around you,” Ruth said.
Ruth shared that her favorite part of getting to teach spin class is the people.
“I’ve met so many people through these classes, and just like I said, seeing the joy on people’s faces and spreading that joy throughout, and making them smile and making them have a good workout and just letting them relax…I think it’s a different space for them and I just love seeing that,” Ruth said. “And I want to spread that throughout, no matter what it is whether that’s spin, whether that’s in the classroom, or whether that’s in the gym in general. I would love to be [a] source for people that they can come and let their mind go a little bit and just free their mind.”
Ruth also hosts themed nights including “Disney” and “Country Night,” with new themes frequently.
“I know when you come in that room, maybe you don’t want to be there. Maybe you force yourself to be there, but I always kind of make it a statement that, you walked into this room for a reason, and whenever you walk out of this room, don’t walk out of this room with regrets,” Ruth said. “I think it’s a moment that you can take to yourself, and I just think it’s a great way to also improve your health and get that exercise in. But letting your mind be free and not being able to focus on school work 24/7, or even what’s going on in your personal life, it gives you a break from all that. It gives you a break from reality.”
