A new semester is upon us at VIU, and the midterms, papers, and projects are soon to follow. If exercise is your escape from textbooks, or you are looking for a fun way to meet fellow students, then look no further! Campus Rec has a great lineup of fitness classes, outdoor recreation, and special events to help you combat stress this fall.
If you are on the fence about joining a fitness class this year, Free Fitness Week may be your solution. The drop-in event lasts from Sept. 10–14 and offers hour-long samples of most classes available throughout the semester. All classes are held in rm. 115 in the gym.
To relieve tension, various mind and body classes are offered. Evening yoga sessions take place every Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., while Flow Yoga is offered over lunchtime the same days. Tai Chi begins Friday, Sept. 28 and also takes place at noon.
Campus Rec offers a mix of dance classes if busting a move is your method of keeping fit. Belly dancing takes place Tuesday afternoons for beginners and Level 2 classes are offered Thursday evenings. To really get your pulse up try Cardio Dance Fusion Thursday nights or join a Zumba class, which are offered twice weekly. Hip-hop classes take place Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
If the rigours of student life keep your schedule full, Breakfast Bootcamp, Sunrise Cycle, and Women’s Circuit Training classes are offered for early risers (afternoon and evening alternatives are also available). Kickboxing classes take place four times per week, or if your goal is to get in shape then try the Butts and Guts session, Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Registration for fall classes begins Sept. 17 with all fitness services beginning Sept. 24. Free weight room orientations and nutrition consultations are available to those interested in learning more, while Intro to Fitness packages and personal trainer sessions are offered for a reasonable charge.
A great lineup of outdoor recreation is already scheduled for the fall semester. The first event is a group hike up Mount Benson on Sunday, Sept. 9 and costs $5 with transportation included. The following Sunday features a waterfall hike past Ammonite Falls and the first rock climbing session of the year.
Future weekend events include River Rafting Thanksgiving on Oct. 7, Swim with the Salmon on Oct. 13 and 20, and Horne Lake caving adventures Nov. 18 and 24. A second hike up Mount Benson takes place Nov. 25 if you can’t make the first outing.
If mid-week outings are more accessible, Intro to Paddle Sports will take place Tuesdays in Departure Bay for just $30 for four sessions. The Outrigger Canoe Recreational Race Series meets every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and sea kayak tours of various locations are offered on Thursdays, also $30 for four outings.
For those looking to escape on a weekend-long adventure, Tofino Surfing Weekends take place Sept. 29–30 and Oct. 27–28 for $100. A West Coast Hiking outing on the Juan de Fuca Trail is offered Nov. 10–11 for $40.
While registration for Intramurals opened Sept. 4, Campus Rec is still accepting new participants subject to space available. Co-ed sports offered this semester include indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, and outdoor road hockey. The student rate is $25 and teams meet once per week on a weekday evening. Fees must be paid in full by Friday, Sept. 14.
A variety of tournaments are available for those looking for single-day Intramural action. The first event is a slo-pitch tournament Sunday, Oct. 7 in Cedar, with flag football, poker, dodgeball, and outdoor soccer events to follow. Participants must register as a team and deadlines are the Wednesday before each tournament.
Lastly, Campus Rec offers an exciting Intramural special event every month. On Saturday, Sept. 29 students can sign up to Snorkel with the Seals for $70. Wild Play Halloween High Ropes Course is set for Oct. 28, and a paintball adventure will take place Nov. 18. A Vancouver Canucks Road Trip is also planned with the date yet to be released.
Students can invite family and friends not attending VIU to the special events, tournaments, and leagues for an extra cost. Be warned, refunds are not given for Intramural events!
Full schedules for classes, outdoor recreation, and Intramurals can be found in Campus Rec’s Fall 2012 issue of Scuttlebutt. For registration questions please call 250-740-6418.