Rashad ruff works out in the Turner Center at Ole Miss on Sunday.
Christina Huff | The Daily Mississippian
Mississippi is often stereotyped as one of the least healthy states in the United States, but you wouldn’t know it by visiting the Turner Center. It’s not just the popular choice for a place to exercise; it is the place for exercise. The Turner Center’s most prominent areas include the fitness center and the gymnasium, according to Zach Randall, graduate assistant of facility operations.
“The most popular programs that we currently have are the fitness group exercise classes,” Randall said. “These programs draw a great number of students every semester, and they are free to all students.”
The aforementioned classes include activities such as yoga and cycling. No matter where your interests lie, it is easy to find something enjoyable in which to participate.
Most notably, everything you participate in is already paid for, if you are a student of The University of Mississippi; fees for the Turner Center are paid for through tuition. No gym membership needed! Remember that gym you paid every month during high school? Not an issue here. And there is always staff on hand to help you with whatever you might need to make your exercise experiences less painful and more exceptional.
“I would highly suggest working out with a partner or signing up for a personal trainer,” Randall advised. “Working out with a friend or a group of friends can help you stay consistent with your workouts and provide extra motivation.”
Seeing as it is the new year and you may be a little concerned with your gift of Christmas mass, checking out the Turner Center can give you a fresh start on living a healthier, more satisfied life.
“It’s definitely a good idea for students to utilize their campus recreation center,” Randall said. “Getting exercise not only helps you maintain your physical health, but it also serves as a stress reliever, promotes social interaction and helps you free your mind from class and tests.”
In fact, the campus recreation department itself focuses strongly on student development, especially regarding maintenance of physical and mental strength.
If you are keen to see what else the Department of Campus Recreation has to offer, Jessica Goodson, coordinator of intramural sports, has some advice.
“Students should find activities that they are most interested in to stay in shape,” Goodson said. “I am a sports person, so I play intramural sports. If you enjoy outdoor trips, try outdoors. Like to swim? See what aquatics has to offer. Want to work out with a group or a personal trainer? Talk with fitness. I would suggest to any student wanting to get involved to check out the campus recreation website.”
The Department of Campus Recreation is not synonymous with the Turner Center, but both are here to help you. The Turner Center is a major resource for campus recreation, and without it, the department wouldn’t be able to offer most of its activities.
Campus recreation has five different program areas: aquatics, outdoors, fitness, intramural sports and sport clubs. The Turner Center serves as host for many of these.
There is still time to make a resolution to take better care of your body this year, and take my word for it: The Turner Center is the place to begin. With so many options, those holiday pounds don’t stand a chance!
