Treadmills in the Edinburg Recreation Center Celeste Cruz/ Vaquero Radio.
The University Recreation Center and its staff is available to help students stay on top of their health goals during their New Year’s resolutions journey, offering resources such as fitness classes and personal training.
Associate Director of Facilities and Services Oscar Barrera said the UREC center wants to provide enough services and amenities for students and newcomers.
Barrera said the recreation center offers GX classes, which are fitness classes.
“Things like Zumba, pilates, varying bodies, sculpting and toning classes,” he said. “And we have some for introductory, like stretch classes.”
Barrera said the student staff that are present at the recreation center are also fitness attendants.
“They actually are trained to teach patrons on how to use the equipment,” he said. “We do like little intro to fitness sessions and we can actually help walk them around, show them machines, show them technique. Also, if they’re already patrons that are also intermediate to advance lifters or exercise enthusiasts, right, they are also there trained to spot you.”
Climbing wall student attendant Alex Perez said one way newcomers can get comfortable with the gym atmosphere includes going with friends.
“You can come with friends or all the staff are friendly,” Perez said. “There’s reasons to be scared, but in reality, everyone’s friendly here, so this is a nice community.”
Fellow climbing wall student attendant Edgar Duran said discipline helps him reach his fitness goals.
“If you don’t have motivation, just remember, like, why you started, that can help a lot,” Duran said.
The recreation center is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. through 9 p.m. Fridays and from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the Edinburg campus. The Brownsville recreation center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
