Connect with Us Virtually and Stay Active - for Free!

Even though the CSU Rec Center facilities are limited right now, you can still be active and healthy with us at home! We have lots of offerings and resources to keep your body moving and your mind operating in tip-top shape (with more on the way!). Explore below and check back frequently as we continue to add more activities for your virtual, at-home arsenal!

• MENU •
At-Home Workouts • Games & Puzzles • LIVE Virtual Fitness Classes 
Challenges & Activities • From the CSU Rec Blog • Mindful Moments
Shine Well • Wellness Presentations • Virtual Personal Training

Introducing: CSU Rec On Demand!

Hit the Rec – Anytime, Anywhere
We believe being active means being well, and when you feel well you achieve more. With a growing collection of content, our new on-demand platform makes our knowledge and experience available to you at the click of a mouse–all from the comfort of your home.

CSU Rec On Demand features full-length workouts with some of your favorite instructors from the CSU Rec, free content, live classes, progressive programs, and a lot more. Join us and our community of active and inspired people empowered to live their best lives. We're just getting started – there's a lot more on-demand content to come! Check it out >>

Workout At Home with the CSU Rec! Video Series

During the height of the pandemic, we launched a series of at-home workouts you can do right from your living room! We walk you through each exercise in the workout, providing form cues and modifications, making it easy for you to follow along, no matter your fitness level. Videos are also available on our Facebook and Instagram pages (links below).

• Time Crunch Crusher (cardio total body workout)
• 200 in 20 Workout #1 (cardio/total body workout)
• Intermediate Ignition (cardio/total body workout)
• Leg Day 16 (lower body workout)
• The 100s Workout (total body/benchmarking workout)
• Ninja (core workout)
• Burnout Basics (upper body workout)
• Quick Burn (total body workout)
• Superman 15 (upper body workout)
• Slow Burn (lower body workout)
• Fast and Furious (cardio/total body workout)
• Beginner Core (core workout)
• Overdrive Core + Cardio (core/cardio workout)
• Beginner Blast (total body workout)
• The Linchpin (core workout)
• Core Workout w/ Pillow (core workout)
• Leg Circuit w/ Chair (lower body workout)

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Virtual Wellness Presentations!

These short wellness chats are quick to watch but packed with useful tips and info! All presentations are available on our IGTV Channel and Facebook page except where noted.

• Treating Yourself. After long or intense periods of high stress or hard work (like studying for finals or prepping for a big meeting), it’s important to give your brain a break. Get some fun ideas for ways to relax, unwind and treat yourself from our very own, Kristen Soinski!

• Study Breaks. Final exams are next week and we know you all are buckling down to study which is fantastic but it’s also important to take breaks during your study sessions. Tune in as Melissa discusses several different ideas for effective study breaks. Find the one (or two or three!) that’s right for you!

• What Are Carotenoids? Dives into the topic of carotenoids in the diet and why they are a critical part of your nutrition. Learn how these powerful antioxidants can improve mental health, lower risk of disease, and where you can find them!

• Sleep Hygiene 101. Having trouble sleeping? Do you toss and turn all night? Kristen Soinski, Graduate Supervisor of Fitness & Wellness at the CSU Rec, discusses a little bit about how sleep (or lack of) can affect your daily life, and shares some tips you can use to improve your quality of sleep.

• Guided Meditation. Take 10-15 minutes out of your day to focus on mindfulness and peace. Sinead will lead you through a guided meditation to center yourself and help relieve stress. 

• Managing Stress During Change. Change can be difficult as we have to adjust to something new, especially when it's unexpected. However, change doesn't always have to come with stress! Join Kristen Soinski, Graduate Supervisor of Fitness & Wellness from the CSU Rec for a presentation about managing stress and pick-up some tips and tricks to build resiliency and lower stress during times of change.

• Exercise Snacks: Sneaking in Movement to Combat Excessive Sitting. On Monday, March 30th, Melissa Albers, Assistant Director of Fitness and Aquatics for the CSU Rec Center, hosted a LIVE presentation to discuss the concept of "exercise snacks" and the importance of incorporating movement or exercise snack breaks in our stay-at-home lives, sharing tips, tricks, and sample movements you can do from your home. (Missed the live presentation? No problem! You can view it on Facebook!).

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LIVE Group Fitness Classes!

We’ve taken group fitness into the virtual realm, offering a variety of live fitness classes! Take a look at our robust schedule and our university partnership schedules HERE!

