Stepping into a cycling class, participants wouldn’t expect to be greeted by an instructor wearing a bald cap impersonating Pitbull or a Taylor Swift flag held high as they cycle to “Cruel Summer.”

But that’s exactly what they get when they sign up for the concert series class at USF’s Recreation and Wellness Center (REC). 

The concert series is a weekly group fitness cycling class that aims to combine music with exercise, said Annika Larson, the group fitness coordinator at the REC.

The class, which is free to USF students, started being offered before COVID-19 and gained popularity in recent semesters, Larson said.

What sets the concert series apart from other cycling classes held at the REC is each class focuses on one singular artist rather than a mix of tracks, Larson said. 

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Larson said the class is open to everyone, regardless of experience level, making it a great fit for beginners and those returning – that is, if you can secure a spot. 

Registration opens 25 hours before classes, and they fill up quickly, Larson said.

“A lot of participants will set alarms,” Larson said. “Group fitness is on the rise here at USF, and the specialty format of the concert series is what makes it so popular.”

It’s not just the concert series that has experienced a surge in popularity. Over the past few semesters, Larson has had to increase the number of spots in classes such as pilates, group yoga, and barre, as well as add more sessions to accommodate growing demand.

This rise in group fitness popularity has even inspired some participants to apply to be an exercise instructor at the REC. Lucy Foust, a senior marketing major, was one of them.

Foust said she has always been a fan of the gym and exercising, but she wasn’t always fond of cardio.

“That was until I found cycle classes and I was a huge fan,” Foust said. “Then, coming to USF, I really fell in love with it, so when they mentioned they were hiring, I was like, ‘Why not?’”

Now, as an instructor, Foust brings the same energy to every class she once brought as a participant — though with a bit more preparation.

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Not only do participants have to sign up for classes, but instructors do as well. 

Larson said that at the start of each semester, a select group of artists is chosen to be featured in the concert series. Instructors then sign up for their favored artist before another instructor takes them.

Once Foust secures her artists for the semester, the gears start turning. 

With every class being a different artist, there are countless ways to curate the perfect performance. Keeping in mind pop culture, Foust caters her themes to recent trends and makes sure each session is different.

Two of Foust’s most popular sessions rode the wave of what was trending then. 

Last semester, she hosted a Brat-themed class inspired by “Brat Summer,” a trend that took social media by storm centering around Charli XCX’s album “Brat.”

When “Barbie” took the world by storm, Foust said participants rode to the “iconic” movie soundtrack.

“The goal is making sure participants have a good class,” Foust said. “I spend time picking out the songs, making sure every song fits the theme and choreographing the class.”

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As group fitness continues to grow in popularity, so does the community behind it. The concert series draws an audience, not only from its returning participants but also from a family of instructors who support each other, Foust said.

“We all go to each other’s [classes], not only cycling classes either,” Foust said. “I’m going to a yoga class tomorrow, barre and pilates.”

The next concert series session will be Thursday at 8 p.m. in the cycling studio at the REC. It will be a Justin Bieber throwback taught by instructor Larson.  

Next week is packed with events that are usually not scheduled, Larson said. It’s called Empower Fit Week and classes are centered around self-love.

“It is a great time to join group fitness at USF,” Larson said.