Georgia Southern students traded a typical movie night for a workout session during the latest Pedal and Popcorn event, a creative fitness experience that combines cycling and cinema. The event was held on February 25 on the Statesboro campus at the RAC. The film that was featured was Legally Blonde: The Musical. As participants pedaled through 30-minute cycling sessions. Riders followed a traditional spin-class format, completing jumps, hovers, sprints, and climbs, all while watching the musical on screen.
Olivia Morse, a senior graduating in May and a group fitness instructor, helped lead the event. Morse said Pedal and Popcorn has become a favorite among students because it blends exercise with an engaging atmosphere.
Morse says, “We’ve been doing them for a little while now, we get on the bike, 30-minute sessions just like a normal cycling class. We do all the jumps, hovers, sprints, and climbs. We’re just having a good time on the bike watching the musical or movie and getting a workout in.”
For Morse, group fitness holds personal significance. She shared that her freshman year was challenging as she struggled to find her place on campus. “Campus felt so big, and it felt like I was just so small,” Morse said. “I was really having a hard time and felt disconnected.”
Encouraged by her mother, Morse decided to attend a group fitness class. The first class she walked into was “Rhythm and Ride,” taught by instructor Ashley. She said she fell in love immediately. After frequently attending classes and even dealing with some foot pain from spinning so often, Morse was encouraged by her instructor to apply for a position herself. She is now in her fourth semester as an instructor.
Some of the featured films and concerts during this event was “Wicked”, “Taylor Swift”, “Hannah Montana”, and “Hamilton.” Out of all the themed rides and concert series events, Morse said her favorite was last year’s Taylor Swift “Eras Tour” themed session. “It was actually my first ever PMP as an instructor,” she said. “It was so good. That was my favorite.”
Morse hopes events like Pedal and Popcorn encourage students of all fitness levels to get involved. “You don’t have to be a pro at spin to come in here,” Morse said. “You can be a newbie. I was a complete newbie when I came in for the first time, and here I am as an instructor.”
She emphasized that group fitness classes are welcoming spaces designed to build community as much as strength. “Don’t be afraid to come in here. We’re all super sweet. We love to get to know our participants,” Morse said. “Just come hang out.”
With themed rides, upbeat music, and a supportive environment, Pedal and Popcorn continues to offer students a unique way to stay active while connecting with others on campus.
Follow Georgia Southern’s group fitness Instagram for more information and dates on upcoming events.
