How KPU’s Fitness Programs Help Students Get in Shape
I be up in the (KPU Sports and Recreation) gym, just working on my fitness
The spring semester has begun and students have arrived on campus with hopes and dreams of better grades, novel experiences, and revamped relationships with their treadmills.
Today, we’re talking about that third thing. Whether you’re looking to work on your fitness alone, through group peer pressure, or out in the pockets of wilderness spread throughout Metro Vancouver, there are many campus-connected opportunities for Kwantlen Polytechnic University students hoping to stay active without breaking the bank. The two key players to know are KPU’s Sports and Recreation department and Active KSA.
Through KPU Sports & Rec., students have free access to exercise facilities on every campus. On the Surrey campus you will find a fitness centre, changing rooms, and “The Eagle’s Nest” — a 7,000-square foot gymnasium with an organized and open gym schedule. Fitness centres can also be found on the Langley and KPU Tech campuses. In Richmond, students have access to the Lotus Studio, an open studio space where yoga classes are conducted.
One of the most criminally underused services available at KPU, in my opinion, is the Flex Pass. Through the Flex Pass, students can pay $15 to sweat through 10 fitness classes. It’s cheaper than your morning Starbucks, or even Tim Hortons. You can purchase a pass at the Surrey Sports & Rec. front desk or at any school bookstore.
On the Surrey campus, fitness classes offered include Strength and Conditioning, Functional Training, Cardio Kickboxing, and Hatha Yoga. In Langley, Hatha Yoga is available on Mondays and Wednesdays. In Richmond, Zen Yoga is taught on Mondays, while Power Yoga is taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also, your first class is free.
If you’re a student who loves games but hates exercise, intramurals are a great option for you. Sports leagues are being organized on the Surrey campus for indoor soccer, badminton, volleyball, and basketball. Games will start on Jan. 27 and run through March. Registration is online, and it’s only $20 per player, except for basketball which is $35. Intramurals are open to those who joined every sports team in high school as well as those who never showed up for a single tryout.
If accelerating your heart rate indoors makes you feel like you’re too disconnected from nature, Active KSA is your gateway drug to exercise-induced dopamine. Active KSA is a program funded by the Kwantlen Student Association in collaboration with KPU Sports & Rec. It offers transit-friendly outdoor excursions that are either free or affordably priced. Upcoming events include snowshoeing on Jan. 25, bowling on Jan. 29, and a visit to the Bloedel Bird Conservatory on Feb. 8. Registration is online and seats are limited, so sign up before they’re gone.
Finally, personal and small group training with a certified trainer is available to those who are strong-willed, healthy-hearted, and fitness-serious. Prices vary from $20 to $45 per session, depending on whether you book your time alone or with a friend or two. Students can discuss their fitness challenges and goals during a free half hour-long orientation before starting training.
Taking care of your body through exercise opens up avenues to physical health, mental wellness, and social bonding. The affordable and varied opportunities at KPU offer students a chance to build lasting, nourishing relationships with exercise. For more information, visit kpu.ca/sportrec and activeksa.weebly.com.
