Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Weights Without the Wait


In the last month, Rec Sports at the Stuart C. Siegel Center has recorded all time attendance highs four times. Since the closing of the Cary Street Gym, VCU Recreational Sports has responded by extending the hours of the facilities on both campuses, keeping them open until midnight Monday through Thursday. Additionally, the Siegel Center stays open until midnight on Sundays.

Record crowds at the Siegel Center have put the Fitness Center at capacity a few times already, but no students have been turned away. When planning a workout, it is important to consider various times of day in order to get first choice in desired equipment.

“Our busiest hours are between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.,” says Rec Sports Associate Director of Programs, Karen Carden. “5 p.m. to 7 p.m. is an especially busy time when students are getting a workout in before a night class or before they go home for the night.”

With an opening hour of 6 a.m., Rec Sports fitness center users can arrange for an early workout before work and class. Students are encouraged to attend during the early gym hour from 6am until 7:30am.

“We encourage people to come in the early morning or between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.,” says Carden. Also, “It is thinner after lunch from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. because most students are at work on in class,” she says.

Another option available when trying to avoid gym crowding during peak hours is the MCV Campus Recreation Center. The same equipment is available at both locations. Although there are not as many machines, they are all comparable and maintained equally.

If students would like to avoid the high traffic times at the Siegel Center, they are encouraged to arrange their trip to the gym during the thinner periods since their schedules are sometimes more flexible than those of the faculty and staff. For more information on facility hours, please visit http://www.recsports.vcu.edu/facilities/facility_hours.php

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Welcome Back to Rec Sports!


From basic gym essentials to Costa Rican adventures look no further to fulfill the “New Year, New You” state of mind. If you have never taken advantage of VCU Recreational Sports, get ready to change. Recreational Sports offers something for everyone.

Group exercise, intramural sports and swim lessons are all part of what Recreational Sports has to offer. Students can attend weekly classes in taekwondo, yoga, Pilates, salsa and much more. These classes are all free to students with a valid VCUcard. Faculty, staff and alumni can take advantage of low cost memberships as well.

Recreational Sports is not just synonymous with the Siegel Center. Facilities include swimming pools at both campuses, the MCV Campus Recreation Center and the Thalhimer Tennis Center on the Monroe Park Campus. Also, next spring Recreational Sports will welcome the new Monroe Park Campus Recreation Complex currently under complete renovation. This all in one recreational facility will serve VCU unlike any other building. If for some reason you have not seen the virtual fly through, make sure to check it out here.

If hitting the gym every day is not your thing, perhaps the Outdoor Adventure Program will be. The program provides unique outdoor activities like kayaking, skiing, hiking and rock climbing available at a low cost to students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests.

Stay tuned this semester on this blog to get the scoop on how to avoid gym crowding and find the perfect group exercise class to share with friends. Also, find out about new classes being added to weekly group exercise. Starting February 10, Zumba classes will begin every Tuesday and Thursday. Zumba is a fitness program influenced with Latin music and dance moves. Make sure to check this new program out along with the other fitness programs offered daily.