A Freshman’s Guide to UCLA Recreation
Published: November 30, 2022
UCLA can feel overwhelming. With over 40,000 students, 125 majors, 1,200 clubs and organizations, and the entire city of Los Angeles at your disposal, there is a lot to learn, do, and see. And if you ever walk down Bruinwalk during the first few weeks of a quarter, you’ll understand exactly what we mean. But, with all this chaos comes a plethora of opportunities to get involved both on and off campus. We thought we would make life a little easier for you and cultivate a freshman’s (and transfer’s) guide to UCLA Recreation. So, without further ado, let’s get to it!
What is UCLA Recreation?
You might be wondering what even is UCLA Recreation. Is it a club or organization? Do you have to pay for membership? How do I get involved? If you have ever asked these questions, don’t worry you’re not alone.
UCLA Recreation is a department on campus. Similar to how our NCAA Division 1 athletic teams are run by the UCLA Athletic Department, UCLA Recreation runs and oversees recreational activities related to health, exercise, and wellness. For example, we manage over 15 recreational and athletic facilities on campus including the John Wooden Center (JWC), Intramural Field (IM Field), Drake Stadium, Swimming Pools, and even Pauley Pavilion. We also offer various fitness and wellness classes and programs such as GroupX, Martial Arts, and Teaching Kitchen… but more on that later.
If you are an active, enrolled undergraduate, you get access to all of our facilities for FREE! Your UCLA Recreation membership is already included in your tuition, so there is no need to sign up for anything or put your name on any list - you simply use your Bruincard to scan into our facilities. It’s as easy as that!
Competitive Sports
Many of our students on campus are involved in our Competitive Sports programs. These can be split into two categories: Club Sports and Intramural Sports (IM Sports).
IM Sports
IM Sports are recreational sports and activities that are played within the university, meaning games are played between UCLA students, not other universities. Each quarter, various sports are offered such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, cornhole, and spikeball. The nice aspect of IM Sports is that they do not require tryouts and typically allow for more flexibility as teams chose when (or if) they want to practice individually. Moreover, you can form an IM team with your friends, Greek organization, clubmates, or even join a random team by yourself!
Club Sports
Club Sports are typically the more competitive teams between the two categories. Some host formal tryouts to make the team such as Club Soccer and Dragon Boat, while others such as Club Gymnastics do not. Consequently, Club Sports tend to require more commitment and oftentimes have required practice times. However, with the increased commitment comes some cool opportunities. Club Sports teams often compete against other universities and colleges and consequently travel for games/matches/competitions. This can mean simply driving an hour south to UCI, or taking a flight to Texas or even Canada. Moreover, the increased time spent with teammates can form friendships and bonds that last beyond your time at UCLA.
Fitness and Instructional Classes
There are SO many classes offered at UCLA Recreation, but to save you time, we will highlight just a few of the most popular programs: Group Exercise (also known as GroupX), Martial Arts, and Instructional Classes.
Group Exercise
The UCLA Rec FITWELL Program offers countless, diverse Group Exercise classes such as Yoga, Dance Cardio & Conditioning, Mat Pilates, Zumba, HIIT, Core de Force, and more! These classes can range from gentle, calming yoga to high-intensity strength and conditioning workouts. If you are looking to try two or more of these classes, we encourage you to check out the GroupX Pass. For only $45/quarter, this pass allows you to attend UNLIMITED Group Exercise classes for the entire quarter. Trust us, this is a steal.
Martial Arts
Our Martial Arts program is one of the top programs in the nation. With over 20 different styles of Martial Arts from over 10 different countries, there is something for everyone. We also offer FREE self-defense training in our weekly class, Bruin Self-Defense. Similar to the GroupX Pass, our Martial Arts program offers the Martial Arts Pass, giving students, staff/faculty, and Rec members an opportunity to try all the disciplines offered each quarter. If instructional classes aren’t for you, we also offer Open Mat Training where you have the opportunity to practice your martial arts skills individually or ask the supervisor questions about upcoming programs and events.
Instructional Classes
If you are looking to learn a specific sport, art, or musical instrument, you should check out our instructional class offerings! Each quarter, our offerings vary, but classes students have participated in in the past include tennis, swimming, gymnastics, guitar, piano, drawing, painting, photography, and more! These classes allow students to try and learn new skills and are offered at various levels, though many are beginner-friendly. We recommend heading to our website to learn more about upcoming class offerings!
Wellness Programs
Just like our Fitness and Instructional Classes, there is a TON to explore here, but our two most popular Wellness Programs are our Teaching Kitchen and MoveMail.
Teaching Kitchen
Coming up with delicious, healthy meals can be hard. The UCLA Rec Teaching Kitchen provides students with the resources and tools to fuel their bodies with nutritious yet tasty food. Each quarter, our Teaching Kitchen, led by Chef Julia, offers students numerous workshops that cater to their needs such as Culinary Bootcamp, Bread for Beginners, and the fan favorite, Microwave Gourmet. Don’t believe us? Register and experience the deliciousness yourself!
MoveMail
As students, it’s so easy to sit at our desks or couch for hours without moving. The UCLA Recreation program, MoveMail, provides FREE daily reminders at 10 am and 2 pm to get moving! Our emails provide instructional videos and movement breaks you can do anywhere, walking routes on and near campus, updates on programs that are happening now at a location near you, as well as other health and nutrition tips. If this sounds like something you need through your hectic class schedule, you can sign up for daily MoveMail reminders through our website!
Learn More!
Of course, the programs we highlighted here are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to learn more about UCLA Recreation, and we highly encourage you to take advantage of as many offerings as possible! Visit our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) for weekly highlights, and explore our website for a full overview of all our programs and offerings!
Although four years of college can sound like a long time, it really flies by, and just before you know it, your time at UCLA will be over. So get involved, meet new people, try new things, and most importantly, have fun!