For a lot of students, college is the first time they have had access to large gyms with a wide variety of fitness equipment. These large recreation centers, with complex strength and cardio equipment can be intimidating and as a result, might deter students from coming to workout. In order to remedy this issue, the University of Maryland Recreation and Wellness offers a Weight and Fitness Equipment Orientation Program.
The orientation sessions provide a guided tour of the weight rooms and fitness centers across campus. “During this tour the participant is instructed about gym culture in our facilities, our policies and how to use cardio pieces (of their choice) as well as how to appropriately adjust selectorized equipment,” said Brianne Rowh, the assistant director of fitness at UMD. “We have three unique facilities and participants are able to select which spaces they are most interested in learning about.”
UMD Recreation and Wellness has been running the program for over 10-years. Participants can schedule a session at any time throughout the year, however it is most heavily promoted at the beginning of each semester. Rowh explained, participants who complete the program report feeling confident about using spaces on their own after having gone through on of the sessions.
“The goal of the program is to provide an avenue for our users to gain education about our spaces without registering for a fee-based program like personal training,” explained Rowh. “An orientation session does not provide any coaching on technique instruction, nor offering a training plan, instead it provides basic education about how to use and feel confident in our weight and fitness spaces. Our target audience is first year students.”
Expert Advice: If you are considering launching a similar program at your recreation center, Rowh suggests listening to your student body. “Spend time getting to know your target audience,” she added. “Is this a preferred learning style (face to face) and how will you reach those not feeling confident enough to walk into the recreation facility?”