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Keep Your Mind Healthy, Too!

It's important to take care of your mental well-being as much as your physical health. Below you can browse a growing compilation of helpful articles, activities and information from the CSU Rec Blog and other resources to help you take care of your mental health and make mindfulness a regular part of your daily life. Exercise your mind as much as you exercise your body. 

Mindful Moments

Body Rotation. Take a few minutes to relax, clear your mind, and relieve some stress and anxiety. This short meditation will guide you through scanning your body to identify points of tension you may not even notice, and help release that tension so you can feel more relaxed. Simply find a comfortable seated position and hit the play button!

Do Nothing for 30 Seconds. Psst...are you feeling anxious right this moment? Maybe a bit stressed? Or a little overwhelmed? Take just a moment right now to bring calm to your mind. Pause what you're doing and simply DO NOTHING. Don't think–just breathe.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation. Need a moment to relax? Try this 1-minute progressive muscle relaxation exercise to begin to recognize how you feel when tense vs. relaxed. Give it a try, then take a few moments to rest in a relaxed state before resuming your day.

Breath & Rain. Taking as little as 30 seconds–1 minute to simply breathe and clear your mind can help ease stress and anxiety. Use this short video to guide you through a few moments of mindfulness relax your mind a bit. Quiet your thoughts, close your eyes, and focus on a few deep breaths.

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Challenges & Activities

Cook a New Healthy Recipe. One of the main factors affecting your health is the food you put in your body. But healthy eating doesn't have to be boring! Take some time this week to find a new healthy recipe and give it a try - you may just find a new food favorite! 

Spend Some Time Outside Each Day. With the weather getting warmer, it's the perfect time to start focusing on getting outside! Take your laptop and work outside, take a nap in the fresh air, exercise outdoors, or simply bask in the sunshine. Even if it's just for a few minutes, spending time outside will improve your well-being!

1-Minute Push-Up Challenge! How many push-ups can you do in 1 minute?? Push-ups are an excellent full body exercise with lots of variations and modifications to control intensity. So...ready for the challenge?? Give it a try, then post your results and tag some friends to challenge them!

Read 10 Pages in a Book. Any day is a good day to do a little reading. Fiction, non-fiction, magazine or blog article, make it a goal to spend a little bit of time reading each day.

What Brings You Joy? What brings you joy and happiness? It doesn't have to be something big, just something that's meaningful to YOU! Today, focus on a couple of the joyful things you have and notice the postive and happy feelings they inspire in you. 

Plank Challenge! How long can you hold a plank in good form? Elbows under shoulders, core engaged, flat back, hips parallel to the floor, and up on your toes – give it a try! Then post your time and tag a friend or 2 to challenge them (tag us, too: @clestaterec)!

Gratefulness Challenge: 3 Things What are 3 things you’re grateful for today? Taking 3 minutes each day to write down 3 things you’re thankful for can increase your happiness. By taking time to consciously express gratitude, we remember that the things we have in our lives, big or small, are what we should be grateful and happy for. This exercise involves us thinking of positive thoughts which can increase happiness. Are you ready to take the challenge? Start today and give it a try!

Remind Yourself to MOVE! Do you find yourself sitting more at your desk or on your couch as you settle into work-from-home or remote learning life? It’s time to get moving! Set reminders on your phone/device to get up and move-and-groove! Have fun with it and use songs for the alarm tones, quote song or movie lyrics, or use a variety motivational quotes. How you do it, remind yourself to move – your body and mind will thank you!

Unplug for 1 Hour Feeling overwhelmed by all the news, emails, and notifications hitting your phone or device? Technology is everywhere and research has shown that it can increase stress, anxiety, and restlessness, and negatively impact our sleep patterns. Try unplugging for an hour today (and every day) and enjoy the quiet to clear your mind and focus on the present.

Furry Friends Challenge Did you know that pets can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize? Regular walking or playing with pets can even decrease blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Our furry friends can also help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship. Studies have even shown that the bond between people and their pets can lower stress and bring happiness to their owners. Have a work-from-home co-worker or a remote learning furry friend? Tag @clestaterec in a social media post or story and let’s see those animals!

