Gym-timidated? We're here to help!
Worried about working out? Unsure about what to do or concerned about feeling awkward? Gym-timidation is real and we are here to help you through it. At Campus Recreation we are serious about our goal to make sure the Student Recreation Center is a great place on campus for every single Ram, no matter your body type, athletic ability, or past fitness experience. Come by and take a tour with one of our knowledgeable student staff members, watch our workout videos on YouTube, and don’t be afraid to ask our staff questions. We’ve all been new to something before, and we promise you’ll be happy you took the leap.
Adaptive Activities
In order to serve Rams of all backgrounds, our programs, events, and activities that are adaptive feature the Adaptive Activity icon to indicate that accommodations are possible. The icon is featured on all printed schedules and marketing and indicates that individuals looking for specific accommodations for a disability (mental, emotional, physical, learning), can reach out to the staff listed. Each individual has different needs and we are excited to have a conversation with you to see how we can best serve your needs so that you, too, can be a Rec’ing Ram!
Personal Training
If you need a little more one-on-one assistance, or want a dedicated time to train with a friend or partner, one of our variety of personal training programs might be for you! Our certified Personal Trainers are all CSU students, which means you’ll be guided by a peer through your workouts, all customized to your specific goals and preferences! Not sure if you’re ready to fully commit just yet? Check out our FREE 4-week program designed by our Trainer team to get started!
Know before You Go
Explore an interactive map of the Student Rec Center to find spaces and activities that match your goals, so you know exactly where to go!
Student Rec Center Map
Rec Lingo
Rec Definitions
Circuit Training
Performing a series of exercises, one after the other, with minimal rest.
Cycling
A group cardio workout led by a certified instructor using stationary exercise bikes.
Drop-Sets
Performing a set to failure, then removing a small percentage of the weight and continuing with the set.
Functional Training
Training the body for the activities performed in daily life.
Gains
Increasing in muscle size or being able to lift more weight.
HIIT
High-Intensity Interval Training. Alternating bursts of intense activity with low intensity recovery periods. Also known as interval training.
Max
The maximum amount of weight someone can lift for at least one rep in an exercise.
Recovery
Rest period to let the body relax and heal.
Reps
Short for repetitions, or how many times you perform an exercise within a set.
Sets
A cycle of exercises. For example: 3 sets of 10 push-up reps means you do 30 push-ups total with breaks between each 10.
Spot
When you aid someone in their workout.
Supersets
When you do 2 or more exercises without a rest period (squat sets right to leg press sets).
Tabata
Style of interval training that includes 20 seconds of high intensity exercise and 10 seconds of rest for 8 minutes per round.
Commonly Heard Expressions
“Can I get a spot?”
Means you would like assistance with your lift.
“How many sets?”
Means you want to know how much longer someone is going to be using a particular piece of equipment.
“Can I work in?”
Means you want to get a set in on a piece of equipment while someone is resting between their sets.
“What are you lifting today?”
Means you want to know what major muscle groups someone is working out that day (e.g. leg day).
General Info & Pro Tips
Outdoor Program
Want to plan a hiking trip but not sure where to start? Our Outdoor Program (OP) is here to help – located next to the Climbing Wall in the Student Recreation Center lobby.
The OP student employees will happily assist you with finding the perfect hike or signing up for a trip led by our highly trained staff! If you don’t have the equipment you need, you can rent items through our Outdoor Gear Rental (OGR) program.
The Outdoor Program offers events for all skill levels and interests! From climbing to hiking to skiing, you name it! OP trips are also a great way to meet new people, experience nature with fellow rams, and leave with a memory you’ll never forget!
- Sign up for an OP guided tour
- See all upcoming outdoor trips
- Get advice on equipment at the Outdoor Gear Rental counter in the lobby
Lockers and Locker Rooms
Locker Room Locations
All-Gender Changing Rooms: First floor, near the Equipment Desk
Women: First floor, across from Studio 1
Men: First floor, near the Main Gym and Studio 2
Rent a Locker
You can rent a locker at the Service Center (pending availability). Rental fees vary.
We offer different sizes and durations, including full lockers (6ft. tall), half lockers (3ft. tall), medium lockers (12″ x 24″ x 18″), and small lockers (12″ x 15″ x 18″).
