Virtual Programming

Virtual is the way to go! We've collaborated with friends and partners across the country to provide a full weekly fitness schedule, available in both desktop and mobile formats. Go to our Fitness Classes page to check it out!

As we adjust to the new normal, you may be looking for at-home workouts. In addition to the live workouts we are offering on our Fitness Classes page, here are some great FREE options:

Downdog App

Barre Intensity

Fitness Blender

Les Mills on Demand

LifeFitness

Peloton Home App

Pop Sugar Fitness

Matrix: 

The Fitness Marshall

Let the Ray Fitness Directors, Danielle and Stephanie, guide you in a half-hour workout, just right to lead you into the weekend. These workouts vary in format each week and are designed for all skill levels.

So let's do this!! Join us every Friday at Noon. Head to @depaulcampusrec Instagram and catch them on Instagram Live. Follow along and feel great!!

Stressful times calls for mindful measures. Sometimes we just need to center ourselves and find focus and peace with our current situation. Here are some resources to help:

- Nature-inspired weekly video series from the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods: Brushwood Breath Meditation Series

- For a taste of how you might apply Mindfulness to your daily stressors,  Campus Recreation offers free 1-hour sessions on Monday evenings led by a licensed RN and trained Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Facilitator. For a more in-depth Mindfulness exploration, we provide a full 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course offered online. Check these out on our Mindfulness page.

University Mission and Ministry leads and has uploaded Weekly Meditations to their YouTube channel

- Other resources for introspection and spirituality are on the DePaul University Mission and Ministry Facebook page  

- Favorite Meditation and Mindfulness video picks from Yoga-certified instructor and Leader of The Mindfulness Summit, Melli O'Brien.

• Desk Stretches: If you're sitting all day (working from home, a faculty member running online classes or a student taking online classes) don't forget to get up and stretch. You'll feel a lot better!
• Upper Back Stretches
• ACE Fitness: 5 Stretches to 'Un-Desk' Your Body
• Yoga at Your Desk

Are you looking for some fitness advice? Contact us at FIND YOUR FIT! 

Exercise Assistants and Personal Trainers will respond to your questions, whether you're at home and don't know where to start to stay active OR you have some free time on your hands and want to take you at-home training to the next level. Our goals are to help you Find Your Fit and Find Your Fun!

Online Martial Arts for Youth: IMPACT DOJO Vlad's the best! His Dojo provides virtual training during the pandemic as well as, in happier non-pandemic times, school-based programs around northern Illinois and weeked programming at The Ray.

Summer Programming by Fred's Camp Mark at Fred's Camp will offer virtual programming this summer as well as some physical distancing in-person activities (on a trial basis and dedicated to safety!)

Storytime Yoga: Incorporates some great children's books into a yoga activity for young children. Includes such classics as "Going on a Bear Hunt" and "Goodnight Moon" 

Weekly At Home Art and Nature Activities for Children by Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Do you want the biggest variety of quality workouts at your fingertips? Not only yoga, Zumba, and strength classes, but meditation, postnatal, classes for kids, and full Les Mills releases? We are fortunate to offer you the opportunity to try all that out for free for 60 days.

Below you will find the link for Les Mills On Demand. With this link you have free access for 60 days. After this time period you are then charged a discounted monthly fee of $9.99, but you may opt out at any time. You can connect Les Mills on Demand to your smart TV, Apple TV, Roku and others. 

Try it at this Les Mills On Demand (deluxe) link.

If you have the space, grab that face mask and get out and walk! Check back for upcoming "virtual" outdoor adventures or head to our  Outdoor Adventures webpage for more information on our program.

Virtual National Parks Tours: Missing the Outdoors and want to go exploring? This is the place for you!

Join HPW for our WELLNESS WEDNESDAY'S series! Each week (at NOON!) we will be talking about all things related to health and wellness during this 30-minute bite sized session. We will be checking in with one another, diving deep into holistic well-being and offering a time to re-energize and rejuvenate during the busy work day.

These sessions will be co-hosted by our HPW professional staff and HEAT peer educator students. We encourage you to take 30-minutes every Wednesday to join us for our Wellness Wednesdays. We welcome students, staff and faculty to join us!

Upcoming Sessions: Find these sessions on the University Calendar for the Zoom Meeting Link

If you're looking for a little extra motivation in the form of some competition with either yourself or others, look no further!! We have weekly fitness challenges set up just for you to test your limits, engage in a little friendly competition, and maybe win some sway! Go to our Fitness Challenges page or visit @depaulcampusrec on Instagram to check out this week's challenge. Best of luck to you - you can DO this!

This can be a difficult time for all of us. But we can get through this together. Health advocates recommend the following for optimal mental and physical health.

• Maintain a healthy diet and eat regularly (planned snacks are fine, but don't overdo it!)
• Set up a schedule for yourself and aim to accomplish a couple of goals each day
• Get enough sleep (it's tempting to fall asleep late in front of the TV, but try to maintain your regular sleep schedule)
• Exercise!! This doesn't have to be hardcore; just be active:
• stretch several times each day,
• use  your own bodyweight or books/household objects for strength training
• go for a walk or jog** using social distancing guidelines
**Please Note: "

Illinois Shelter In Place Order

"Includes the ability to engage in outdoor activity including walking, hiking, running or biking and going to public parks and open outdoor recreation areas, except for playgrounds."

Congratulations to all of our Spirit of DePaul Virtual 5K participants! During the week of May 18, 29 runners and walkers showed their DePaul spirit by contributing time and money to over 25 area organizations and individuals, including: ACLU, American Red Cross, Planned Parenthood, PAWS Chicago, Little Sisters of the Poor, Queen of Angels Parish, JDRF, Lincoln Park Zoo, Working Bikes Chicago, Evanston Food Pantry, Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, United Way of Metro Chicago, DePaul Student Emergency Assistance Fund, Recovery On Water, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Cities Project,  Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, DePaul Student Food Pantry, Common Pantry (a food pantry in North Center), and Second City Canine

In our opinion, you're all winners, but special kudos to the following runners, Hector Merchan, Christopher Mahoney, Quinn Furness, and Monica Zawisza (all completed in under 20 minutes) and to walkers Stephanie Souvenir, Jennifer Zimmerman, and Joshua Covell (reaching the 5K mark in under 50 minutes). We thank you all for your participation and willingness to accept the challenge!