Somewhere on campus, a troupe of people strikes poses in synchronicity, their calm, measured breathing belying the strength needed to move the body from one form to another. Shouts of glee resound as a ball hits the corner of a net, and the faint rhythm of an up-tempo song echoes in the hallway. The clang and clink of free weights mix with the whir of treadmills.
Somewhere on campus, a troupe of people strikes poses in synchronicity, their calm, measured breathing belying the strength needed to move the body from one form to another. Shouts of glee resound as a ball hits the corner of a net, and the faint rhythm of an up-tempo song echoes in the hallway. The clang and clink of free weights mix with the whir of treadmills.
The student Rec Center is Portland State’s mothership for workout junkies, water lovers and rock climbers. It’s a haven for contortionists-in-training, black-belt–holding masters of deep breathing technique and novice dance floor navigators.
A good workout will help to maintain a healthy body weight, diminish stress and generally leave you with feelings of satisfaction and well-being. Exercising regularly is one of the biggest components of the healthy lifestyle equation. Some may feel that there just isn’t enough time to exercise, but squeezing a 20-minute workout between classes is easy, especially when there are accessible, affordable and fun activities right on campus.
PSU’s Academic and Student Rec Center, open since April 2010, stands tall over the Urban Plaza. Each day, hundreds of students, faculty and staff seeking out the pleasures of non-academic exercise enter the Rec Center’s doors. It’s home to a variety of fitness activities and programs: a six-lane, 25-yard pool caters to lap swimmers and water joggers; the two-court gymnasium can adapt for basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball and goalball; a three-lane and 1/11 mile running track serves runners and speed-walkers alike. There is also a sizable cardio and weight-training facility, a rock-climbing wall, fitness suites for group classes and space for student groups and intramural sports. Gaining entrance to this menagerie of fitness activities is as simple as showing your PSU ID card.
Students taking at least one credit are automatic members of the Rec Center—membership is included in tuition and student fees. Faculty, staff and alumni can also purchase individual memberships.
The Rec Center also offers personal training sessions with experienced, certified trainers. Personal trainers can help you assess your current physical condition and create a workout plan that will help you reach your fitness goals. If you’re uncertain how to use a piece of cardio/weight equipment, schedule an appointment with a trainer to go over the proper use of the machines.
Packages of individual or buddy sessions range from $54 to 240. Additionally, you can get a fitness composition test for $10 or a body composition test for $5.
Pre-nursing sophomore Chauntelle Olson loves the Rec Center. “I go there four to five times a week,” Olson said. “I use the machines, like the elliptical.” When asked what she enjoyed most, she said, “What I really like about the Rec Center is that it’s just students doing their own thing. I can be really self-conscious, but there, I don’t feel like I’m being judged.”
The overall atmosphere in the Rec Center seems to be one of the biggest draws.
Lindsey deCampos, a senior majoring in science and Spanish, generally goes to the Rec Center three times a week, mainly for the rock-climbing wall. Smiling, she said that the ambiance is one of the biggest reasons why she uses the wall: “It’s so relaxed. Everyone’s really supportive and I’ve made some of my best friends there. It’s the camaraderie.”
The staff also knows that the welcoming atmosphere is a big part of the charm. Intramural Sports Coordinator Scott Sorensen joined the Rec Center staff last summer. Sorensen has worked at four different college recreational centers and said that PSU’s is “one of the most non-stereotypical gyms—an all-welcoming, arms-wide-open kind of place.” He added that it’s one of the nicest he’s worked in and said, “All the equipment is new, and if a machine goes down, it doesn’t stay that way for very long. The operations people keep the building spic and span.”
According to Sorensen, at any given point there are at least three league intramural programs offered and tournaments are aplenty. Intramural activities vary each term, ranging from basketball to table tennis to dodgeball to mini-triathlons.
Group classes, also called Group X, are also extremely popular. Taught by certified instructors, Group X classes cover a wide array of foci: abs training, cardio, meditation, Pilates, stretching, water bootcamp, yoga and Zumba, among others.
When deCampos isn’t using the rock wall, she’s taking a yoga or Zumba class. “It’s just something else you can do without having to pay for it separately,” deCampos said. Classes are drop-in only and tend to fill quickly, so it’s recommended that you arrive early to secure your spot.
If you want to give your workout regimen a little more spark, you can participate in one of the various activities and programs offered throughout the year, like the Healthy U Wellness Challenge and pool date nights.
The Rec Center is open everyday with varying hours throughout the week and weekend. Monday through Thursday the doors are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
With so many choices, there’s no excuse not to workout. So step up, step in and give your body a healthy dose of endorphins to keep you feeling good.
