Trending Activity Courses: Meeting Today’s College Students’ Interests and Needs

Background: College students enroll in activity courses such as Pilates or yoga with the idea that it is easy and successful completion will take very little effort. As the course progresses, students’ perceptions begin to change. They begin to realize that there are significant mental and fitness benefits to performing Pilates/yoga exercises on a regular basis. Methods and Measures: College students (N=62) [44% Females (n=28) and 54% Males (n=34)] were surveyed. The undergraduate sample consisted of 22% freshmen, 30% sophomores, 24% juniors, and 24% seniors. A convenience sample was collected from participants who were enrolled in a physical activity course of some nature (Aquatics, Rhythmic Activities, Mat Pilates, Intramurals and Team Sports). Student participants completed a 17-item survey. Some items were designed to obtain information regarding difficulty performing Pilates/yoga, developing balance and flexibility. Other items focused on determining if yoga/Pilates were considered relaxing and meditative. The final item was designed to obtain perceptions regarding beliefs of appropriate audience and fitness levels for yoga/ Pilates participation and if the participants were familiar with Power Yoga and PiYo as alternative forms of Pilates/yoga. Chi-square analysis was performed to determine if there was a significant difference between observed and expected frequencies for female and male respondents. Results: Chi-square analysis revealed the following observed and [expected] frequencies for which students identified knowing the difference between Pilates and yoga. Female students reporting knowing the difference: 26[19.4], female students reporting not knowing the difference: 28[8.6]; male students reporting knowing the difference:17[23.6], male students reporting not knowing the difference:17[10.4], X2(61) = 13.269, p<.001. Chisquare analysis also revealed the following observed[expected] frequencies for students’ knowledge of what PiYo is. Female students reporting knowing what PiYo is: 9[5.4], female students reporting not knowing what PiYo is: 19[22.6]; male students reporting knowing what PiYo is: 3[6.6], male students reporting not knowing what PiYo is: 31[27.4], X2(61) = 5.349, p<.05. Conclusion: This study found significant gender differences in college students’ knowledge and understanding of Pilates and yoga. Understanding students’ knowledge and what they value in an activity class may help determine future course offerings, or additional teaching material options to the traditional Pilates and yoga classes currently being offered to accommodate interest and need of college students. As instructors of Pilates or yoga it is vital to stay current with the new forms of exercise options available that we use within our course offerings and teaching style. Faculty that keep abreast of the current trends in the fitness industry may be more successful in meeting the interests and needs of today’s college students.

Keywords: Pilates; Yoga; PiYo; Power Yoga