The Half Acre Gymnasium is still providing programs to benefit students’ physical health and mental wellness with online videos and Zoom seminars.
“Physical activity is an important stress reliever and has so many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing,” said Lena Newling, the assistant director of Wellness and Campus Recreation. “Some of our programs are offered live and that gives people the opportunity to connect with people and still practice physical distancing.”
Newling said Campus Recreation has made a YouTube channel as a part of reaching students from home, which can be found here.
Some examples of the live programs offered include Trivia on Twitch through the Rec Sports Program, live zumba, drop-in mediation and Big Sky mindfulness, and calligraphy said Newling. Personal trainer sessions are available with Zoom as well.
“I miss Half Acre and what they provided,” said Cheyenne Hume, a sophomore in secondary English education with a minor in Journalism. “I miss yoga and that is so cool to be able to go onto YouTube and follow along because I wouldn’t do it on my own.”
The channel, UWYO Campus Recreation, has new videos with training tips every Tuesday, new workouts and yoga from home weekly, and even calligraphy video lessons on occasion.
“Everything we are offering virtually can be modified based on what people have access to,” said Newling. “You do not need fancy equipment to participate in our virtual offerings.”
Some of the videos use household items as a part of the exercises, said Newling. Examples are a chair as weights and a broom stick for mobility drills.
Calligraphy is taught one Thursday a month. The next lesson will be Sept. 24 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Drop-in meditation is every Thursday and Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. There will also be Health and Wellness Seminars starting Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. covering topics of healthy habits, workouts and exam success. Some Zoom activities and seminars require regististering ahead of time.
Other activities that are available include Wellness Bingo, Intramural Sports with videogame sports and one on one sports like badminton, and live fitness class.
Newling said the virtual programs will continue to be offered even after on campus activities resume on Sept. 28.
