The department of University Recreation will be offering multiple exercise and wellness programs for students, faculty, and staff in the Arkansas Union this semester. Programs are designed to provide convenient and approachable opportunities for interested individuals to receive assessment and consultation regarding fitness and exercise, try out various forms of group exercise classes, and learn about various wellness topics such as nutrition and workout plan design.

“Exercise and wellness aren’t just things that we should think about when we’re in the gym,” said Jessica Graham, graduate assistant for fitness programs in the UREC department. “We want to help people integrate physical activity into their everyday routines. You don’t necessarily need a gym membership or several hours of extra time every day to be healthier and more active.” Participants don’t necessarily need to change clothes to participate, as long as they can move comfortably. Exercise classes will offer modifications in order to be inclusive for a wide variety of fitness and ability levels.

All of the following programs are no cost, and available on a drop-in basis with no pre-registration necessary. They are all held from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the specified locations in the Arkansas Union.

Fitness Assessments: Assessments are a valuable tool in helping individuals to interpret various health and fitness indicators such as weight, body composition, strength, and flexibility, and can also be a tangible way to progress towards personal health and fitness goals. UREC staff will be available to assess these major fitness components with basic testing, as well as to assist in setting goals for future assessments. Pre-assessments will be done on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and Thursday, Sept. 29, in ARKU 508. Participants are invited to follow up with post-testing on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and Thursday, Nov. 17, to assess progress.

Group Fitness Classes: Instructor-led exercise with a group is a highly motivating tool for many exercisers.  Various types of group fitness classes will be offered at an approachable and introductory level.  Participants will be able to utilize these classes without changing into workout clothes, as long as they are able to move comfortably, and will be offered modifications as needed.  Group Fitness class dates and locations are:

• Tuesday, Oct. 4 (ARKU 512)
• Thursday, Oct. 13 (ARKU 512)
• Tuesday, Oct. 27 (ARKU 508)
• Thursday, Oct. 10 (ARKU 508)
• Tuesday, Nov. 15 (ARKU 508)

Wellness Workshops: UREC staff will present information on the following topics:

• “Healthy Eating Habits”: Learn nutrition basics, including how to read the new My Plate nutrition guidelines, as well as how nutrition can be used to maximize personal health and wellness. Thursday, Oct. 6 (ARKU 508)
• “Designing a Workout Plan”: Sometimes it is difficult to know “where to start.”  Learn the basic components of an effective fitness plan, and how to modify them to fit your schedule, goals, and available equipment. Tuesday, Nov. 8 (ARKU 208)

For questions about these or any other University Recreation program, please contact Katie Helms at khelms@uark.edu or 575-4684.