With a new school year full steam ahead, incoming and returning students are beginning to find their grooves and utilize the resources that the Pepperdine community has offered.
This year, Campus Recreation is pulling out all the stops in an effort to revamp their department and give students more activities. From off-campus events to fitness classes offered in the Tennis Pavilion, there are a slew of things to add to your calendars for the coming weeks and months.
Fitness classes this semester have expanded their curriculum to include a wider variety of classes that will appeal to everyone. For example, an outdoor class has been added, which uses the campus as students’ own personal gym. The class builds endurance and strength through cardiovascular workouts and offers students a great alternative to exercising indoors.
This semester is also all about incorporating intense workouts into students’ fitness regimes, giving students the chance to change up their usual routines with new cycling classes such as Cycle 45 and Cycle & Yoga Strength. Stationary bike not of interest? Work out those abs with Core 30 and Core 60, which focus on building strong core muscles. Campus Rec has added a full and fun lineup to this semester’s fitness schedule. They’ve even added weekend classes for those busy bodies who can’t make it during the week.
A sampler class will also be included in the fitness class schedule this semester. Offered every other Thursday (beginning today) Campus Recreation will be showcasing a new exercise class that differs from what is already available. This means that students have the chance to do something unique yet beneficial to their fitness routines. Additionally, the first fitness class will give students the chance to learn a bit about belly dancing. Salsa, hip-hop and self-defense classes are in the work.
Campus Rec has also taken it upon themselves to give students unique opportunities to venture off campus and indulge in outdoor activities that students wouldn’t normally be able to do. Although off-campus activities sponsored by Campus Rec aren’t anything new to the Pepperdine community, what is new is the number of activities offered. Last Saturday, students had the opportunity to see Malibu in a whole new light by going ocean kayaking.
Hosted by Campus Recreation and the Student Programming Board, students jumped at the chance to go ocean kayaking near Malibu Pier, just down the street from campus. Students only needed to find transportation to and from the event and dress appropriately, and Campus Recreation took care of renting kayaks and paddles for students.
“I’m glad that Campus Rec is expanding and working to get more students involved,” junior Ari Brunett wrote in an email. “We’re in a really neat area here and I don’t think many students realize all the things you can do right here in Malibu. I’m excited to see what else they offer this year.”
Campus Rec also has a ton of cool activities in the works. From horseback riding to rock climbing, Campus Rec is making it their mission to give students new adventures by offering exciting activities to participate in.
The gym is a daunting place to visit, and finding it isn’t easy, either. But really, it’s just so simple to fall into a habit of running on the treadmill or doing your 30 minutes on the elliptical, especially when the machines just a few feet away look like torture devices for those who have never used them. Alas, there is no need to worry, because Campus Rec understands students’ hesitancy to get off the cardio machines and get on to a weight machine.
The first Weight Center orientation, held last Friday, gave students the opportunity to learn how to use the weight machines, and also how best to use them. No announcements have been made to confirm other orientation dates, but Campus Rec is eager to create more opportunities for students to have a chance to attend a session.
The goal of these sessions is to help those who are weight machine-challenged to become more comfortable in the gym, because Campus Rec doesn’t want people to limit themselves to the cardio machines forever.
And if all of this hasn’t convinced you to log some gym time, an even bigger perk to visiting the gym, which is located between the Firestone Fieldhouse and the pool, is that it has been recently refurbished. So go take a look and take advantage of Campus Rec’s desire to keep students healthy and active.
Campus Recreation is pushing the student body to get active this semester. To learn more about what Campus Rec is offering in the coming months, check pepperdine.edu/campusrecreation for a full calendar of the dates and times of classes and events.
