Outside view of Body Alive, a pilates gym. Credit: Natalie Boggs | Arts and Life Photo Editor

For Ohio State students looking to break a sweat and become part of a new community, Body Alive’s heated fitness classes offer more than just a workout.

Located at 1600 W. Lane Ave., Body Alive Upper Arlington was voted best workout class in The Lantern’s 2026 Best of OSU special edition by Ohio State students and community members, earning 188 votes. Elley Sanfillipo, owner and operator of all Body Alive locations in Columbus, said she feels honored by the support of the Ohio State community.

“It is so exciting, and I am just thankful for all of the Ohio State students that come in, bring light into our community, are just so fun and joyful and to have them be at the studio,” Sanfillipo said. “It really breathes a new energy into our Upper Arlington location.”

Body Alive offers high-energy, heated workout classes centered on community, music and motivation. In addition to yoga and Pilates, the studio offers Lagree, a high-intensity, low-impact workout method designed to tone and strengthen the body by engaging nearly 600 muscles at once, according to its website.

Founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, Body Alive now has 41 studios operating across the United States, according to its website.

Riley Adkins, a third-year in finance and a Body Alive instructor and trainer, said she first fell in love with the studio while attending classes at the University of Cincinnati before transferring to Ohio State.

“I was going to transfer in June of 2025,” Adkins said. “The Polaris Studio opened right when I got home [to Columbus] from Cincinnati, and I started going to that studio right away. Again, I fell in love with the Columbus community even more and continued to go. It all went from there. I started training to be an instructor in November, and I’ve been teaching for almost a year now.”

That sense of connection, she said, eventually inspired Adkins to transition from merely attending classes to leading them. What started as a way to stay active became an opportunity to motivate others and create the same welcoming environment she found as a student.

Having grown up playing sports and staying active, Adkins said she never imagined she would, one day, teach fitness classes.

“I fell in love with it and continued to go to classes, grow closer to the instructors and with the community in the studio,” Adkins said. “I realized I wanted to take on a bigger role.”

Alyssa Boutwell, an Ohio State alumna and instructor and trainer at Body Alive, said the relationships she has built with members and instructors in the community are what make the experience meaningful.

In her role, she said being able to influence someone’s day through a workout class has become one of her favorite parts of the job.

“I made some of my closest friends during my senior year through this studio that I’d never known before,” Boutwell said. “It’s something really special here, especially being so close to Ohio State. Students can connect with one another by coming here or they can just spend time with their friends by working out together.”

Although the cost of workout classes can often be a barrier for college students, Body Alive offers several membership and package options. Though a single class costs $20, new members can purchase their first class for $5, and returning members can purchase the six-week, unlimited class package for $36, according to the Upper Arlington studio’s website.

Sanfillipo said Ohio State students can also receive additional discounts online.

“Students are offered a discounted rate on the unlimited monthly membership,” Sanfillipo said. “If that’s not the commitment you’re ready for, you can also qualify for discounts on class packages.”

For those who have never attended a group fitness class, Sanfillipo said students should approach their first class with an open mind rather than worrying about getting every movement right.

“Allow yourself to feel those nerves, but don’t set any expectations on yourself,” Sanfillipo said. “Just go in with a totally open mind. Don’t expect yourself to be perfect. I’ve never taken a class without making a mistake. That’s not what it’s about. It’s really about going into a space, tuning out any outside noise, really listening to our bodies and just having some fun.”

Students interested in trying a class can sign up through Body Alive’s website.