Category Archives: Health and Fitness

Health and Fitness, The Community, Wellbeing

Discover the RecCentre

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Are you one of those people who gets a gym membership and then never goes?  Kudos for getting your gym membership sorted first of all, now how about we show you how to get started?

Getting started is the hardest part
  • Time is one of the hugest barriers to exercise.  Once you acknowledge how important exercise is to your mental and physical health, it’s essential you make the time!  Even a 30min brisk walk daily is great, but setting aside some dedicated you time at the gym will take you that extra mile
  • Cost is recognised as the next barrier to break through.  Luckily for you, your student levy covers the cost of your RecCentre membership, where you can access a fully equipped gym  at your fingertips without shelling out any more pesos.
  • The next big barrier is knowing what to do.   We’ve got you covered.  The RecCentre offers a range of ways for you to get started at the gym at little or no cost.

Five ways to get started at the RecCentre

First of all, sign up online for your membership AND then download the Rec&Sport App.    Once you’ve done that, here’s how we can help:

  1. Exercise at home with the Rec&Sport app 
    Inside the app you can head to the workouts tab and there you can find and follow sessions, routines, programmes and classes in the comfort of your own home with exciting names like Core Explosion, Core Quest, Twist & Tone and Bottoms up.
  2. Book into Discover the Gym
    Ideal for first timers – learn how to use the app, the basics of using the machines and get a tour of the gym if you need one.   Book via the app – you’ll find them in the Book Classes section.

3. Book into other Discovery Sessions 
Discover Lifting – learn the basics of lifting (the foundational lifts)
Discover SkillX, Discover Yoga, Discover Spin – shorter length, entry level classes at a less intense pace, slowing down to teach technique

4. Book into a Group Fitness Class 
Our classes are all levels – just make sure you let the instructor know if it’s your first time so they can get you set up right.   You’re always in charge of your body and your workout, so you can rest when you need to and push when you can!      Hot tip though – if you’re interested in Step, please try Step Basic first!

5.  Book an Exercise Consultation or PT Session 
These do have a cost, but we keep it as low as we can for students.  Sit down and chat with a fitness professional and have a programme made just for you, based on your experience, goals and preferences.

Health and Fitness, Health and Wellbeing, Wellbeing

Boxing, Ballet and Hip Hop for fitness

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Are you looking for something a bit different to stay or start getting active? Why not try our specialty courses!  Learn something new in a small group setting for five weeks.

What are specialty courses?
  • Five-week courses where you learn a new skill, starting Week 2 of Term 3 (that’s the 22nd July onward…)
  • The same (small) group come together each week to learn and move, building up skills over the course
  • These are not free with membership – but they are extremely well priced, with student prices coming in at $8.50 a session for boxing fitness, and $11 a session for dance classes
  • All held at the RecCentre
What can you choose from?

Check out all the info on our website.  You can book online from there, or go in via your app, with payment at reception.

Got questions?  Ask one of our friendly team at the desk or email danielle.mather@canterbury.ac.nz

Don’t forget, you can access all of our other amazing Group Fitness sessions for free with your membership, booking via the app.

Ngā mihi
UC Rec&Sport | Te Ratonga Hākinakina

Health and Fitness, Health and Wellbeing, Wellbeing

Get your gym membership sorted for Semester 2!

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Now is an excellent time to get your levy-funded gym membership sorted for Semester 2, setting you up for great results both in your health and your grades!  

View of back of the instructor teaching a pump class at the UC RecCentre

We all know that exercise can bring you physical benefits like strengthening bones, muscles, improving cardiovascular health, and it helps to maintain a healthy weight (which in turn helps stave off lots of long-term health conditions). But did you know that regular exercise also helps boost your brain power?

The link between exercise and the brain 

Indirectly, exercise helps to reduce stress & anxiety, and improve sleep. The brain performs more poorly when it is tired and stressed, so exercising indirectly improves your mental performance. 

Directly, exercise can promote the growth of new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis. With new brain cells comes better cognition (thinking), memory and learning.    

Your student levy pays for your RecCentre membership 

That means you don’t have to pay anything further to access top notch equipment and group fitness classes – some of the best in the city!   

  • Simply head to our membership page and register online. 
  • Once you’ve done that, pop over to see us and we’ll activate your student ID card on your first visit.   
  • We recommend downloading the Rec&Sport app as well, to book into classes, get free programmes and exercise videos and more
Not sure where to start?

We got you! Start with a Discovery session, or book a free 15min orientation with a fitness consultant via the app. You could jump right into a group class, head to our group fitness pages to see what’s available.  We really do have something for everyone, from yoga/pilates and Zumba through to boujee circuit style classes. 

Start small, build a habit, and watch both your health and brainpower improve! 

Ngā mihi
UC Rec&Sport | Te Ratonga Hākinakina