Locker Locations by Type
- Full and half lockers are located inside the locker rooms.
- Medium & small lockers are located outside the locker rooms throughout the facility.
- ADA lockers and lockers in the all-gender changing area are available upon request.
Booking a Studio
Privacy vs. group exercise: Members can use a studio if it is empty but must leave 15 minutes before the start of any scheduled event in the space.
Climbing Wall
The climbing wall routes are revamped each week so you never run out of new routes to climb! The best part? It’s all included in your membership! Shoes and other gear are free to rent, and we offer belay tests so you can get certified to belay your friends safely!
Intramural Sports
Campus Rec offers Intramural Sports! Our IM Sports Program offers different sport leagues throughout the semester for members to participate in. For a $10 fee each semester, you can sign up for as many sports as you would like.
Don’t have enough players to form your own team? No worries! Put your name on the free agent list and teams that need more players will reach out to you. We also offer Sport Clubs and Drop-In Sports; Sport Clubs are more of a time commitment, but well worth it. Drop-In Sports are based on your schedule—attend whenever you have the time!
Worried About the Cost of Programs?
The RECquity fund can help break down financial barriers to Rec programs and services. Explore the application form below:
RECquity Fund Application
The RECquity Fund application is not currently accepting submissions. Please check back soon!
The application dates have passed for Fall 2026. If you missed the Fall opportunities, make plans for the Spring deadlines. The application form will reopen on January 19, 2027.
Spring 2027, Round 1:
- RECquity Fund applications are due at 8am on January 25.
- OFA consent form due on February 1 (these will be sent to applicants after January 25).
- Application decisions will be sent after February 3.
Spring 2027, Round 2:
- RECquity Fund applications are due at 8am on February 22.
- OFA consent form due on March 1 (these will be sent to applicants after February 22).
- Application decisions will be sent after March 3.
Welcoming Facilities
Campus Recreation is dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming space to members from all backgrounds and fitness levels. Our award-winning recreation facility features all-gender restrooms and changing rooms, a lactation room for nursing parents, and braille on a variety of fitness machines.
Explore the building map above to locate our elevators, adaptive equipment, and more.
All Gender Restrooms, Changing Rooms, and Lockers
Campus Recreation is proud to provide all-gender restrooms, changing rooms, and rentable semester lockers. An all-gender restroom is located in the lobby, on the 2nd floor outside of Studio 4, and outside of the MAC Gym.
There are two all-gender changing rooms located near the equipment desk at the entrance to the pool. These changing rooms include a sink, toilet, and shower. The all-gender changing rooms were designed to provide a safe locker area for many members of the ram family as well as their guests. Priority for these spaces is for the following: transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming patrons; patrons with disabilities who may also have a personal care attendant or service animal; patrons with children; and those who may need a single lockable stall for other safety reasons. With only 2 rooms in this area, we ask you to consider using the gender-specific locker rooms if those are spaces that work for you in order to leave the all-gender spaces available for those who depend on access to them.
We also provide rentable lockers within the all-gender-changing space. For information on how to reserve these lockers, please contact Elizabeth Croft at elizabeth.croft@colostate.edu.
ADA Lockers
We provide rentable ADA lockers within the men’s locker room and the women’s locker room. To reserve these lockers, please email the locker room you are interested in to Elizabeth Croft at elizabeth.croft@colostate.edu.
Nursing Parents
In partnership with Commitment to Campus, Campus Rec supports the wellbeing of nursing parents at CSU through the Lactation Room program. Nursing parents can contact the Rec center via this form to reserve one of the two massage therapy rooms. This applies to parents who need to reserve a quiet space to bottle feed as well. Download a copy of the full policy here. Reservations cannot be made more than 24 hours in advance, due to the nature of the massage therapy schedule. To see all of the lactation rooms on campus, visit the Facilities website here.
Adaptable Fitness Equipment
Campus Rec is continuing to improve programs and facilities to enhance accessibility for all patrons. In addition to compliance with all ADA laws (such as ramps, elevators, pool lifts, etc), we also provide cardio machines with buttons in braille (one upright bike, recumbent bike, elliptical, and treadmill), a SciFit Arm Ergometer, and all our FreeMotion equipment located on the 1st floor is designed for adaptive recreation. Please see Campus Recreation staff for the location of this equipment.
