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International Student Exercise Classes Success

Liv Lynch
February 12, 2018
The Edge header image

This Christmas, the University of Leeds‘ flagship fitness facility – The Edge, offered a unique series of free exercise classes for its international students and the wider Leeds Global Community.

The classes included the ever popular, Les Mills Body Pump and Body Combat along with some brand new virtual led classes taught in Mandarin. The University of Leeds has invested significantly in their Group Exercise Timetable providing one of the largest programmes in the country, with over 220 classes on offer per week during term time.

Suzanne Glavin (Head of Sport) said; “It’s really important that we make sure that our sport and group exercise class provision at the University of Leeds meets all our students’ needs, including our international students. We were grateful and delighted to capitalise upon our strong collaborative working with Les Mills. We were delighted that we could pilot their excellent virtual classes, and be the first to launch those taught in Mandarin. Our international Chinese students who remained in Leeds over the Christmas period enjoyed a taste of home through taking part in Mandarin virtual group exercise classes“.

The Edge now has a fully kitted out virtual studio, offering a range of virtual classes for both beginners and the more experienced exercise class goer.

155 class bookings were made over the two weeks of Christmas for this new venture and feedback received from the students was resoundingly positive.

 

“I think it’s a really brilliant idea to put these classes during December, especially for international students. I really enjoyed the class, there were loads of weights and bars available which was good. I would definitely attend again! Thanks for putting them on!” – Miranda

“I attended two virtual classes and they were very good, especially that the instructions were in Mandarin. I enjoyed them and realised that I really need more exercises. I’d like to book again if similar classes will be available in the future” – Huiming

The Edge has been recognised at the National  Fitness Awards over three consecutive years, coming runner-up in the National Group Exercise Award category in 2017.

Top 5 Ranking for University Sports Facilities

Tom Exeter
April 15, 2015
The Edge

As part of the recent Times Higher Student Experience Survey Leeds has achieved a fantastic joint fifth place in the ‘Good Sporting Facilities’ category, a result which has been retained for the fourth year in a row due to the continuous investment and development of the sporting facilities and experience at here at Leeds.

 

Sport & Physical Activity service at University of Leeds is committed to inspiring students through an exceptional experience and over the past year alone over 2 million has been invested into facilities such as the£1.2m refurbishment of The Edge. This included an extension to the fitness suite and brand new state-of-the-art fitness equipment which has made it one of the largest gyms in the country. A brand new £1m boat house was also opened in September with room for 50 boats and indoor training and changing areas which has given the University boat club a home and increased engagement with the local community.

 

Find out more about the Times Higher Student Experience Survey online.