RESTORE is a recently created campus student organization focused on spreading body positivity, female empowerment and wellness for women. Their events consist of growth through fitness such as their first workout event, Barbie Pilates—don’t forget to wear pink, take home a free resistance band and eat yummy cookies—on Monday Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Cap Center multi-purpose room.
RESTORE made their debut at the university’s Spring Student Community and Engagement Org Fair with roses, snacks and a board for interested students to write supportive advice for others to read.
RESTORE was founded by Julia Patterson and Sadie Weaver to cater to the needs of women on campus who are passionate about the importance of wellness. Their events will be on Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
According to The Sport Review, wellness and fitness on college campuses “help with anxiety, depression and self esteem.” Many students use exercise as an outlet to relieve stress which leads them on a journey of personal growth and discipline.
RESTORE’s slogan, “blooming into your best self,” features flowers on their logo to represent the growth they wish to nurture. The name itself was chosen to summarize the restorative and empowering feeling they will induce after their events.
Workout Coordinator is the unique position Weaver holds. Weaver said, “I coordinate with different studios around Columbus that are wanting to partner with us and agree with our mission of spreading wellness and fitness to people who are interested. So they volunteer to come on campus and lead event workouts.” Their first workout event is Barbie Pilates led by Tabby from Club Pilates, which is a studio in Polaris mall that aims to teach that “control of your body helps you to be in control of your life.”
Lately, women-led and exclusive workout spaces have been on the rise. One student, Senior Meredith Bischoff said, “On our campus specifically, I’ve never felt uncomfortable in a campus workout place, but definitely just like outside in the world. I think that they’re very important because there’s a lot of creepy people around places, especially like my hometown. There’s a lot of men trying to record you when you work out, but I’ve never had a bad experience like that here, but off campus, yes.”
Harassment in forms of unwanted comments and advances is unfortunately quite common at workout spaces. RESTORE intends to uplift women and facilitate a safe learning environment over health and fitness.
