What We Do
As a service to the University community, University Recreation & Sport Facilities offers a wide variety of workshops and non-credit classes that primarily relate to health, fitness, and nutrition. The program offerings are available to all faculty, staff, and students for a nominal registration fee. Every effort is made to ensure that these courses and workshops meet the current interests of participants and are taught by qualified instructors.
Classes are open to faculty, staff, students, and community members. Community members are charged a slightly higher fee than UW-Eau Claire students, faculty, and staff. Fees must be paid at the time of registration.
Services Offered
This six thousand year old science, originating in India, is demystified and designed for mainstream fitness enthusiasts. The course combines elements of Hatha yoga with traditional fitness exercises and stretching routines to provide a revitalizing, non-purist Yoga work-out that integrates body, mind and breath for total performance. Strength, conditioning, breathing and relaxation components are featured. It is appropriate for all ages and fitness levels. Participants will be introduced to Yoga as a mind & body practice and will gain a basic understanding of Yoga history and philosophy.
Pilates is a series of movements done from a sitting, reclining, kneeling, or standing position, designed to increase strength and flexibility, release tension and relieve chronic neck and back pain. Developed by German-born Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s, this method combines elements of eastern and western disciplines, including Yoga, Tai Chi and ancient Greek and Roman exercise protocols. Repatterning movements and proper breathing techniques are important components of the training. The Pilates Method is used in physical rehabilitation and is popular with athletes and performance artists, as well as those seeking to improve body conditioning.
This class will be an introductory course in American tribal belly dance, and no previous dance experience is required. Each dancer is encouraged to abandon her worries and hesitations at the door and prepare to experience a six week session of celebrating her own body through movement and discovering the power and beauty that dancing ignites within all women. Students may be exposed to Middle Eastern, Indian, North-African, American and Eastern European styles of tribal and solo dance.
An ancient form of Korean Qi Gong that consists of a unique sequence of eight gentle exercises that have been handed down from Master to pupil for 6,000 years. It is a proven method of training the body, the breath, the mind, and the Qi to improve health and longevity. Meant as a daily, life-long practice that takes just six minutes, it energizes the body while calming the mind. If you frequently have achy muscles, feel stiffness, low energy and general discomfort, or recognize the need for more balance in a stressful lifestyle, please join us. Qi Gong can change your life?
In a lecture he gave at UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Harold G. Koening, M.D. presented striking research that connected stress with healing. A person who gets injured during final exam, he said, takes 30% longer to heal that is that injury occurs during summer vacation. In Restorative Yoga, we will look at practical techniques for reducing stress and rejuvenating the body, mind, and spirit. This is the gentlest form of yoga and will benefit those already in a state of physical or mental imbalance as well as prevent illness and injury in people who are healthy. We will modify traditional yoga poses using props that will allow for passive opening of centers in the body that hold tension and stress. In addition, we will practice unleashing the healing power of conscious, deep breathing. This is a wonderful way to honor the gift of body and breath and to optimize their proper functioning.
This popular two-part course is a hands-on workshop where participants will explore the consequences of chronic stress and learn therapeutic methods they can use for managing stress and facilitating relaxation. Methods include exploration and use of essential oils for aromatherapy, hand and foot reflexology, acupressure and European massage techniques, therapeutic auricular (ear) massage, guided imagery, and relaxation and breathing techniques.
Chinese Eighteen Postures (a type of Qi Gong) is a series of individual movements combined with slow deep breathing techniques which gently allow the myofascial tissues and musculoskeletal systems to open. The “opening” enhances blood flow to the tissues and increases lymph circulation (one of our major tissue detoxification systems). The result is healthier tissues, more flexible joints, decreased/elimination of joint muscle pain, improved balance, and an expanded sense of well being. Many participants are pleasantly surprised to find that these postures have as many stress relieving benefits as musculoskeletal benefits. Rather profound ancient Chinese health concept states; “If you relax the body, the mind will follow,” and this is certainly true of the practice.
The ancient art of aromatherapy is explored in this two-part course. Participants will learn about essential oils, explore some therapeutic uses for mind and body, and will create wonderful chemical-free products for personal care. Course cost course materials for take home products including: Facial/body hydration mist, detox bath salt, facial mask, and recipes for these and other products. All oils used are therapeutic grade.
