- by Kylee Ego -
If you’re looking for somewhere to catch a breath or work up a sweat, these are places on campus that will help you find your groove.
Golisano Training Center: Working Out, Intramurals, and Rec Games with Friends
GTC has more to offer than just being a gym! On a rainy day, the full-size track is the perfect place to get your run in. Near the track is the recreational service desk where a student worker can give you equipment to play tennis, basketball, pickleball, spike ball and so much more. Intramural games and groups are hosted here on the turf field, including opportunities for students and members of the community. Another awesome service provided free of cost by the GTC is personal training. Before you head out, wind down with a post-workout drink from Cafe Nine. GTC is open early and closes late so you have plenty of time to check it out!
Group Fitness Classes: Yoga, Acro and More!
Held in the GTC, FIT1 is an upbeat workout designed to target your whole body using balance, flexibility, and strength. If you’re looking for a slower-paced but still challenging workout, try Acro Yoga or Core Conditioning Yoga. For a peaceful end to your day, there is also Night Light Yoga (over in Shults Center) on Monday nights! If there is a class you are looking for but can’t seem to find, go on the Intramurals and Recreation web page to check out all of the options, including prerecorded workouts.
There are also more options on campus like…
Peloton bikes, Bikes@Naz or the Pool
The basement of Lourdes Hall has two Peloton bikes with live and recorded classes you can ride to! If you’re looking to go for a bike ride outside, Bikes@Naz has free rentals for students. You can rent to just get around campus or for your next adventure in Rochester! The office is located near the racquetball courts in Shults.The pool is also located in Shults and has designated open swim hours.
Weekly Walking Club
New to campus this year, this event has been fun to attend! On Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., J.J. Pelechaty, executive assistant in student experience, takes students on a low-impact and rejuvenating walk around the campus. This event is a part of Therapeutic Thursdays at Naz, where self-care, movement, and taking a break are encouraged for all students! The walk is fueled by specialty WNAZ The Beat playlists and the amazing energy of the students who regularly attend. The fun and light conversation, walking around our gorgeous campus, is the perfect way to spend some of your day outside. If you need some friendship, want to walk but not alone, or just want to get outside, this is the perfect event for you.
Meditation spaces
The Center for Spirituality ensures that there are spaces on campus where students can find their own quiet and peacefully sit with their thoughts. Linehan Chapel is a great place to start, to find somewhere quiet or practice your form of worship or meditation. The lighting is so soothing and it is such a calming atmosphere. Campus Zendo is a space within the chapel where meditation is held. Across from the Chapel in GAC is the meditation room, the perfect spot to find solitude. Another resource outside is the Meditation Garden, which has a beautiful story of being dedicated to the founding sisters of the University, the Sisters of St. Joseph. The garden has a noticeable stone labyrinth that is inspired by French cathedrals and is used as a tool to guide prayer and meditation. The feeling of unification and wholeness is noticeable the second you stand yourself amidst the middle of the labyrinth. It shows we are a piece of the world, a much larger picture and it’s very comforting.
Other Relaxing Spaces & Resources
- Millie’s, newly renovated to serve the needs of students! A great place to grab a smoothie or enjoy the ambiance of the electric fireplace wall and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto campus.
- The Fountain, the best place to get work done on a sunny day! When the fountain is turned on, the water sounds are so calming and the outdoors can be healing.
- Relaxation Room at Health and Counseling
- Hammocks are available to set up on a pair of the ever-many trees on campus. This was one of my favorite pastimes in undergrad!
- Golisano Academic Center 151 Community Room
- Sensory room in Golisano Training Center
- Commuter Lounge in Shults, above the basketball courts, this area has everything you need to relax as a commuter in between classes.
- Alice Foley Lounge in Shults
- Colie’s in George Hall
- Motivational Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays, to help make each day better! Both offer treats sometimes! I always look forward to these days for a little pick me up whether it be an inspirational quote or a morning snack.
- The IPAW Collaborative is incredibly calming and comforting because of Orion, Tilly, and Rosie!
