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 the best 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 tips video series (posted here), 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.

Rec 101 Tours

Held at the start of each semester, these free tours offer you an in-depth look at equipment, proper form, and how to create a workout, led by our certified Personal Trainers.

Rec Ramble Podcast

Hosted by two CSU students, Rec Ramble is a space to discuss the difficult topics around health and wellness, such as body image, race, and access to health. Tune in via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other major streaming platforms!

Personal Training

If you need a little more one-on-one assistance, a personal training session is for you. Our certified Personal Trainers are all CSU students, which means you’ll be guided by a peer through your workouts.

Night at the Rec

Each fall, Campus Recreation hosts 1,000’s of incoming students during Ram Welcome week at Night at the Rec. Stop by (held the Saturday evening prior to the start of classes in August) to talk to experts from each area of the Rec.

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)