There’s so much to worry about going into your freshman year: getting lost, making friends and avoiding the dreaded “freshman 15.”
Fortunately, IU makes it easy for students to get fit and stay in shape with its two recreational facilities.
Every student pays a mandatory Student Activity Fee, which grants access to workout facilities such as indoor swimming pools, weight rooms, cardio equipment and free group exercise classes at the flash of a student ID.
WILDERMUTH INTRAMURAL CENTER
The Wildermuth Intramural Center is located on Seventh Street across from the Indiana Memorial Union. The WIC is expansive, offering students nine racquetball/wallyball courts, 10 basketball/volleyball courts, squash courts, an indoor pool with a diving well, an indoor running track and more.
The adjacent Woodlawn Tennis Courts are also a part of the WIC facility, as is Woodlawn Field.
The oldest section of the building dates back to 1917, with its newest addition built in 1961. The basketball courts were renovated following a roof fire in 2011.
STUDENT RECREATIONAL SPORTS CENTER
The Student Recreational Sports Center, or SRSC, is the other workout facility on campus. With its 10-minute walk from the greek houses on North Jordan and most of the residence halls in the central neighborhood, its location makes it a popular workout destination for many students.
While the SRSC offers many of the same features as the HPER, including seven racquetball/wallyball courts, five basketball/volleyball courts, an indoor track, an Olympic-sized pool and more, many students prefer the SRSC because it is a newer facility.
HOW TO FIT FITNESS INTO YOUR SCHEDULE
Perhaps the biggest obstacle is focusing on fitness while surrounded by so many distractions. It’s much easier after a long day of classes to lounge in your room eating junk food than it is to find the motivation to hit the gym.
Madhura Sundararajan, a music and pre-med student, managed to find time to exercise while juggling homework, music practice and her social life.
“You just have to make time for it,” she said. “It can be really difficult with the workload, but you have to make time to take care of yourself.”
FREE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES
One way to hold yourself accountable is to take the free group exercise classes available throughout the week at both facilities.
Heather Hamilton was a group exercise leader for four years. She led classes like Step, Cardio Core, Trekking and Circuit Strength.
“All of the classes, with the exception of Step II and III, are good for beginners, and leaders will give you modification options if you are just starting out and need to take it slow,” Hamilton said.
Some group exercise classes, such as yoga and pilates, are available to students at an additional cost.
With classes like Cardio Kickboxing, Strength Core and Zumba — a workout disguised as a dance party — there’s something for everyone.
Schedules of group exercise classes are available on the IU Campus Recreational Sports website at iurecsports.org/grp_exercise.
