In an effort to encourage more students to take advantage of the programs and equipment available to them, the university’s Recreational Complex takes over the Peace Quad every second Tuesday of the month with “Take Care of Yourself Tuesday.”

“We’re over here in the Sports Complex and a lot of people make it out here, so we wanted to bring something out into the Peace Quad, getting out to another part of campus to show what we have to offer,” said Erica Svoboda, Wellness coordinator.

In the past, the event has offered Zumba and Yoga classes on the lawns of the Peace Quad, stations previewing circuit training and mini golf. Svoboda makes sure to always have chair massages present and a personal trainer available to give fitness assessments.

“If someone really wants to keep up where they are, they can just come to this event monthly and get a fitness assessment to see if they’ve improved at all,” she said. “And it’s free. Normally you have to pay for a personal trainer.”

With the “Take Care of Yourself Tuesday” events, Svoboda hopes to involve other areas of campus that work with wellness. So far, the departments of Intercollegiate Athletics and Wellness and Loyola University Police have participated.

Zach Bracey, Assistant Director of Wellness, participated in the event to showcase the intramural sports offered on campus and to provide information for those who might be interested.

Bracey used the event as “a way to be visible to the students, and hopefully make them aware of the benefits of coming to the gym regularly.”

Lt. Angela Honora has also taken advantage of the event. Using it as a platform to present the self-defense classes available through LUPD, Lt. Honora acknowledges that many students are unaware of the many services available to them.

Teshara Howards, criminal justice junior, admitted that while she knows about events that go on at the gym, she might have overlooked the event taking place in the Peace Quad.

“I feel like I don’t pay attention. If they want to get attention, the best way to go would be to put signs like they do on game days in areas where people walk,” she said.

For Svoboda, one of the most beneficial takeaways of “Take Care of Yourself Tuesday” is to attract students who may not be aware of the events taking place in Rec Plex.

“That’s what’s always exciting to me to show students new opportunities that they don’t know about,” said Svoboda.

Svoboda said the next event will take place in the Peace Quad on Nov. 12 and that similar events will be held during the spring semester as well.

Devinn Adams can be contacted at [email protected]