Friday, Oct. 12 saw the arrival of a Staten Island fitness company, “DJ Got Me Fit,” whose workout philosophy is making fitness into a party. The event was held in the Clark Creative Room on the University of Massachusetts Boston’s campus. A darkness accompanied by neon lights and the loud bass of speakers was the environment in the room. About 30 people attended throughout the night. All of them were given sunglasses, a glow stick, and glowing jewelry such as bracelets and rings. The shining jewelry composed the few lights in a room full of sweaty individuals working out to the beat of the music.
In front of the people was an enthusiastic fitness instructor who also held “competitive events” throughout the night for money. DJ Got Me Fit gave out a total of a $100 in cash prizes for winning events such as being the first to follow their Instagram or winning a plank or lunge contest. Roommates, Baby Lenga and Mika Guillen, were the last ones competing in a plank contest that was intense in its rivalry. Baby Lenga said, “The moment I realized I was competing with my roommate, there was no giving up.” The last moments of the intense contest involved the two screaming each other’s names and the fitness instructor asking if they wanted to split the cash prize of $20, which they readily agreed to do.
Other students enjoyed seeing a new and “wild” side of their friends. Nhu Tong, who won the lunge contest reports, “DJ Got Me Fit is where I saw a different aspect of my friend, which I had never seen before on a daily basis.” Others reported being surprised with how much they enjoyed the night, especially after the low attendance had given them initial doubts. Thao Nguyen reports, “DJ Got Me Fit made me work out a lot but in the end, it was worth it.”
The final competition of the night was a stretches marathon that consisted of lunging back and forth across the room, squatting back and forth, and then running outside, down the stairs, and across the Clark Athletic Center to emerge back into the room and touch a glowing pillar. The winner of this contest won $20 and the runner-up received a T-shirt. The dramatic contest resulted in thirty individuals out of breath and sated with regards to the promise of “fitness.”
The event was hosted by UMass Boston Recreation, and is part of a series of events that take place monthly for students. These events include the Swim Party at the Clark Athletic Center, the Big E Trip, and many others that will take place throughout the year. The attendants of “DJ Got Me Fit” all received a UMass Boston Recreation tattoo to celebrate their night of fitness and got something to post about on Instagram.
