CHAARG Empowers Women on Campus through Working Out

Chaarg helps The University of Akron women find their favorite workouts while also inspiring and empowering them.

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As the yoga class ended, Morgan Bucy looked around the room. She reflected how nervous she had been to attend her first CHAARG workout. Bucy then realized she had nothing to worry about at all.

“As soon as I walked in, everyone welcomed me in and started talking like we were best friends,” said Bucy, a freshman at UA.

CHAARG is a workout organization that has chapters at 111 different universities. The organization looks to empower women to find what workouts they enjoy the most, while also providing a welcoming environment.

The CHAARG chapter at The University of Akron meets every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to engage in a new workout. These workouts range from yoga, POUND, Cycle Bar and everything in between. All members are invited to these workouts free of charge. Members also have the option to join a small group. Small groups meet once a week and they do a variety of activities. Anything from working out to sitting down and having coffee.

“CHAARG helped me find my passion for Cycle Bar,” said Bucy. “The very first time I went to Cycle Bar was with the CHAARG group, and I fell in love with it. Now I go almost every week.”

Exercise is something that greatly benefits college students. Not only does it help physical health but it helps mental health as well. It can relieve stress and help create a better social life.

According to Resources to Recover, exercising releases chemicals into our bodies that help lift our moods; exercising is often recommended to treat mild cases of depression.

“Joining CHAARG really did help my mental health,” Bucy said. “I work out a lot more now and it really does help relieve stress and just overall boost my mood.”

Making friends can also be a struggle in college. Some people get lucky and find friends instantly, while others do not. Paige Via, the event coordinator for CHAARG, said that she has met so many lifelong friends through the organization.

“I knew somebody that was in CHAARG when I joined but she was not able to come to the first workout with me. I still went because my goal was to meet new people,” Via said. “It was the best thing I ever did. I have met so many people and made lifelong friends.”

CHAARG also offers the opportunity to hold an executive spot. They have many different positions such as Event Coordinator, Secretary, VP of Media, and more. These positions can help strengthen leadership skills, organization skills, and more. Via wanted to join the executive board to try and make CHAARG feel like a safe place for every member.

At the beginning of each semester, CHAARG hosts multiple recruitment events that any potential members can attend for free. These

To fully become a CHAARG member, visit the CHAARG website and select “Become a Member” and then find your school listing. It does cost $57 to become a member. A membership allows you to attend all workouts for free and allows you to attend small groups and any social events.

CHAARG strives to change the mindset of college women. They want to provide a safe space for others to fall in love with working out. Women are less far likely to work out than men. CHAARG provides a group setting that allows women to connect with others on the same journey as themselves and challenges them to move out of their comfort zone.