University of Miami, Wellness and Recreation

Mission

The Department of Wellness and Recreation (DWR) strives to foster a lifestyle of responsible choices by supporting the mind, body and spirit in educational, wellness and recreational programs through services and facilities for the university community.

Vision

To help people by providing innovative wellness and recreational experiences.

Description of Facility(s)

The Patti and Allan Herbert Wellness Center is a 140,000-square-foot premier fitness, recreation and wellness facility that opened in January 1996. The original construction included two multipurpose rooms, three indoor basketball courts, an indoor multi-sport court, indoor pool and 10,000-square-foot fitness room.

Upon opening, the facility was unique because it included a Wellness Suite area with dedicated spaces for wellness programming such as a massage room, a teaching kitchen, two educational classrooms, and a fitness laboratory for advanced fitness testing and clinical exercise programming.

In 2011, an addition of 18,000-square-feet included two more multi-purpose rooms, a new studio cycling room, a Pilates studio and an 8,000-square-foot expansion to the fitness room/gym area. In 2021, Outdoor Adventures — a satellite facility that includes an 840-square-foot climbing wall — was added with outdoor equipment rentals, outdoor fitness space, sand volleyball courts and administrative space to coordinate adventure trips.

Programming Highlights

Fitness and Wellness

In addition to the standard group exercise schedule, there are fee-based instructional programs open to students, faculty/staff, alumni and community members. Classes include CPR, adult and children swim lessons, Tai Chi, tennis lessons, cooking lessons, Pilates, etc.
Canes Health Assessment and Motivation Program (CHAMP) is a free fitness assessment and consultation program for students. The CHAMP endowment is funded through the “Love Brick Bridge” in which couples who met and fell in love at the University of Miami can purchase a love brick for $500.
Storm Zone functional training studio which was converted from racquetball courts.

Professional staff member dedicated to student health education and well-being. Promotes student health services and initiatives through DWR.
LIFE Senior Fitness Program is a community-based functional strength program for adults 65 and over.
The Fitness Laboratory is 2,000 square feet to conduct VO2 testing, Bod-Pod and fitness assessments, athletic training for club sports, and clinical exercise programming.

Recreational Sports

Club Sports offers 35 sports with 1,500 to 1,600 club athletes.
Intramurals has 23 to 25 annual leagues/tournaments averaging 1,700 unique participants.
SportsFest is an annual event and a collaborative effort with Housing & Residential Life. It consists of two days of bracketed and timed events ranging from indoor pool battleship to flag football to video game

Outdoor Adventures

Average of 16 adventure trips are offered per semester.
Outdoor gear rentals include paddleboards, kayaks, surfboards, snorkel gear and camping equipment.
Offers first year trips, group development programs and instructional clinics for adventure sports such as climbing, paddling and surfing.

Fun Facts

The department spearheads the Exercise is Medicine On Campus Campaign and is a five-time Gold Level Campus.
Visitors to the facility often recall the hallmark30-foot palm trees in the atrium.
One of the first facilities in the country to call itself a Wellness Center. Since 1996, it’s focused on a comprehensive approach to healthy living by offering well-being-based programs such as massages, cooking lessons, meditation, acupuncture, etc.
Unique clubs include scuba, sailing and wakeboard.
Despite being in sunny south Florida, the University of Miami Men’s Club Ice Hockey Team won the 2024 AAU D3 National Championship.