Senior Olivia Seitz, an environmental studies and economics major, is an avid and committed fitness instructor at Colgate University and in Hamilton, N.Y., at Plank Hamilton, a local fitness studio that focuses on yoga, barre and pilates classes. Through these commitments, she serves both students and the greater community.
Vinyasa yoga, characterized as a dynamic and flow style of yoga, has long been a passion for Seitz. She noted that during her sophomore summer, after finishing her internship early, she dedicated a lot of time to CorePower Yoga, a specialized heated yoga class. She realized she could turn her growing passion for yoga into something more once she returned to school, leading her to reach out to Colgate’s Director of Recreation C.J. Molina about becoming an instructor.
“[I realized that] I should stop paying for this,” Seitz said. “I can do all of [the exercises] — I might as well teach because it’s something I love so much.”
During the fall semester, Seitz taught her sculpt pilates class at Colgate on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons at 5:30 p.m., garnering large class sizes due to it’s abundant popularity among Colgate students. First-years Annabel Hardart and Kelsey Plumb shared their experiences going to her class and how much they enjoyed it.
“It was always the most full class,” Hardart said. “I thought she was very encouraging and patient with us. Her playlist was always upbeat and felt catered to students. The beat of the music always went very well with the exercises we were doing, and her class felt [similar to a] CorePower workout. I also felt like because she was a student teacher, we were able to connect with her better.”
Plumb emphasized the social aspect of it as well.
“It was a great way to workout but also to socialize because everyone loved her classes and the environment — it created a community,” Plumb said.
Seitz’s popularity among students on campus has even inspired them to go to Plank to take her class and explore the other classes there.
“Most of the students who come to the studio are people who went to my class on campus,” Seitz described. “At Plank, my role is the same as on campus, acting as a yoga and vinyasa teacher. I do a very similar class as on campus, this one is just heated. The owner had heard I taught on campus and reached out to me.”
Plank Hamilton offers multiple hot yoga, vinyasa, barre and pilates classes for varying ability levels. Seitz has enjoyed her time teaching and taking classes at the studio.
“It is a super nice studio — they have great mats, weights and heating, so it’s a nice experience for people who are looking to pay around $20 for a class,” Seitz said.
Despite her passion, Seitz unfortunately broke her collarbone prior to the spring semester. Still, she hopes to return to teaching fitness soon.
“I don’t know if I am able to teach this semester yet — hopefully in the second half I can,” Seitz explained. “But I teach a yoga sculpt class. It is basically a pilates and vinyasa yoga style class.”
Seitz’s involvement with fitness at Colgate and Plank Hamilton is an amazing example of how students can become an integral part of campus life and get involved in the local community.
