Massage Therapy

Waking up in the morning is difficult for any college student. After those late nights out with friends or late nights in the library studying, waking up for class is a painful process. But it’s even more painful with aches and pains. Doom week is fast approaching, that time of year when my teeth are clenched tight, my back is tense, and my neck is sore.

The sacrifices we make and the stress we put on our bodies are tremendous during finals week. But are we thinking about the consequences of such stress? Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of disease is stress-related. Message therapy is here to combat this frightening statistic and help us remember what it means to relax.

Among the top of the list of unknown services at our Universities Rec Center is Message Therapy and what it has to offer. Registered message therapists offer a variety of services including therapeutic, sport, relaxation, and deep tissue message. Tim Gutierrez, a beloved message therapist at the University is actually legally blind but his “disability” only serves to heighten his sense of touch and message technique. He’s refined his craft in some of San Antonio’s finest spas and his motto sums up what you can expect from a visit with Tim; “experience the heightened awareness of one who truly relies on his sense of touch…”. Michelle Martinez, the other message therapist at the Rec Center specializes and has helped others with back pain, chronic headaches, neck pain and many more using muscle manipulations. This makes for the perfect stress relief team!

Although most services at the UTSA Rec Center are free for students, message therapy does charge but the prices are completely reasonable. A 30-minute message would cost $25 and 22.50 at Finals Rate. A 90-minute message would only cost $60 and $48 at Finals Rate. These prices are amazing compared to message expenses at a spa; 90 minutes would usually cost $80 to $90. Prices for massages at the Rec Center are unbeatable and absolutely worthwhile. Here’s why, having a massage does more than just relax your body and mind. There are actually specific physiological and psychological changes that occur and even more so when message is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy. Message not only feels good but it can cure what ails you. On top of all the stress college students are facing, aches and pains should be the least of our worries.

This finals week, try taking a break to allow a brief moment of relaxation and rest and use the benefits UTSA’s Rec Center has to offer. As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets while hushed music draws you into the moment and the smell of sage fills the air, feel the pains of age, the throbbing of your overstressed muscles and the need to be touched wash your worries away and heal your mind and body. Utilizing message therapy at the Rec Center can be an extremely helpful tool to get students through the stress of college.

-Kristi 

The Demonstration Kitchen

Freshmen year of college some three years ago my food consumption went from home cooked meals to dry noodles that come out of a crunchy, plastic bag. The microwave became one of my best friends. Fast and easy was the key and I was on the quick road to an unhealthy lifestyle. Who needs great meals when most of our consumption is coming out of textbooks? And money is spare and fleeting? I know better than anybody that frozen foods, foods that come out of a can, or a plastic bag are hard habits to kick.

But if you’re finding yourself craving Coco Puffs at two in the afternoon, here’s something that might kick start your creativity and “beef” up your fast food options the healthy way.

Not many students are aware of all the services that our University Rec Center provides. Among those at the top of the list is the Demonstration Kitchen, which is an interactive cooking demonstration. A member, and fellow blog writer Aneliz Silva, who works in the offices at the Rec Center, says that “most students who pass our offices stop and ask about the kitchen area at the rec center because they’d never even seen it before.” The Demo Kitchen provides instructional lessons on cooking techniques, recipes, and the nutritional content. All the meals prepared are designed to be healthy, inexpensive, and easy. Sounds like the perfect recipe for any college student!

The goal of the demo kitchen is to make meals easy on the college student’s budget and easy to prepare, you’ll walk away with a meal cost sheet and the nutrition information provided by our registers Dietitian on campus. Each class will typically last 1 hour. 1 hour is all it takes to revamp your meals.

Level 1 cooking demonstrations require only the basic cooking utensils, cooking techniques, and ingredients. Each recipe consists of 8 ingredients or less and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. But for those of you more advanced in the kitchen, the demo kitchen also provides Level 2 cooking demonstrations. This level incorporates more diverse cooking techniques and ingredients. Each recipe will consist of 12 or less ingredients and should take 40 minutes or less to prepare.

Buffalo Chicken Pita, Grilled Sweet and Spicy Thai Shrimp Pizza, Zucchini Lasagna, Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken, Spicy Black Bean Burgers with Chipotle mayonnaise. Feeling hungry yet? These are just a few of the meals prepared in Rec Center’s Demonstration Kitchen. Eating healthy, hardy meals is exactly what we need to do to get us through the semester so start feeling better, cooking smarter, and impressing your friends with these fast and inexpensive meals. Learn how by visiting the Demonstration Kitchen at the UTSA Rec Center. 

