Wellness Center offers students exercise, place to socialize

The University of South Dakota Wellness Center is a way for students to stay active and healthy while also serving as a hang out spot, said Director of the Wellness Center Steve Mayer.

“It is a nice relaxed environment to get away from your academics for part of the day,” Mayer said. “It creates healthy behaviors anytime you can put yourself in an environment where you are exercising — it makes the body more healthy.”

The Wellness Center has more than just equipment to work with, featuring classes, the track, athletic courts and a rock climbing wall — just to name a few.

There are a variety of fitness classes at different times throughout the day and the opportunity to play a pick-up game of basketball or just to climb the wall.

[notification type=”grey” title=”Group Classes”]AM Commute, Yoga Flow 2, Kettlebell, Mat Pilates, Zumba, Les Mills Body Pump, Yoga Level 2, Hot Yoga, HIIT the Road, Sweatshop, TBC, Minute Mania, Yoga Level 3, Forever Fit, HOT 75 Yoga, Cycle Express, Road Trip, Hot Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Les Mills Express Body Pump, Step, Hot Flow, Core Stability Ball, Gentle Yoga[/notification]

Mayer said the Wellness Center is also a place for students to make new acquaintances. He said it gives them a chance to make friends.

“For freshmen and sophomores it gives them a chance to make friends or play an intramural game together,” he said. “You might not see those people on a regular basis, so meeting at the Wellness Center is a great opportunity.”

Along with meeting friends, Wellness Center front desk worker Amy Goodrich said it is a place to meet people.

“It is almost as if it is building a community, there are so many people that I know just from the Wellness Center and then I see them out and about,” Goodrich said.

The Wellness Center offers a variety of different classes including, but not limited to Yoga, Zumba, Les Mills Body Pump and Mat Pilates. Goodrich also said it is nice to have the fitness classes included in the gym membership.

“I know a lot of universities charge extra for the fitness classes they offer, so having it included in the membership is a nice feature,” Goodrich said.

All USD students are provided with a gym membership.