New semester brings changes to Wellness Center
In an effort to be more efficient and appealing to students, the Wellness Center has adjusted its hours, as well as the classes and recreational opportunities it offers.
Previously open from 5 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, the Wellness Center is now open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“We just didn’t have enough patrons swiping their cards after eleven,” Wellness Center director Steve Mayer said.
Senior Alec Adamski said he doesn’t mind the adjustment.
“The change doesn’t really bother me, I’m not here during those hours,” he said.
Sophomore Wylan Baker also said the change hasn’t affected his schedule.
“I never came here that late anyway,” Baker said.
Mayer said he hasn’t received a complaint about the change in hours so far.
Despite cutting five hours each week, this school year’s first week saw 12,000 more swipes at the Wellness Center than last year, Mayer said
There is also a new way for students to track personal fitness.
Yote Tracker, an individualized program that tracks students’ activities at the Wellness Center, is a new program officials at the Wellness Center are hoping will draw more students to the facility and keep them motivated to keep coming back. The system allows students to earn points for each activity they complete for a chance to win prizes.
In addition to altered hours and motivational tools, the Wellness Center staff is trying to appeal to more students by offering new fitness classes at more times.
Zumba has become the most popular class, followed by the new barre blast class, Mayer said. Other popular classes this semester include body pump, cycling classes and yoga classes.
Classes such as strike – a martial arts inspired class – and barre blast, which includes elements of pilates and dance, appeal to students who wouldn’t normally be at the Wellness Center, Mayer said.
The Wellness Center is also offering other recreational opportunities, such as black out fitness bingo, which is scheduled for Sept.14 through Nov. 19. Participants get a bingo card filled with fitness classes. Two bingos win a pen or pair of sunglasses, three win a mug or water bottle and a black out bingo wins a participant T-shirt.
Other events include boot camps, a womens’ self defense training course and Dakota Days activities such as a fun run and a Zumba party.
Mayer said he’s happy with the Wellness Center’s start to the year.
“We are pretty exited with our numbers right now,” he said.
(Photo: A group of about 25 students and community members participate in Shandi King’s zen yoga class Sept. 11. The class meets every Friday at 5:15 p.m. in the Wellness Center. Rachel Newville / The Volante)
