JULIE FROMM / ASST. OPINION EDITOR

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

My typical Monday begins at 9 a.m. with my legs sprawled in front of me on my yoga mat at YogaBox, my newest workout fixation. The thermostat is set to 100 degrees and droplets  of  sweat drip down my back before class even starts. Around me, women my age mill about, grabbing weights and blocks and filling their Stanleys with water. They are all tall and thin, and their sports bras are the same color as their leggings. While we wait for class to start, they contort their limbs into positions I didn’t know were possible, and I bite my fingernails in the back of the room. Fitness classes such as these can garner a sort of cult-following, but I don’t think they’re as beneficial for your mental health as they are for your physical health. 

YogaBox is  one of many boutique fitness studios I have visited. I have tried OrangeTheory and felt my limbs ache after using the rowing machine for thirty minutes straight. I have gone to SoulCycle and pushed my legs to their  limit  as I raced my bike towards nothing. The endorphin boost at the end of class is rewarding, but the comparative nature of the classes is nothing short of soul crushing. 

Not only are you surrounded by mirrors that offer too many angles of yourself and others, but the environment  in the room feels more like a competition than a group activity. I second guess myself when I need to take a break during a difficult set in the middle of the class, especially when the person next to me looks like they’re doing just fine. The activity and exercise should be at the top of my mind, yet I am more concerned with everyone else in the class — and I wonder if they’re thinking about me, too. 

My biggest concern with boutique fitness studios such as these is the idea that they are profiting off of my insecurities. At YogaBox, core-focused workouts are booked weeks in advance, while arm workouts often have several spots open at all times. We live in a world where we see our bodies more than ever — on social media or in the mirror — and with the beauty standards being what they are, it’s no wonder that core workout classes are busier. But, working out with the hope of looking a certain way rather than exercising to feel good can be very problematic for your mental health. 

Duke Recreation and Physical Education provides insight on the dynamic between appearance and exercise. 

“Those who have high levels of appearance-based exercise motivation are more likely to develop body dysmorphia and continue down a cycle of negative body image,” Duke Recreation and Physical Education states. 

What may seem like self-help can quickly become self-sabotage. 

These fitness fads are often short-lived as well. Versions of YogaBox, OrangeTheory and SoulCycle are constantly emerging and disappearing as the favor of the masses ebbs and flows. What is all the rage today may be gone tomorrow, and these places aren’t cheap. Many boutique studios advertise membership prices that are upwards of $200 a month, a great expense for college students. 

Something that draws most people towards these fitness fads is that they make exercise feel less like a chore and more like an event — the outfits, the LED lights, the EDM music. There are countless videos on TikTok and Instagram of influencers advertising pastel colored workout clothes while sharing their workout routines-which is almost always some variation of pilates in a dimly lit room with strobe lights. During a recent class, my   instructor  informed us that there would be a live DJ in the room the following week. 

There is nothing wrong with wanting exercise to be fun. Sometimes going for a run outside or lifting weights at the gym doesn’t sound very exciting. What boutique fitness studios offer is more than a workout – it’s an experience. The fact that there can be up to 30 people in the classes can also make you feel more determined to participate. If the person next to you hasn’t given up, then how can you? 

Many students at USD attend workout classes like those offered at YogaBox, and some students agree that their workout can be clouded by self-consciousness. Not only can the participants of these classes feel intimidated by the environment created by boutique studios, instructors can feel this pressure as well. 

Ella Beecher, a senior at USD, gave her perspective on attending fitness boutiques.

“In my head it made logical sense that I am the walking ad for how ‘good my classes are’ by how fit, small, or  in shape I could be.” Beecher says. “I felt in the beginning like a Barbie doll that had to fit a certain mold in order to be taken seriously.” 

I won’t deny that the classes I’ve attended at these studios have been fun. The music selection is always great, and the instructors know just what to say to keep you motivated. But every time I arrive, I am constantly comparing myself to everyone else and it takes away from my experience. 

Next time you feel inclined to sign up for  one of  these classes, make sure you’re  signing  up for the right reasons. 

As   entertaining  as  the  music and  the lights  can   be, it’s important to remember that exercising shouldn’t be a time spent comparing yourself to others, but rather a time to take care of yourself and move your body.