What is CHAARG? CHAARG is a women's health and fitness organization that stands for changing healthy attitudes and actions to recreate girls. We want to liberate them from the elliptical and offer new and fun ways to work out with other women! So, why should you join? Here are five reasons.

1. Make new friends

My Spring 2020 small group!

Anna Kropov

We have weekly workouts where the entire organization is split into two sections where we break a sweat with a female coach from a local studio for an hour. We've done POUND, Metafit and HIIT to name a few. It is so much fun to work out with a large group, as it creates a team effort to motivate each other to not give up! Each member is placed into a small group of 10 women or less that meets weekly for an hour to work out or just socialize. This is the perfect opportunity to form closer bonds and have more flexibility to choose what you want to do collectively. There's no boundaries; you can hike, walk, paint, bake cookies at your small group leaders' apartment, paint, watch movies, grab lunch together and so much more.

2. It makes working out fun

Anna Kropov

Each weekly (and small group) workout is different, plus the coaches are always super upbeat and do the moves with us. Modifications are always offered, music is blasted from the speakers, and we all learn to try new things we've never done before. From Strong by Zumba to May's Yoga, you'll never be bored. Most people think that working out is just lifting weights at the gym or going on a run, but CHAARG makes it so much more than that!

3. It's not a big time commitment

CHAARG

Both weekly and small group workouts are an hour each, so you only have to give 2 hours of time to CHAARG total. Of course, you are encouraged to hang out with other CHAARGies outside of organized events as well so that's just the minimum. We're always down to go to the gym together, grab lunch with each other and study in groups with others who are in our respective majors. Not only that, but we have an annual weekend retreat every fall and a formal every spring!

4. It's affordable

CHAARG

A full-year membership is $109 for the 2020-2021 school year and that includes all weekly workouts, socials, and small groups you attend throughout two semesters, plus a CHAARG tank top! Twenty-eight times cheaper than a sorority and comes with all the same benefits.

5. We promote healthy lifestyles for women

My Fall 2019 small group

Anna Kropov

We aren't here just to work out. We have women's health talks, mental health resources, tips and tricks offered on the CHAARG website, lists of various home workouts, and even jobs offered for the national organization itself! We have _inchaarg Instagrams specifically dedicated to our health and fitness journeys, our time in CHAARG, our favorite recipes, and more. It's a great side of social media filled with positivity, motivation, and a glimpse into our real lives- not the "everything is great" photos you tend to see of other people's seemingly perfect lives (which we know are unrealistic).

This organization has offered me so much comfort, support, and reasons to keep going after I joined during the hardest year of my life. I used to have the worst days until I'd go to a weekly workout or small group and instantly feel better when I was surrounded by an army of uplifting women. I cannot recommend CHAARG enough and I encourage every college woman to give it a try, even if you're not super athletic. We're all average and nobody here is a pro-athlete. Chances are, we're a lot like you.