Rising above the clash of machinery and heavy weights in the Village Fitness Center, the voice of trainer Scott Teves echoed through the Center Room, demanding a final effort from an ensemble of breathless attendees. They pushed through a final speed round of weights, sitting down the whole time in a row of seats and wheelchairs.
Viterbi Graduate Student Association (VGSA) hosted USC’s first-ever seated workout class on April 23rd in collaboration with USC Recreational Sports (Rec Sports). The class welcomed wheelchair users, people with lower body injuries and anyone wanting to work out from a seated position.
Natalie Fung, a graduate student studying communication data science, organized the hour-long event. She leads the Accessibility Initiative at VGSA, which aims to strengthen relationships among students with disabilities by hosting accessibility events around campus.
The class was taught by Scott Teves, a senior fitness programs advisor at Rec Sports.
“[Fung] wanted to do a class where [wheelchair users] could come together and do something that was accessible,” Teves said. “So we met and got to collaborate, and we decided that this was the day.”
Teves divided the class into a series of arm exercises, using body weight and weights to work up strength and endurance.
“For a lot of wheelchair users or people with disabilities, the gym can be a little intimidating,” Fung said. “...They usually work out in their dorm or apartment, so I think it was nice to get people out and show them that they can come to the gym.”
For Fung and many other wheelchair attendees, the event was their first time entering the USC gym. While the Village Fitness Center offers wheelchair accessibility options like folding seats and the ability to roll wheelchairs into machines, Fung says most people are not aware of these features.
Rachel Miller, a sophomore studying biochemistry, considered using the USC fitness center before but felt like there were easier, less-intimidating options.
“I’m not used to exercising beyond physical therapy. It was amazing to have someone do the extra research and make a class that’s adaptive to stuff that I’m able to do,” Miller said.
Myles Molnar, a senior studying applied math and data science, was equally impressed with the event. He appreciated the opportunity to exercise outside of his apartment where he mainly does upper body routines with resistance bands.
“I came into this with apprehension about things that I could or could not do, but the instructor seemed very well educated in making it accessible and I could do as much as I wanted or could do. It was a very successful class,” Molnar said.
Fung said she typically uses YouTube videos for at-home workout routines, but with a limited selection, it’s nice to have a change of pace and scenery with a real gym instructor.
The classes aren’t only restricted to wheelchair users or students with disabilities. People with injuries big and small are welcome, as well as beginners who want to start off with something less scary.
“We made [these classes] for people with disabilities and people in wheelchairs, but it’s open to anyone,” Fung said.
However, accessibility is still a work in progress at USC. Molar notes that the Village Fitness Center doesn’t have any buttons that allow for easy access inside. Some doors on campus also lack a button and are rather heavy making it difficult to open.
“I’ve had to kind of alter my schedule around like those doors, for sure,” Molar said.
Despite the challenges, Miller appreciates what USC has done so far in terms of accessibility but also believes their work isn’t finished yet.
“It’s tough because accessibility is different for so many different people, but I think USC has been doing a great job and listening to our concerns,” Miller said. “Obviously it’s hard to implement things without adequate funding, but I think we should have stronger advocacy or a board that allows students to improve accessibility.”
Groups like the Accessibility Initiative at VSGA are helping advocate for students with disabilities alongside promoting events catered toward them. Events like a seated workout class is one step in the right direction toward making USC a more inclusive and accessible campus.
“It was really cool. We had a lot of people with different skill levels, so people were pushing themselves,” Teves said. “It’s always good to see that, especially if it’s their first time in the gym. Everyone can get together and have a good time, laugh, and smile.”
Teves said clubs and organizations can contact Rec Sports to organize classes and book instructors. The Graduate Student Association recently hosted a pilates event and instructors led pilates in quads to celebrate Black History Month.
“We offer about 70 to 80 classes a week,” Teves said. “There’s always going to be a class for someone … We have a variety of classes so that students have a way of expressing their way through fitness.”