The Rec Well Wire

Group exercises and personal training

The Student Recreation Center has two options for those considering a more personalized exercise regime: Personal training and group personal training. Using the SRC’s personal training programs is a great way to get motivated, learn how to exercise properly and effectively and improve your overall health. Karyn Smith, health educator for the Wellness Connection, sincerely endorses the SRC’s personal training programs due to their vast amount of benefits.

“Working with a trainer offers a multitude of benefits,” Smith said.  “BGSU personal trainers provide the assistance, direction, motivation and encouragement needed to start and continue a lifestyle of exercise.”

Also, group personal training offers the same great benefits as the personal training program however, it allows participants to socially interact with their friends and trainer while saving money at the same time. Group training is a great way for participants and their friends to enjoy themselves while they work hard and get fit, said Smith.

Both programs are instructed by a total of seven personal trainers. Each trainer has been certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, Aerobics and Fitness Association of American or American Council on Exercise and their workouts adhere to ACSM and NSCA training guidelines. After the initial assessment, each client is matched with the trainer whose personality and fitness philosophy best fit their demeanor and fitness needs. This process ensures clients an optimal fitness experience which tailors to their individual needs. Follow this link for the trainers’ profiles.

Each trainer is passionate about helping people from all walks of life reach their optimal level of personal health. All personal trainers are currently students at BGSU and have received extensive instruction and practical training, said Smith.

“They are trained to help with goals such as weight loss, aerobic fitness, muscle toning, strength building and flexibility, and enjoy finding creative and fun ways for their clients to be more active,” Smith said. “In addition, all of our trainers are nationally certified and maintain First Aid, CPR and AED certification.”

Those who are interested in either personal training or group personal training can check out the SRC’s website for further information about costs, body fat testing and scheduling and registration. Also, those interested may call the SRC front desk at 419.372.2000 to speak with a SRC representative.

The Student Recreation Center offers two holiday membership specials. Take advantage of them today!

Last Friday, the Student Recreation Center launched its seven-month-long membership specials for this year’s holiday season. The SRC requests that BGSU affiliates and community members take advantage of these holiday specials which are scheduled to end May 4, 2012.

“These membership specials allow individuals to recreate, socialize and become physically active throughout the winter season when exercising outdoors becomes difficult/uncomfortable.” said SRC Facilities Assistant Director, Dave Hollinger.

The reduced membership rates include the Snowbird Special intended for individuals with or without children and the Family Holiday Membership Special for families with or without children. Please note that both regular season and holiday season membership rates do not include the cost of parking passes. Also note that the cost per dependent child is $10 for both regular and holiday season membership rates.

For less than a dollar a day, the holiday membership specials allows full SRC facility access to BGSU affiliates and community residents. As with regular season membership plans, the SRC holiday specials do not include access to group exercise or the climbing wall, however, these facilities can be accessed for an additional nominal fee.

The Snowbird and Holiday Family Membership specials last one to three months longer than regular, semester-long membership plans. Fall semester memberships cost $120 for BGSU affiliates, $144 for community members, and last for six months. Spring semester membership plans have the same rates as the Fall semester plans and last a little over four months. Compared to regular semester membership rates, community members can expect 13 percent off for the Snowbird Special as well as three additional months in the Spring and one additional month in the Fall.  Community members can also expect 19 percent off for the Family Membership Special as well as an additional one or three months depending on the semester.

For BGSU affiliates, the Snowbird Special costs an additional $5 however, the holiday membership last one or three months longer than regular semester plans. The Family Membership Special reduces costs by $6 for BGSU affiliates and, as previously mentioned, lasts one or three months longer.

Those interested in participating in the SRC’s membership holiday specials must call SRC front desk at 419.372.8454.

Parking Passes and Membership Plans are Half-Off

Becoming a Student Recreation Center (SRC) member has serious financial benefits, especially for the remainder of the Fall semester. The SRC is currently offering memberships at pro-rated costs. This means that SRC membership costs are 50 percent off until Jan. 18, 2012. Membership plans include access to general SRC facilities, group exercising and climbing wall facilities.

Originally, an individual seeking SRC membership could expect to pay $144, however, with the current pro-rated costs, such individuals need only pay $72. The same goes for couples as well. Normally, couples are required to pay $246 but now, they need only pay $123. This is an amazing opportunity to get involved with the SRC and take advantage of its facilities.

The best part about this deal is that it doesn’t stop at membership costs. It also includes parking passes as well. As a general rule of thumb, all vehicles parked in a University lot must have proper BGSU parking tags. Luckily, with the new, Fall semester deals, parking pass costs are also half-off, meaning it costs only $6 to park on campus for the rest of the semester.

To acquire a permit, bring a completed Parking Permit Order Form (available at the SRC Front Desk or through Parking Services) to the BGSU Visitor Information Center, or BGSU Parking Services.  A receipt showing proof of membership is required.

There are 20 types of membership plans a person can purchase. To see which plan best suits you please visit the SRC website. Please note, that full year memberships are not included in the new deals for the Fall semester. If you need further information, please call the SRC front desk at 419.372.2000.

