"Make sure you know your partner well," first-year College student Jessica Abbate said. "Because you do a lot of touching."
Abbate learned how to give a good Swedish massage through an intramural recreation class this semester. The course focused on basic techniques, with would-be masseuses learning about a different body area each week.
"It's a nice way to begin the week," she said.
Abbate's Swedish massage class, taught by a professional masseuse, is an example of one of the lesser-known intramural activities the University offers. Most students have heard of intramural basketball, ultimate Frisbee or inner-tube water polo. But few know the variety of other recreational options available to them.
Through the Intramural Recreational Sports Department, students can take classes ranging from introductory rock climbing to four types of yoga.
"Each semester, we offer a variety of mind and body classes, dance classes, aquatic classes, certification courses and racquet classes. All total, I would say about 50 different classes are offered each semester. Overall, we have about 600 participants," said Amy Davidson, director of recreation instruction in the Intramural-Recreation Sports Department.
Outdoor Recreation coordinates instruction in field programs such as kayaking, rock climbing or hiking. About 60 of those programs are offered throughout the course of the year, according to Outdoor Recreation director Mark Voorhees.
Students can use the classes to learn an activity to which they otherwise might not have been exposed.
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Second-year College student Kimi White attended a course in beginning whitewater kayaking this weekend.
"The instructors were trained, experienced people that could run most any kayak course. [They] had taught previous classes and were attuned to the student's needs," White said.
Voorhees said the department always tries to ensure the quality of its instructors while keeping a good student-to-teacher ratio.
"We've tried to balance everything. What we do, we do well," Voorhees said.
Outdoor recreation programs, like the introductory rock climbing classes or horseback riding classes, usually last one or two days, for eight to 10 hours each day. Outdoor recreation programs seem more expensive, but the price is all-inclusive. The cost covers instruction, rentals or equipment and use of gear like climbing shoes and wet suits which most participants may not own.
"What we offer the University student and community is a well-rounded, solid program of opportunity to experience these things," Voorhees said. "When you look at the quality of the equipment and the instruction for the price they pay, you're getting a good service."
When getting involved with intramural sports, not every student considers the teacher-to-student ratio or the cost breakdown per class. Many students take intramural sports for the chance to try something new.
"It's something different," first-year College student Carla Insley said in reference to the yoga class she took this semester. "I've always been interested in the Eastern-type of physical activity."
Davidson knows one of the draws for the recreation instruction classes is their novelty.
"I'm always looking for new ideas and new classes," Davidson said. "I try to offer what the students tell me is the popular interest."
This year, new additions to the IM-Rec program included several dance classes like waltz, mambo and Argentine tango and a mind and body class called NIA, or neuromuscular integrative action, which combines a variety of meditative and martial arts.
Davidson said while many students took the classes to learn a certain skill, she hopes the programs offer something more.
"Our classes satisfy several basic needs that we all have: educational, physical, emotional and social," Davidson said. "Most importantly, our classes are fun."
Second-year College student Anna Ferrarie took the introduction to whitewater kayaking class this weekend. For her, the two-day long class took her "away from the worries about school and classes. It was physically and mentally challenging at times and I loved it."
Fourth-year College student Tom Ramsson works for Outdoor Recreation. He also has taken several classes, including an introductory horse-back riding course. Ramsson described his riding experience before the class as "minimal," but he still was able to enjoy the trip.
Although Ramsson only had participated in a few classes, he was enthusiastic about any program offered by Outdoor Recreation.
"I'd recommend pretty much all of them. From working here, I've gotten to know the instructors. They're all really knowledgeable people and really cool people to work with," Ramsson said.
Fourth-year College student Avalyn Taylor not only took classes with intramurals but also worked as an instructor for Outdoor Recreation for three years. She taught kayaking roll sessions in the pool and river workshops.
Recently, she took a fly-fishing course.
"I had never done it before," Taylor confessed, "It was great."
About her experiences as an instructor, Taylor said, "I've met a lot of really great people. I've really enjoyed teaching other people what I enjoy. I think a lot of people continue with it after an intro class. That's always fun to see."
Teaching at the University was not Taylor's first experience with kayaking. She had about four years experience before coming the to University and had taught in summer camps before.
Regardless of why a student takes one of the courses, he usually enjoys it. Many people who take one class return to take another in later semesters.
The reason is simple.
"It broadens your horizons. I'm going to look into it again next semester." Insley said.
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