Students fitness instructor inspires others to participate in engaging exercise classes

Student fitness trainer Charity Parrott has been creating a new exercise environment through teaching cardio dance and barre-Pilates classes at the LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center. Parrott is a sophomore with a major in biochemistry and a minor in French. As she pursues her degree, Parrott strives to make exercise feel less intimidating to others.

“I want working out to feel like you’re having a party,” Parrott said. “You really do not have to be a fitness expert to come.” Parrott first began her fitness journey when she started taking Zumba classes with her mother at the age of 16. After coming to Liberty University, Parrott attended the Zumbathon hosted by Liberty’s past Zumba Club. Inspired by the Zumbathon event, Parrott decided to begin teaching her own fitness classes. 

Parrott has been leading classes since the fall of 2023 and plans to continue to do so throughout her time at Liberty.

Parrott now leads cardio dance, barre and additionally barre-Pilates fusion. Cardio dance is a class that gets the heart rate up through movement. It is about having fun — making exercise feel like a dance party. 

Typically, 25 to 30 people attend the class. This number helps participants to feel as if they are not being watched by other people in the room. Everyone is just enjoying the time together.

In her barre and barre-Pilates fusion classes, Parrott also tries to include dance elements. The barre class includes workouts that use a ballet barre; it focuses on developing specific ballet skills.

Barre-Pilates fusion, in addition to ballet skills, incorporates strength training through Pilates. Barre and barre-Pilates fusion classes focus on building balance, coordination and strength. The classes normally have six to 12 participants.

“Going to the gym at LaHaye can be so intimidating,” Parrott said.

Group exercise classes are a remedy to this, as classes are led by demonstration through instructors. Participants are not expected to know what to do, which helps take a majority of the pressure off when working out.

“I love when I can see people having fun,” Parrott said.

Parrott teaches cardio dance Mondays at 7:15 p.m. and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Classes are 45 minutes each. Barre classes are Mondays at 6:15 p.m., and barre-Pilates fusion classes are Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Students who are interested in trying Parrott’s classes and others can easily sign up by going to this website. A schedule for classes can be found here.

Sowell is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion