College life can be stressful. There is a resource located just five minutes from campus, In-Shape Health Club on Countryside Dr. in Turlock. This is a place where students can go to decompress and breathe.
There is a wide variety of classes included with membership that students can take, such as their popular body pump, yoga and zumba classes.
In addition to classes, In-shape also incorporates holistic wellness at its facility. With events like Wellness Wednesday, where members and non-members can access tools aiding with mental health, nutrition guides and educational resources. These resources can assist students with stress outside of school or the gym.
Darae Taylor, the club’s Engagement Specialist, has worked with In-Shape for six years. His role focuses on supporting community building among members.
“I think those relationships and connections and rapport with people is something you can’t buy, which they appreciate. They appreciate those moments,” Taylor said.
According to Taylor, In-Shape emphasizes relationship building particularly through its Member Experience Associates (MEAs) at the front desk. He said the gym centers its approach on member care.
“We’re to help, we don’t judge anybody as how they look, whether they start, whether they finish where they’re at. We want to help you out wherever you at in that moment,” he said.
General Manager Kristian Louie has been with the team for fourteen years and seen firsthand how the gym has impacted students from Stan State.
“The Turlock location is known to have a majority of members who attend the schools and a lot of the young adults definitely end up utilizing this gym here,” Louie said.
She also explained that, apart from helping students, they also give back to the Turlock community by participating in fundraisers and awareness-raising events.
Noting that In-Shape participates annually in the Relay for Life of the Greater Central Valley, a fundraiser organized by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and partners with them each fall.
They also partake in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events, including the local San Joaquin Valley walk located near Turlock.
In-shape offers student discounts and employment opportunities, which Louie said several Stan State students have taken.
Above all, Louie wants students to know that they don’t need to be experienced or confident to start.
“Fitness loves company,” she said
John Wright (Business, Senior) joined In-shape two years ago to improve his physical health and quickly found that the mental benefits were showing equal results.
“It really helped me. Sometimes I’m stressed over tests, or like deadlines of homework and whatnot. But like the gym is always there,” Wright said. “If I had a bad day, I like to listen to music in the gym. Put on some music and hit my workout.”
“If I’m having a really bad day I’ll try to hit a PR,” he said. “It keeps me calm and clearheaded.”
He added that the gym has helped with his discipline and routine compared to his freshman year. Its proximity to campus allows him to hit a quick workout before class. Wright also noted that many college students have memberships making the gym a common gathering space.
He encourages students considering joining to explore the option.
“I feel like it’s one of the best things you could do, like, while you’re in school. Like, it’s like an outlet… and people really motivated me and helped me through like my journey. And people would absolutely do the same for you,” Wright said. “I feel like it’s a good outlet for a student. Like, you got all that stress on you from work and exams. Yeah, I mean, go for it, go to the gym.”
