Campus Rec Offering Free Fitness Equipment, Virtual Classes for Winter Break

Throughout the extended winter break, University of Kentucky Campus Recreation and Wellness will be offering an expanded schedule of virtual fitness classes open to all University of Kentucky students, faculty and staff. Additionally, Campus Rec is giving away 250 free “Fit Kits” for students to use for these virtual fitness classes.

The Fit Kits include two large exercise bands, one mini band, a fitness journal, and a cinch bag. Group fitness instructors will be utilizing the same equipment on the virtual platform, which allows Campus Rec to expand the types of virtual fitness classes offered. If participants complete 12 virtual fitness classes during winter break, the kits are theirs to keep.

After offering virtual fitness classes since March, the Campus Rec group has improved and adjusted the program based on what they’ve learned, says Fitness Director Casey Gilvin.

“Our goal is to meet students where they are and provide classes that don’t require a facility,” Gilvin said. “We identified that a lack of fitness equipment limited the experience of our participants. The Fit Kits allow the instructors to provide a fuller experience by using fitness accessories that are used in many of our in-person formats.”

Interested participants can register for a Fit Kit here. Fit Kits are available to students first, though UK faculty and staff can be put on a waitlist for any remaining kits.

In addition to the virtual group fitness classes, UK’s Johnson Center will continue to offer a reduced schedule of in-person fitness classes during the extended break. The Johnson Center will close from the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 18 to Monday, Jan. 4.

“Our participants may be here in Lexington, or they may be in various parts of the country,” Gilvin said. “This aggressive programming schedule lets them take classes from instructors they know and trust. By offering classes throughout the break, it empowers our participants to finish strong in 2020 and get a head start on their fitness goals for 2021.”

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Registering for and joining a virtual group fitness class through Campus Rec is easy. If you haven’t used Zoom before, first, download the Zoom client for your computer or download the app for your mobile device.

Class registration will be open seven days prior to the start time of each class and will close one minute prior to class start time. To register for a virtual group fitness class:

• Go to www.uky.edu/recwell and click on Rec Well Services (alternately, you can go directly to the online portal at recwellservices.uky.edu).
• Log in with your LinkBlue ID and password (the Log In button is in the top right corner of the screen).
• Click on Programs, then choose Virtual Group Fitness from the left side menu.
• Current virtual class offerings are listed – scroll through and click on the class you want to register for.
• On the Program Details page, click Register.
• Read and accept the Assumption of Risk statement.
• In your Shopping Cart, click Checkout and confirm.
• You’re registered! You will receive a confirmation email from FusionAdmin@uky.edu.

When it’s time to take class, participants will need to check in to join the Zoom meeting. Class check-in begins 10 minutes prior to the scheduled class start time.

There are two ways to check in for class – through the class confirmation email, or through the online portal you used to register for class.

To check in for your virtual fitness class via email:

• Open your class confirmation email from FusionAdmin@uky.edu.
• Click Join Session, then when prompted, Open Zoom Meeting.
• You’ll be placed in a Zoom Waiting Room and your instructor will admit you into class.

To check in for your virtual fitness class through the online portal:

• Go to www.uky.edu/recwell and click on Rec Well Services (alternately, you can go directly to the online portal at recwellservices.uky.edu).
• Log in with your LinkBlue ID and password (the Log In button is in the top right corner of the screen).
• After logging in, click on your LinkBlue ID in the top right corner, then go to your Profile.
• Choose Programs from the left side menu. All of your class registrations will be listed.
• Click on the small camera icon on the right hand side of the class you are ready to take.
• When prompted, click Open Zoom Meeting.
• You’ll be placed in a Zoom Waiting Room and your instructor will admit you into class.

For more information on all the programs, services and facilities at UK Campus Recreation and Wellness, visit www.uky.edu/recwell.