Take a Walk Tuesdays Whether you walk to get in your steps, use it to clear your mind, or just to get some fresh air and sunshine, GET OUTSIDE and move! During this crazy time – or anytime you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed or cooped-up – it's important to schedule time for physical activity. It doesn't have to be long either! A short walk around your neighborhood or a nearby park will do the trick. And feel free to snap a picture of the landscape, a flower or animal you see, or just yourself outside in the sun, and tag @clestaterec in your social post or story!

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Games & Puzzles

Extreme Close-Up Game
These items are ready for their close-up! But can you tell what they are?
   4/7/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  4/14/20 Puzzle  |  Answer
   4/21/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  4/28/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   5/6/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  5/12/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   5/19/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 

Find the Difference Puzzles
Can you find all 5 difference between the two images?
   4/1/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  4/8/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   4/15/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  4/22/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   4/29/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  5/7/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   5/15/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  

Guess the Image Puzzles
Can figure out what the distorted image is?
   3/30/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  4/9/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   4/16/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  4/23/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 
   4/30/20 Puzzle  |  Answer  •  5/14/20 Puzzle  |  Answer 

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From the CSU Rec Blog:

• "8 Tips to Help You Get a Better Night's Sleep" Your sleep habits can significantly impact your daily productivity, physical and mental health, and your overall quality of living. These 8 sleep hygiene tips are simple things you can put into practice right away and reap the sleep benefits! Read more...
• "5 Easy Ways to Make Going Outside a Priority" Don't let work or school work get in the way of getting outdoors! We have 5 simple suggestions that will not only increase your time outside but provide a nice break from your regular routine. Read more...
• "5 Tips to Help Boost Your Productivity While Working from Home" Working from can be quite a change for people who may not be used to it. We have composed 5 tips to help boost your productivity while working from home, and also build helpful at-home work habits. Read more...
• "7 Mindful Habits to Reduce Stress During Stressful Times Like These" With the current COVID-19 situation unfolding, it is understandable to have heightened stress and anxiety. To help, we want to provide tips to help reduce your anxiety during this stressful time (or any time). Read more... 
• "Why Not Take Our Recommendation!?" Looking for new ideas for things to do while hanging out at home? Take some ideas from the CSU Rec staff! Read more...
• "I Am Grateful Challenge" Practicing gratitude has been shown to have a number of positive impacts on stress levels and health... Read more...
• "The Benefits of Self-Care Skin Care" A nourishing skin-care routine can be both refreshing and rejunenating! Read more...
• "Exercise and Stress" Utilizing exercise to minimize stress can help prevent mental burnout, and prevent many long-term physical effects... Read more...
• "Beating That Back-to-School Feeling" Packed with helpful times to manage your workload and fight procrastination, this article is useful anytime to get organized and combat stress. Read more...
• "5 Outdoor Activities to Fill Your Free Time This Weekend" One of the few ways we can still get out of the houses safely is to hit the outdoors! Here are 5 great ways to take a step back from the world, connect with nature and give you mind a breath of fresh air–literally! Read more...
• "The Emotional Benefits of Outdoor Activity" Studies have repeatedly shown that being outside can elevate your mood and boost self-esteem, and reduce depression and stress. Read more...
• "Is More Sleep Better Than More Exercise?" There isn't much debate that both sleep and exercise have wide-randing benefits. But is one more beneficial for your health? Read more...

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Virtual Personal Training

Looking to continue your specialized one-on-on fitness training? We’re now offering virtual personal training to our current client base. These sessions are just like in-person sessions, with a trainer guiding, motivating, and holding you accountable through the entire workout. Virtual sessions are done over FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or whatever platform works best for you and your trainer.

Interested in getting started with virtual personal training but not a current client? Reach out to Melissa Albers at m.a.albers@csuohio.edu for more information and to reserve a spot!

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Shine Your Brightest with Shine Well!

Achieving optimal health for yourself is a continuous journey, and we're here to help light the way! Our wellness initiative, Shine Well, will help you explore the many facets of wellness and find ways to incorporate them into your life. Explore each web page to learn more about the dimensions of wellness, the benefits of each, and start crafting a more well-rounded wellness lifestyle.

You can also find some tools to help you set health and wellness goals, and a daily planning worksheet to create your own customized plan to integrate all aspects of wellness into your life. Plug in to your well-being and shine your brightest! Start exploring...

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Please consult your physician or healthcare professional before starting this or any fitness program.  By performing these exercises, you are performing them at your own risk.  If you should feel any pain or discomfort at any time during this workout stop immediately and contact your health professional.