A year after University Student Recreation Complex started free fitness assessments, many students remain unaware of the service. University Recreation had 265 students participate in the program since its start last spring, said Tricia Milford-Hoyt, UREC director of marketing and membership.The UREC offers free health and fitness assessments to students, available Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7p.m.”There are limited expenses,” Milford Hoyt said. The students who take advantage of the free fitness assessments use them as opportunities for them to interact with others about living a healthy lifestyle.Personal trainers assess a student’s flexibility, cardio fitness and weight, and offer advice for his or her health-related goals, said Emily Eoff, UREC Healthy Lifestyles coordinator.”We want people to get into healthy lifestyles so they can talk to informed individuals instead of magazines,” Eoff said.Free fitness and health assessments are meant to give students basic information on fitness, she said.The assessments last 30 minutes and can be scheduled through Guest Services at the UREC. Students can also request a free nutritional assessment from Wellness Education in addition to their free fitness assessment.  Walk-ins are accepted based on availability.Nine out of ten interviewed students did not know about the UREC’s free health and fitness assessments. “What is a fitness assessment, exactly?” said Karsten Becnel, international studies senior. Other students were also unaware of the fitness assessments. “If I was sick or something, I would do that,” said Grant Gunstream, prenursing senior, on if he would do a free fitness assessment.Chris Gearheart, communication studies graduate student, said he was “not really interested.”Cory Burks, University Recreation personal trainer, shares a different opinion of the program. “Once it starts, a good bit of people come, and then it dies down. But now, since we do it one time a week, people are taking advantage,” Burks said. Some students aren’t interested in a free fitness assessment. “I work out already … I guess it could help me a little bit, but I don’t see how it would benefit me,” said Theo Stelly, construction manager junior. Others expressed interest in the free fitness assessments offered by the UREC. “Actually I have been thinking about that. I was thinking about going to the health clinic for something like that, but I didn’t know the UREC does it,” said Mike Fernandez, sociology sophomore. “That is exactly what I have been looking for.”Nationally accredited UREC personal trainers perform the free fitness assessments, Eoff said.Students receive cards with their fitness assessment and can follow up later to evaluate changes in their fitness levels, Eoff said. “We want to provide an opportunity for students to ask their questions,” Milford-Hoyt said. Students should wear loose clothing for the fitness assessment, drink plenty of fluids prior to arriving and before the assessment avoid exercise, eating, drinking alcohol and use of tobacco.Students interested in a detailed assessment can pay $25. These assessments include more specialized measurements and take an hour, Eoff said.Paid assessments include body fat analysis, cardio fitness assessment, blood pressure, squat assessment and muscle and balance assessments, Eoff said.A bike is used for a BO2 test, which measures how well the body takes in oxygen and uses it, Burks said. Personal trainers offer more detailed advice, specialized to individual students and their goals, Eoff said. Paid assessments also include nutritional assessments.All personal training sessions come with a paid assessment, Eoff said. It is recommended to pay for a personal training session and have the included paid assessment rather than pay only for an assessment.Personal training session prices can be found on the UREC’s Web site.Burks recommends students take a free fitness and health assessment. “I definitely do. Then they can compare changes, and it’s good motivation,” Burks said.
 
 
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