UW-Whitewater students and faculty will have the opportunity to get fit for free during Warhawk Fitness’ semi-annual free week.

The semi-annual free week, beginning Jan. 17 and ending Jan. 20, allows anyone with a valid HawkCard to participate in group classes offered at the Williams Center and University Fitness Center without membership.

Student coordinator for Warhawk Fitness communications Brendan Barrett said the free weeks have been a success in the past.

“Last year we had nearly 300 participants show up for free week,” Barrett said. “This spring we are hoping to have around 400 people show up to our fitness classes.”

The semi-annual free weeks take place during the first week of every semester to give UW-Whitewater community members an opportunity to learn what Warhawk Fitness has to offer.

During the fall semester, Warhawk Fitness offers classes and open gym, and during the spring semester it offers free classes at the Williams Center dance studios and the University Fitness’ cycling studio without membership.

Fitness instructor and student Alissa Papendieck has been teaching yoga, step, core complete, glutes, fusion and pi-yo, an upbeat alternative to yoga, classes at Warhawk Fitness for the past few years.

“Fitness groups are a great way to get new exercise ideas and meet new people,” Papendieck said. “The atmosphere is great, and being with a group of people helps to keep you motivated.”

A majority of the fitness classes offered by Warhawk Fitness are an hour long, with the exception of core complete and glutes which last 15 minutes. Fusion classes take a half hour, including 15 minutes of core complete and 15 minutes of glutes.

Although attendance heightens after free week, Barrett said attendance usually falls after spring break because of the warmer weather.

Some of the most popular classes offered by Warhawk Fitness are yoga, core complete, step, cardio and cycling.

The classes are on a first-come, first-served basis, and it is recommended participants arrive 10-15 minutes early, Papendieck said.

Because of the popularity of some classes in the past semesters, Warhawk Fitness will have certain classes, such as yoga, multiple times a day. Sessions such as these have a limit of 30 people.

For a student, a Warhawk Fitness pass costs $60 for a semester, $20 for a week and $5 for a day. Warhawk Fitness memberships can be purchased at the Williams Center room 100 or in the basement of the Wells towers at University Fitness.

To find a schedule of fitness classes available during free week, check out uww.edu/recsports/groupfitness or visit the Williams Center.

“It doesn’t hurt to try out group fitness classes, especially because it’s free this first week,” Barrett said. “You never know, group fitness could become your new go-to exercise routine.”