Miami University

Oxford, OH

FITNESS

In 2015, Miami University experienced another year of robust programming in multiple disciplines of the fitness department. The Personal Training Program had revenues and participation grow by an additional 18 percent during the 2015 academic year. The success of this program is attributed to a comprehensive marketing program of print and social media as well as direct contact and sales with current clientele and facility patrons.

Several new initiatives were introduced to the Group Fitness program this year. The water-rowing program reached new heights and clientele with the introduction of several hybrid classes: Row and Tone, Row and Spin, Row and Yoga. Group Fitness also enjoyed success with the rebranding of classes in our Room X facility. Classes in that space focus on functional strength and fitness. A name change from “strength and conditioning” to “X-Fit” sparked a 300 percent increased in attendance to those classes.

CLUB SPORTS

The Club Sport Program finished the year with 46 registered teams and1,400 athletes, 150 home events and 275 away events. A benchmarking study in the fall confirmed that we are one of the largest and most efficient programs in the country. Participants were 51 percent female, 10 percent minority and 36 percent out of state. Athletically, 12 of our teams finished in the top 10 nationally.

FUN FACTS

• The main recreation facility had 612,736 participations.
• Personal training debuted small group classes focusing on functional fitness and sports performance, working directly with ICA and Club Sport teams.
• The fitness department hosted a record number of group fitness special classes during the past year. Some of these include: Yoga and Spinning at the Rec, Ballet and Conditioning at Phillips Hall, Zumba and Rowing in the outdoor quad.
• An annual tradition of “More than a Workout Week” began this year. This is an incentive program for our group fitness participants to promote life balance and overall wellbeing.
• Fitness enjoyed two new partnerships across the university. Collaborations with Student Wellbeing and Residence Life culminated in “Stress Less Week” during the spring semester.
• This past year we processed 95 percent of Intramural Sports Registrations online. It has cut-down on the printing of registration forms, it is easier for participants to share information and obtain scheduling information instantly.
• The intramural program added two new sports: bumper ball or bubble soccer and spike ball, which is a variation of volleyball.
• The climbing wall staff hosted the 9^th annual Halloween Climbing Competition with over 80 competitors from various schools.
• Modifications were made to the climbing wall in January and brought the addition of four new top ropes. The changes provided a 50 percent increase in the total number of ropes and increased the total amount of usable climbing space by 15 percent.