OCCC’s Intramural Sports Assistant Matthew Wright said he knows what a whirlwind the last week of school can be.

He said this fall, the Recreation and Fitness department is approaching finals week in a way that accounts for students’ busy schedules while offering some respitefrom the tension finals can induce.

Instead of focusing on sports, Wright said, the Recreation and Fitness department will open up its group fitness classes to OCCC’s faculty, staff and students free of charge for the week of Dec. 8.

The area is located on the first floor of the Main Building.

“So, they’ll be able to come up here and … get into those fitness classes that final week of the semester,” he said.

Wright said students will need to have a current OCCC student ID to get into the classes.

Group fitness classes run throughout the day from Monday through Friday in the group fitness room near the Wellness Center, Wright said.

He said classes include Zumba, spinning, yoga, various styles of dance, pilates and different muscle-specific workouts. A full list of classes and schedules is available at the Wellness Center or at www.occc.edu/rf/wellness-classes.

Sociology major Spencer White works as a Wellness Center Attendant.

White said the free class offer is a great deal. He said even when the classes aren’t free, they are offered at a discounted price.

“ … We offer a student group fitness pass,” he said. “It’s $45 and it gives you access to every class for two semesters.”

White said group fitness classes tend to be most popular among the school’s faculty but classes like total body fitness, yoga and Zumba have been growing in popularity among students.

He said he expects the free group fitness classes offered during finals week to be very popular with students.

“The fitness class thing is going to be helping students alleviate some stress,” White said.

“ … Come do a 30-minute workout and then go back to studying — just to let you have a break.”

For more information, email matthew.j.wright1422@occc.edu or 405-682-1611, ext. 7684.