Private gyms or the local YMCA may come to mind first when thinking of places to workout, but many Georgia universities also have outstanding fitness centers open to students, faculty and staff, alumni and their families, and the public. Here are a few college fitness centers that offer some awesome amenities.
Emory University
The Woodruff Physical Education Center (WoodPEC) has a four-floor fitness center, which has an aerobics, dance, indoor track and indoor cycling studio. Group exercises classes, individual or group personal training and instructional classes are also offered.
Membership is available to faculty and staff, including those employed by Emory Healthcare. Emory alumni can also join, as can their spouses, same-sex domestic partners and dependents. They'll pay $300 yearly for access to the gym, where they can exercise on their own or participate in six-week, non-credit recreational classes.
Georgia State University
Georgia State's fitness facilities include a 161,112-square-foot Student Recreation Center and the Indian Creek Recreation Center.
Current students pay no additional fees for membership since it's included in their fees. GSU's facilities aren't open to the general public, but faculty, staff and degree-holding graduates have access. Graduates can pay $306 a year, $102 a semester, or $5 for a daily pass. This allows them to participate in drop-in activities but not programs that require membership.
The Student Recreation Center includes:
- Racquetball courts
- Wallyball courts
- Squash courts
- Free weights
- Aquatic center with lap pool, spa and sauna
- Martial arts studio
- Aerobics/dance studio
- Basketball/volleyball courts
- 1/6-mile running track
- Gym with floor lined for six different sports - badminton, basketball, fencing, arena flag football, indoor soccer and volleyball
- Nutritional counseling for members
Indian Creek offers a swimming pool, lodge, picnic grounds, ropes course and sand volleyball court. It's also used for group meetings and retreats.
Georgia Tech
Tech's 300,659-square-foot Campus Recreation Center (CRC) has been named one of the "coolest college recreation centers in the country" by Men's Health. It offers:
- Weight machines, free weights and cardiovascular equipment
- Climbing walls
- Racquetball courts
- Squash court
- Competition pool
- Leisure pool
- Aerobics and self-defense studios
- Basketball, volleyball, badminton and fencing courts
- Table tennis
- Sand volleyball courts
Free access is available to students, faculty pay $24 a month and alumni pay $48 a month. A three-month minimum membership is required for each.
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State has fitness facilities in Kennesaw and Marietta. The Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center serves Kennesaw State's campus in Kennesaw, and the Recreation and Wellness Center serves the Marietta campus. They offer:
Kennesaw:
- Gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.
- Weight and conditioning area
- Indoor track
- Racquetball courts
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Climbing gym
- Tennis complex
- Sand volleyball courts
- Outdoor basketball court
Marietta:
- Weight and conditioning areas
- Racquetball courts
- Gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, etc.
- Fitness studio
- Pool
Students can access the facilities after paying the mandatory student recreation fees. Faculty, staff, retirees and alumni (and their spouses) can purchase memberships. Prices range from $22 to $42 for each.
Georgia Gwinnett College
The GGC Wellness and Recreation Center has the following amenities:
- Cardio room with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, etc.
- Free and machine weight rooms
- Indoor track
- Fitness room with Wii workouts
- Group classes such as hip-hop, yoga, etc.
- Adaptive fitness room offering equipment accessible for people with disabilities
- Pool
- Racquetball courts
- Gym for basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.
Free memberships are available for students, and faculty/staff and their families and alumni can pay $10.
Berry College
The 131,000-square-foot Cage Athletic and Recreation Center has a variety of fitness opportunities, including the following:
- Large fitness center
- Pool
- Racquetball courts
- Indoor track
Students and staff can take advantage of the facilities, while retirees and alumni can use the gym for $35 per month or $25 per month, respectively.
University of Georgia
The eight-acre Ramsey Student Center is one of the nation's largest student athletic recreation facilities. It offers the following:
- Pools
- Weight training
- Indoor track
- Climbing wall
- Outdoor rock wall
- Racquetball courts
- Squash courts
- Basketball courts
Memberships are available for students and their spouses and dependent children, faculty/staff members and alumni. Alumni pay $42 monthly. Memberships for alumni family and spouses aren't available.
Georgia College
Georgia College has the Wellness and Recreation Center as well as the Centennial Center. They offer the following:
Wellness and Recreation Center
- Free weights
- Indoor track
- Pool
- Water fitness classes
- Indoor basketball courts
- Group fitness classes such as strength training and aerobics
- Cardiovascular machines
Centennial Center:
- Indoor track
- Racquetball courts
Students who pay recreational fees as part of their tuition can attend at no additional charge. Employees pay $25 a month, and retirees pay $50. Alumni – as well as members of the community – can access the Wellness and Recreation Center for $50 a month or the Centennial Center for $20 per month.
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