A game of pick-up basketball, Ping-Pong, yoga classes, treadmills and sipping a smoothie with friends are just a few things to do at the Ashland University Recreation Center. 

The Rec is quickly being a hub for physical, emotional and social well-being for all AU undergraduates.

The Rec is not all about exercise either. Students can pick up a movie, rent equipment for all kinds of activities or even join an intramural sports team. 

Zack Srock, a freshman at AU, goes to the Rec nearly every day to play basketball with his friends.

“I love the availability and the great equipment,” said Srock. “The ability to rent anything from a movie to a sled, basketball, camping tent etc., really makes AU special.”

Eighty three percent of full-time undergraduate students went to the Rec at least once last semester, and 51 percent were ‘regular users’ who went more than ten times.

The Rec is a place to have fun with friends, while also improving mental and physical health.  

The Rec staff is also very open to suggestions from students.

“I think that students utilize the Rec to the best of their knowledge,” said Climbing Wall supervisor Sara Amato. “The things that they offer are incredible. They also listen to suggestions. If there is a machine that you think they should have, you can suggest it and they will seriously look into purchasing it. That’s how many of the machines got there in the first place.”

Intramural sports and Group X exercise classes are also becoming popular.

During the Fall 2013 semester, Intramural Sports had a total of 1,337 student participants, while Group X had a total of 2,208 student participants.

To try to achieve a higher number of participants, the Rec offers various incentive programs.

“Minute to Win It” was an incentive during the Fall 2013 semester. 

 “Individuals set a goal for working out a certain number of minutes each day,” said former facility manager Katy Higaki. “For every 10 minutes they worked out, they received a ticket that they could place them in any of four different raffles.”

There also was a Group X incentive called “Fall into Fitness.”

“Members were able to get a sticker on their ‘leaf’ for every Group X class they attended,” said Higaki. “These stickers allowed them to be entered into a drawing for a gift card at the end of the program.”

Group X offers classes for every type of person. A student can do Yoga in the morning before class, and Zumba or water aerobics at night. 

The average number of participants at a Group X class is 12 students.

The Climbing Wall also offers incentives for students who climb a total of one mile, and for students who climb a total of 20,322 feet, called the “Mt. McKinley Challenge.”

“I do not feel like students utilize the rock wall but I believe that is because it is intimidating,” said Amato. “After working there, I realize that it is completely safe, and it is almost impossible to get hurt while climbing the top wall. Also, I don’t think students realize how much of a great work out it really is.”

Students are also welcome to use the aerobics room when there are no Group X classes going on. Different work out videos such as “Insanity” and “P90X,” can be checked out and played on the TV in the room. There also is a punching bag inside that anyone can use.

“I like the Heavy bag addition in the aerobics room,” said AU student Will Saxon. “It is great to work the bag and get some stress out. I do really like the friendliness of the people who work there because they are usually students that I see everyday, so it is always nice to deal with familiar faces.”

The Rec also offers a swimming pool and hot tub for students to enjoy.

Tuffy’s, the smoothie bar at the Rec, is also a popular hang out. Tuffy’s offers smoothies, trail mix and snacks, and is also now offering coffee. This semester, the Rec will be open until 10:30 p.m. everyday. The Rock Wall will be open Monday and Wednesday, and Friday through Sunday.