-Kristi

"The rock wall? Oh yeah I've seen it. No, I've never tried it...."

You walk past it, glance over a little, maybe work up the nerve to walk over and take a peek, but you never get past the threshold of the first floor. Today is the day. The day you conquer the massive piece of rock looming in the corner of the rec center.

You step into the area and feel the floor give beneath you a bit. Woah, you weren’t expecting that. Sheepishly you walk to the front desk and ask what you have to do. They give you directions and you proceed. The woman hands you your equipment and asks you to take a seat on the large piece of black foam next to the desk. You obey silently and walk over, lacing up your climbing shoes and strapping on your harness. The nerves start to kick in at this point. “What am I doing?” you ask yourself as the employee at the base of the monument ties you in. You look up and see the end: daunting, so far away. You look over your harness one more time, desperately checking the complicated buckles and straps as if you know what you’re doing. All or nothing. “Ready sir? Just don’t look down.” It’s now or never. As you make your ascent you heed the employee’s warning and keep your eyes glued to the prize, the top. After what seems like forever you look up half-expecting to see the top…it’s not even close. At this point you’re ready to give up. “I’m no good at this…” but in the middle of your half-hearted defeat you hear a voice calling up to you. “You can do this! You’re half way there! I’ll walk you through the rest of it! I promise you’ll get to the top!” An OP employee sends up words of encouragement and suddenly that ascent seems doable. You decide to give it one more shot, because after all, you are half way there. The sweat beads from your forehead and your palms begin to perspire uncontrollably. “I can’t do this…” you mutter. Little do you know you’re ¾ of the way there. “You have a chalk bag behind your harness! Keep going you’re so close!” You reach behind you and feel the soothing relief of CaCO3 between your fingers and suddenly have new life injected into your hands. “Almost there.” After what feels like 30 minutes you reach a long stretch of an arm up and feel the top-most rock. You’ve done it! You’re finished! The OP employee slowly lowers you back to the ground and you await the embarrassing verdict of the evident time trial you failed. “Be honest with me…how long did that take me…?” Smiling, the OP employee looks at you and says “about 5 minutes. You did really well!” Shocked, an uncontrollable grin slides across your face and something you never thought you’d say escapes your lips: “That was awesome! Can I go again?”

Too often people are afraid to climb up the giant that is the UTSA rock wall. Standing at 54 ft tall, it is the tallest collegiate rock wall in the state of Texas. Yes, that’s a little intimidating, but that is what the OP staff is there for. As an employee I help UTSA students defeat the wall every day. More than often I receive students who tell themselves that they just can’t. After a little coaching they triumphantly slap the top of that wall and leave with the biggest look of satisfaction on their face. OP staff is there and ready to help you conquer your fear and get a great workout at the same time.

Unlike other universities, UTSA’s rock wall is free for you and your guests to use. After filling out some paperwork, with your UTSA or guest pass you are able checkout all the necessary equipment to climb the rock wall. Again, this is all free of charge. Worried about your safety? Employees who work at the rock wall are extensively trained to keep your safety their number one priority. We are belay (rope working) certified and ready to help you reach your goals! No pun intended. Ok maybe a little. Ropes and equipment are checked weekly and are always going to be safe for anyone of any size, age (18+ per rec policy), gender, or background to climb on.

Because of the popularity of our rock wall at times it can become busy, keeping staff occupied. We have a solution for this! UTSA offers FREE belay clinics Monday-Thursday at 5:00PM for anyone interested in learning. Our recommendation is to bring along a friend. When staff becomes occupied and can’t assist you up the wall, after you’ve finished your certification, you and your buddy can belay each other without the need for staff to help you. If you’re up for a challenge, we also offer lead climbing clinics once a month. For more information visit the rock wall’s information page at: http://utsa.edu/recreation/outdoor/rock_wall.cfm

The rock wall is a huge asset to anyone at UTSA who is willing to have some fun trying something new while getting a great workout at the same time. This free service is fun and safe to use for students and their guests. Come by the rock wall and say hi! We’d be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. We’ll see you soon!

-Aneliz

Wait....I can get WHAT for FREE?!