Adaptable Aquatic Equipment
Our Aquatic Center includes an aquatic lift to aid patrons in entering the lap lane portion of the pool, as well as a zero-depth entry into the multi-use area for swimming. In addition, we offer patrons the use of our aquatic wheelchair, which can comfortably aid in pool entrance and exit through the zero-depth ramp. Our entrance doors from the locker rooms were improved with ADA automatic door openers for ease of travel between spaces and our attire policy has been updated to accommodate individuals who may not have a swimsuit.
Accommodations at the Climbing Wall
Our Climbing Wall is equipped with adaptive chest harnesses to accommodate patrons with disabilities. See a Climbing Wall staff member to ask about using one of these harnesses at the desk located near the wall entrance.
Contact
For any other questions about adaptive facilities and equipment not listed here, contact Assistant Director of Facilities at TJ.Hill@colostate.edu or (970) 491-4125.
Supportive Policies
In addition to providing welcoming facilities, Campus Recreation understands the importance of policies and programs that are welcoming to all participants.
Gender Policy
Individuals are invited to participate in Campus Recreation programs, facilities, activities, and events in accordance with their gender identity.
What does this mean in practice?
- Showing up for an event, program, facility, or activity is all you have to do to establish your gender identity and participate.
- No questions will be asked, no proof is required, come join us and play!
Intramural Gender Policy
Individuals are invited to participate in Intramural Sports events in accordance with their gender identity.
What does this mean in practice?
- Showing up to play for a men’s, women’s, or coed IM team is all you have to do to establish your gender identity and play in that division.
- No questions will be asked, no proof is required, come join us and play!
Non-Gendered Attire Policy
In an effort to be welcoming of all personal workout attire preferences, Campus Recreation has an open attire policy.
What does this mean in practice?
- Beyond our facility policies (i.e. no jeans, tennis shoes required, etc.), we do not require gender-specific attire within the Rec Center. Participants are encouraged to wear whatever attire honors their workout experience most, including sports bras, muscle tees, loose or tight-fitting clothing, etc.
- Wondering what to wear in the pool? We ask that patrons wear clean attire that is most comfortable for their needs. Examples include swimsuits, athletic shirts/shorts, athletic pants, or water shoes. To ensure your safety, please do not wear jeans, socks, street shoes, or solely undergarments.
Spouse/Partner Membership Policy
In order for a spouse/partner to purchase a membership, the Student Rec Center member and spouse/partner must bring in a common bill or piece of mail that has both people’s names on it.
What does this mean in practice?
- We do not ask for anything from you beyond a single piece of mail or bill to purchase a membership for your spouse or partner.
- You can purchase a membership for your partner in-person at the Rec Center. Both parties must be available to initially set-up the membership, but after that, your partner can gain access to the Rec Center on their own.
Personal Care Assistants
Personal Care Assistants (PCA) are eligible to access the Student Recreation Center in order to aid someone in their workout. The Personal Care Assistant will be required to sign a Campus Recreation Waiver, Information Form, and have their picture taken for a Campus Recreation Volunteer ID Card. PCAs can access the Student Recreation Center only during times with the individual needing assistance, they should remain with the individual needing assistance, and can only assist the individual needing help. PCAs can attend various events and programs offered by Campus Recreation to assist those in need. PCAs who are not affiliated with the University are ineligible for a Campus Recreation membership and are not allowed to work out or use the facility for their own benefit. Please contact Elizabeth Croft at elizabeth.croft@colostate.edu.
Period Products
As part of Colorado State University’s commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of all individuals, Campus Recreation has partnered with the Period Product Task Force to provide free period products including tampons and pads, in each of the all-gender restrooms within the Student Recreation Center. You can learn more about this university-wide initiative here.
Staff Trainings
We offer a variety of training opportunities to our staff to further our commitment to providing welcoming customer service and programs.
What does this mean in practice?
- Student and professional staff at Campus Recreation receive regular training through our Rec Development Program.
- We make every effort to assure that you are always welcome within our building and at our programs, but if you have a concern, please let any of the student staff on duty know, contact Member Services at (970) 491-6359 (press 9 when prompted), or submit an online feedback form here.