When Megan Cockfield, pre-nursing freshman, wanted to work out with a University Student Recreation Complex instructor, she put on her tennis shoes, set aside 30 minutes and logged onto her laptop. “I didn’t really feel like going to the gym, and I needed to workout,” Cockfield said. University recreation filmed kickboxing, power yoga and gentle yoga videos for students to view online because of limited physical space at the UREC and accessibility to more students. Students can access the videos from the UREC’s home page. University Recreation doesn’t have the number of students who viewed the Web site during September. Other students share Cockfield’s ideas about working out with others. “A lot of the time you just don’t feel like going to the Rec,” said Shannon Zeimetz, psychology and French junior. “You’d rather stay in your apartment.” Cockfield said she hadn’t taken kickboxing classes at the UREC until she tried it online.  “I wanted to see if the class was good or not, and it was good,” Cockfield said. University Recreation had several motives for providing online workout classes. “We are out of physical space at LSU UREC,” said Tricia Milford-Hoyt, UREC director of marketing and membership. “We are still having wait times and full Group X classes, so we had to go to virtual space.” Group X classes wait times are 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled class to reserve a spot. Students have shown up for the classes an hour in advance to take classes,  Milford-Hoyt said.  UREC staff makes sure students don’t use the same exercise equipment for more than 30 minutes at a time, Milford-Hoyt said. Online workout videos are for classes requiring little to no equipment, Milford-Hoyt said. Students who didn’t know about the videos were interested in them. “If they are online and free, I would [be interested],” Zeimetz said.  Allison Whitney, mass communication sophomore, said she didn’t know about the online workout videos. “I guess I will probably go look at it,” Whitney said. “I didn’t even know it was up there.” Milford-Hoyt said she doesn’t think the online workouts will discourage students from going to the UREC. University Recreation is using the online videos to reach more students, Milford-Hoyt said. “Our concern is the people new to fitness,” Milford-Hoyt said. Online videos will also stream intramural championships and seminars in addition to classes, said Tamara Jarrett, University Recreation director. University Recreation plans to use video equipment to start “Ask a Trainer,” an online program for students to communicate with trainers about working out and tips. Sonic Foundry Inc. supplied UREC with video equipment to schedule live trainer sessions where students can write in. It will be at least two months before this program will start, Milford-Hoyt said. The University is the first to use Mediasite presentation recording technology in a full screen for exercise classes. The program is typically used for academic classes, Milford-Hoyt said. Students can access the videos from the homepage of the UREC. University Recreation plans to add a PAWS login to limit access to students and understand student demographics and interest in the videos, Milford-Hoyt said. University Recreation bought video equipment in July funded by a student fee increase, Milford-Hoyt said. Jarrett asked for a student fee increase from $45 to $70 effective this August. The fee has not yet increased, but University Recreation began to implement plans which include no Group X fees and video equipment, Milford Hoyt said. “We started the technology initiative as a whole three years ago,” Jarrett said. “Just to be able to do something like this, you have to have a strong foundation.” The UREC also made Group X free, and there will be no intramural fees or climbing gym fees next year, Milford-Hoyt said. University Recreation posted online Group X power yoga this week, Group X gentle yoga two weeks ago and Group X kickboxing during Hurricane Gustav. University Recreation is planning to film new workout videos once every two weeks, Milford-Hoyt said. A schedule of online videos will be available in the upcoming weeks, Milford-Hoyt said. Emily Eoff, UREC coordinator of healthy lifestyles, trains all instructors for online videos. Online trainers trying out must audition and have workout routines, and instructors must be able to talk throughout videos and instruct on correct form, Milford-Hoyt said. University Recreation coaches instructors on safety and effectiveness of routine, ability to speak throughout workout and offer modifications, Eoff said. Students can expect to see signs around campus about UREC online videos in the upcoming weeks.—-Contact Mary Gonzalez at [email protected]