A Day For Fitness

In celebration of National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day, the UConn Recreational Center (UCRC) gave away door prizes and offered two special programs Wednesday.

Although some students saw the sign on the gym door, the majority seemed happily surprised when handed free T-shirts and towels as they left the gym, said Nigel Roberts, coordinator of customer service.

According to Roberts, the gym distributed free water bottles last year.

"Kids love free stuff," Roberts said.

According to UConn Executive Director of Department of Recreational Services Patricia Bostic, the UCRC has recognized the holiday since 1999, when it was first instituted.

UConn is a member of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), which passed a resolution in April 1999 to celebrate the yearly national holiday, according to the NIRSA web site. Feb. 22 was chosen because it is the date of NIRSA's founding.

The celebration is "intended to promote the tremendous benefits of participation in recreational sports" as well as "serve as a tribute to representatives of 11 Historically Black Colleges who first met at Dillard University in New Orleans to form the National Intramural Association, NIRSA's predecessor," the web site said.

The NIRSA web site encouraged its members, many of which are universities, to join in the celebration of the holiday.

"We are celebrating with all the other members of our association," Bostic said. According to Bostic, last year's celebration included the opening of the climbing center.

According to Michael D'Alfonso, coordinator of fitness and wellness at UConn, two special programs were offered this year in conjunction with the event - "Yoga for Climbers" and a scuba demo.

The purpose of the "Yoga for Climbers" program was to use yoga to strengthen certain muscle groups that are important for climbing.

"We wanted to incorporate something that was fitness-related and kind of fun," D'Alfonso said.

According to D'Alfonso, the program was advertised since the beginning of the semester and was full weeks before the actual event.

The second program is a free scuba demo where students are able to try scuba gear and techniques in the swimming pool.

It's a "good chance to try it and see what it's like," D'Alfonso said. Students who enjoy the experience can sign up for a HuskyXcursion scuba-diving trip. The cost is $190 and students are required to bring their own equipment.

The UConn Recreation Center is also promoting the Physical Activities Week Program (P.A.W.). Students first register and then collect points after every recreational activity they participate in, whether it be playing on an intramural team or simply working out at the gym. On April 17, students may begin exchanging their P.A.W. points for prizes.

It's "basically a rewards program," D'Alfonso said. "The more you work out ... the more you earn."