Yes sir/ma’am it’s that time of the year again. That chilling time of the year when our heads are stuck in books and notes, dinners consist of anything microwavable or pop-topped, blood-shot eyes have become a fashion statement, and sleeping in the library no longer carries shame. But fret not my friends/fellow students! For when the storm clouds clear and the hurricane that is finals finally passes, we will see a day where the sun shines through and world is beckoning for us to join it in a synchronized breath of well-deserved fresh air! And you know what? I have just the place for you. The great outdoors! Our world is the biggest playground we could ever ask for and I can give you some information to make your outdoor ventures possible.

What if I told you that any gear or information necessary to get outdoors is available for you to use 100% free of charge? One of the many tools at your disposal that Campus Recreation (the rec) has to offer is the Outdoor Resource center (ORC) located at the South entrance of the rec. The ORC is a place where students can obtain information on local parks or nature areas, ask about any kind of outdoor activity they are interested in trying, or check out outdoor equipment. It is one of the only programs in the country that offers this service to its students free of charge, and most people on campus don’t know it’s even there!

The ORC offers a wide variety of camping equipment available for you to check out including camp stoves, canoes, mountain bikes, sleeping bags, tents, and much more. Checking things out is simple. All you have to do is walk into the office, sign some paperwork, and you’re ready to begin checking out equipment. You can check out equipment for FREE for up to a week. If you need it for longer than a week a small, one time extended usage fee is charged and you can keep it for an extra week! A full catalogue of items available to you can be found by following this link to their website: http://utsa.edu/recreation/outdoor/equipment.cfm

Not only does the ORC offer equipment checkout, but a major part of the Outdoor Pursuits (OP) program is the trips program. OP hosts an average of 15 adventure trips a semester all over the state and even as far as Colorado. Worried that you don’t have enough outdoor skill to join in on the fun? OP’s trips program offers trips for people of all skill ranges. Adventure trips range from easy-paced day hikes to adrenaline pumping white water kayaking and rock climbing. Worried about not having the proper equipment? OP provides all of the necessary equipment, transportation, and coaching you’ll need to make your trip successful and memorable. The OP staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to help you make your outdoor dreams adventures the best they can be. To see the current trip schedule visit the link above. The new schedule for the Spring semester should be up soon.

As college students we all know how thin we have to spread our money. Because of our crazy small budgets sometimes it’s hard to get out and do things that would otherwise seem out of the ordinary, but with the help of the ORC and OP you can get outside and see what the world has to offer without spending money to do so. Taking advantage of this FREE service is crucial to any tuition-paying student at UTSA. As an employee of OP I cannot tell you how many times juniors and seniors come into the office and wish they had heard of the program sooner. Don’t be one of those people! Let OP help you find your adventurous side and feed your curiosity. Visit the ORC today!

-Aneliz

P.S. That's me! Bottom left!

Parquet Courts by Andrew Rodriguez

           The various club sports and intramurals you can participate in at the University of Texas at San Antonio Recreation Center is really appealing for those students who aren’t officially part of the schools athletics. I love the sport of basketball both as a fan and also a participant either organized or pickup games. Not a braggadocio’s person but I’d say I’m pretty good at. Play hard, work smart use to be my mantra in the golden days. Originally, I signed up for an intramural league around October but had to drop due to the combination of school and work. It didn’t stop me from playing countless pickup games over the semester as my thirst for competition needed to be quenched like a Gatorade commercial, or something like that. At my other gym it is really difficult to play single pickup games because the “regulars” hog up the slots playing again even after they lose which everyone knows once the team loses a new team of people who haven’t had a chance gets their time to shine. It becomes quite annoying since people actually pay to be at that gym.

The UTSA Recreation Center beats most gyms because they simply have four basketball courts compared to a gym’s once court giving multiple people a chance to show their game. Students understand this unwritten rule of the next players go up next which is odd because you think grown people would grasp that notion.

            My only qualms is the court isn’t necessarily regulation size and smaller which leads to a more fast pace game, which contrasts my or anyone who takes a slow, methodical approach to the game. At least they provide more basketballs than most gyms and there in better condition. Nice change of pace when the bball players actually try and compete and want to out muscle you because you from there that it’s on and no more just game of trying to practice your shot.

            If you know how to play basketball even if you’re not the best, I think it’s one of the best forms of doing your cardio days. Without it being noticed it also helps out in the social aspect when it comes to communicating with strangers and students you never have encountered before.