Summer vacation is almost here, but kids don’t throw those backpacks in the closet that carried books back and forth to school just yet.  On June 6, Summer Kids Camp begins and the backpacks transform into camper backpacks carrying swimsuits, sunscreen, water bottles and lunchboxes.  The eight-week Summer Kids Camp ends July 29. 

The 2011 Summer Kids Camp continues its outstanding programming established from years of leadership experience and success. Kids Camp for kids, ages 5-12, emphasizes physical development and education while promoting a healthy lifestyle. Some children return to camp every year and make new friends.  They have new learning experiences while having a lot of fun.  These campers can participate in activities that are not available at home or at other camps. “We do lots and lots of fun activities with the children that they cannot get at a daycare,” said Micha Alt, who has directed Kids Camp since 2006.  “We rock climb, ice skate, go swimming every day and include wellness and fitness components.”  Other physical activities in which the campers partake include golf, volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field.  Kids Camp has great resources at Recreation and Wellness facilities including the Perry Field House, BGSU Ice Arena and Forrest Creason Golf Course to participate in their activities. The campers also go on walking field trips to the Sebo Center or other places of interest on campus.

Asked about her favorite part of Kids Camp, Alt said, “There are so many wonderful aspects of Kids Camp I really can’t pick one.” However, one particular activity Alt does enjoy is the scavenger hunts that are especially popular with the children. “The excitement of the children is enjoyable to watch,” Alt said.  Every week Kids Camp has a witty theme in place: Falcon Frenzy, Into the Wild, Wacky Wonderland, Underwater Adventures, Mad Science, The Places We will Go, Around the World and BG’s Got Talent. 

Children who attend Kids Camp are in good hands.  The camp is administered by Recreation and Wellness professionals and BGSU graduate and undergraduate students with special training in safety, human relations and interpersonal skills with children. The dedicated camp staff is First Aid and CPR certified for the Professional Rescuer with AED and passed the mandatory background screenings. 

Full-time camp costs $119/week and part-time camp is $79/week, with 10 percent discount applied to BGSU employees or families with more than one child’s registration. Register at www.bgsu.edu/recwell and click on Community, Youth & Family on the left menu, by E-mail at kidscamps@bgsu.edu or in person at the Student Recreation Center front desk. For more information, contact Camp Director Micha Alt at 419-372-7482 or 419-372-2000. Sign up the kids today for a fun summer camp at BGSU!

The Department of Recreation and Wellness has a new, yet familiar, face among the staff.  Karyn Smith started as the new Health Educator with the department this past October.

 Though she started her new position at BGSU this fall, she is not completely new to the campus. Smith received her Master’s in Public Health through the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health and was a Graduate Assistant at the Student Recreation Center.

 Before coming to Bowling Green, Smith grew up in an Ohio small town called Hamler where she graduated from Patrick Henry High School. Upon graduation, Smith attended Northern Kentucky University where she majored in Exercise Science with a Health minor, played basketball all four years and was a personal trainer.

 Once she graduated from NKU and received her MPH, she was hired at Owens Corning as the Program Manager, where she worked on employee fitness. She was in charge of personal training, group exercise and nutrition programming. After a year and a half, Smith came back to BGSU this fall as the Health Educator.

 Smith is in charge of the WellAware Program, which promotes employee wellness. She also supervises the Group-X and personal trainers, while working with the Peer Educators at BGSU.

Karyn Smith has been a personal trainer for four years.

 Smith said she enjoys her new job, the environment and the people she works with.

 “The Wellness Connection is very upbeat,” Smith said. “All of us have the same passion.”

 Besides her new job, Smith enjoys working out, being outside and running. Smith also enjoys flipping houses with her husband Ryan and friend.

 While she flips houses with her husband, she also flips her fellow employee’s fitness.

 Smith’s passion is fitness and she has embraced that passion by sharing her knowledge and creating a new program.

 “It’s a fun holiday challenge for faculty and staff,” Smith said.

 The program is called “Maintain don’t Gain,” which is available to all BGSU faculty and staff for free. Participants receive practical tips, recipes and other information to help them successfully navigate through the holiday season. Participants also receive activity logs and food diaries to track progress. All those who either maintain or lose weight during the season win a prize.

 “Research has shown that the average person consumes an extra 600 calories per day between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Smith said.

 Smith said she wants to create an environment where healthy choices are easier choices.

 As a certified personal trainer for the past four years, Smith also enjoys working with clients, preferably the ones that most personal trainers would not look forward to.

 “My favorite clients are the ones that absolutely hate exercising,” Smith said. “

 Smith likes being creative and finding fun ways to help these clients live active lifestyles and find a physical activity that they learn to love.  

 Smith has goals for her new position as Health Educator. She wants to revamp the personal training program, create new and exciting Group-X classes, provide employees with the tools and resources to help them and help the Student Wellness Network and Peer Educators continue to grow and increase programs and awareness on campus.

 “BG will be the healthiest campus of them all,” Smith said.