Wellness Events Calendar

Meet Your Stretch Goals: Virtual Stretch at Your Desk
2026-04-16 08:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
As many faculty, staff, and graduate students of Rutgers often find themselves spending more time than they would wish sitting behind a screen, it is the goal of this session to provide stretching techniques you can use with little disruption to your day. Led by a Rutgers Recreation instructor, this session teaches stretches you can do easily while sitting at your desk. It is important to build healthy habits into the life you live, and this session provides a way to break up long periods of sitting and boost brain function for the rest of your day. The session will include a 20 minute stretch and 10 minutes for introduction and reflection.
Virtual event. Zoom link to be shared to registrants.
Registration link or event website: https://go.rutgers.edu/stretchgoals

Wellness Wednesdays: Graduate Student Mat Pilates
2026-04-15 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-08 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-01 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-25 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-18 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Join us every Wednesday in Spring 2026 semester, running 1/28 – 4/29 to take a pause from your busy week by relaxing your mind and body with your fellow graduate students. Mat Pilates builds strength, flexibility, and stability using controlled, low-impact movements that emphasize core support and proper alignment. It helps improve posture, balance, and body awareness while reducing stress on the joints, making it accessible for a wide range of fitness levels. Mats and blocks are provided, and all skill levels are welcome! No registration needed.
Email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions. Graduate Student Pilates is hosted by Rutgers Recreation and Office of Graduate Student Life.

Yoga in the Galleries
2026-04-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton St, New Brunswick, 08901, United States
Join us for a relaxing yoga session in the Zimmerli Art Museum on the third Wednesday of each month during the academic year. Surrounded by inspiring works of art, this all-levels class offers a peaceful midweek reset in a unique and creative setting.
Advance registration is suggested, but limited walk-in spots are available.
We recommend you bring your own mat. If you do not have a mat, you may borrow one at the session, first come, first served. Yoga mats cannot be reserved by phone or email.
Session dates: 2/18, 4/15

Fitness and Wellness Classes (Rutgers Rec)
2026-04-13, 2026-04-06, 2026-03-30, 2026-03-23, 2026-03-16, 2026-03-09 | Multiple Rec Centers, various, New Brunswick, 08901, United States
Group fitness/wellness classes are provided at the 4 campus recreation centers, free of charge to all users (students, faculty, staff, and recreation members). The daily schedule can be viewed here https://go.rutgers.edu/recfitness or on RUREC2GO app. Please note, schedule is subject to change.
All classes are first come/first serve (reservations are not available). Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the start of class to ensure your spot.
Equipment and mats are provided. We encourage all participants to clean equipment and mats, before and after use. Participants may bring a mat for personal use, if desired.
Classes are designed to accommodate all levels of fitness and experience. Modifications will be provided. Please speak with the instructor before class if you are new to the format.

Hiking at Mount Tammany
2026-04-12 08:00 - 17:00 | Mount Tammany
Mount Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap is by far one of our long-time staff favorite hikes. This is a shorter hike with a good elevation gain and sweeping views of the mountains of Pennsylvania as well as the river. The going is rocky, but the views and waterfalls keep us coming back again and again.
Please meet at the Cook Rec Center- Base Camp at 8 AM
Cost: $20
Registration required. For more information or to register, follow this link: go.rutgers.edu/recoutdoor

Intro to Strength Training
2026-04-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, 50 Biel Rd, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Our personal trainers are here to guide you through the fundamentals of strength training and ensure that you get a great workout while learning how to lift weights correctly and effectively. Our workouts are carefully designed to promote a full body workout including strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercises. You will learn how to use various machines in the fitness center and will leave the session with your own workout.
We are offering a few options for participation. Dates and locations are as follows:
02/7: College Ave Gym
03/07: Livingston Recreation Center
04/11: Cook/Douglass Recreation Center

Hiking at Jockey Hollow
2026-04-11 08:30 - 17:00 | Jockey Hollow, Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, 07960, United States
Enjoy this easy 6.5-mile trail along gurgling streams and rolling hills in the beautiful Morristown National Historical Park. We will be taking the Grand Loop Trail, originally patrolled by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Jockey Hollow housed the main Continental Army, with over 10,000 soldiers, during the “Hard Winter” of 1779-1780. This is believed to be the harshest winter in the area in recorded history. This encampment led to the largest mutiny during the American Revolutionary War. Some of the original huts built by this army have been restored and remain along the trail.
Please meet at the Cook Rec Center- Base Camp at 8:30 AM
Cost: $20
Registration required. For more information or to register, follow this link: go.rutgers.edu/recoutdoor

Black Like Me Wellness Series
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Paul Robeson Cultural Center, 600 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
This monthly workshop series led by CAPS Community Based Counselors Shan Reeves and Kia Alexander, discusses a variety of topics centered around Blackness at Rutgers, throughout the US, and around the world. Engage in meaningful conversations that explore topics such as Black music, hair, the monolith myth, colorism, and more.
Workshops in the Black Like Me Wellness Series take place every second Thursday of the month. For more information, please reach out to CAPS at 848-932-7884.

Let's Talk with Art
2026-04-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Library, College Ave Campus, 169 College Ave, New Brunswick, 08901, United States
Sponsored by Rutgers CAPS and Scarlet Arts Rx.
First Thursday of each month from 2:00-4:00pm at the Alexander Library – the Hatchery

Graduate Student Disability Services - Drop-In Hours with Nychey Michel
2026-04-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Coordinator Nychey Michel from the Office of Disabilities Services (ODS) will offer drop-in hours (2pm – 4pm) on the first Wednesday of every month, just for graduate students. Students can drop in at the Graduate Student Lounge (126 College Avenue), or arrange to meet on Zoom. Stop by and meet Nychey to discuss accommodations for: hearing, vision, and mobility conditions, learning disabilities, psychological diagnoses (such as anxiety or depression), chronic illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and More.
Nychey can be reached at (848)-202-3111 or nlm108@echo.rutgers.edu.
Dates for Drop-In Sessions: February 4, March 4, and April 1, 2026.

Bikes N' (Coffee) Brews!
2026-03-29 08:30 - 16:00 | Delaware River (Rails to Trails)
Join us for a leisurely rails-to-trails bicycle tour along the Delaware River, where we will stop for some excellent locally roasted and brewed coffee (and maybe a snack). This is a nice way to spend the afternoon outside without going too far off of the beaten path. Bicycle rental and transportation to and from campus are included in the trip fee!
Please meet at the Cook Rec Center- Base camp on March 29th at 8:30 AM.
Cost$30
Registration required. For more information and to register, follow this link:
go.rutgers.edu/recoutdoor

Afrofit Fusion
2026-03-28 11:30 - 12:30 | Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, 50 Biel Rd, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Strengthen your body and mind while embracing the vibrant rhythm of Afrobeats! Start with Pilates-inspired exercises to build core strength and mobility, followed by dynamic Afrobeats choreography that energizes and empowers. End with a restorative stretch to leave you feeling strong, confident, and refreshed. AfroFit Fusion is perfect for all experience levels, blending dance and fitness for a truly invigorating experience – instructed by Zina & Victoria.
Location: Cook/Douglass Recreation Center – Multipurpose Room
Dates: February 21st, February 28th, March 28th, April 25th

Hiking at Bear Mountain
2026-03-28 08:30 - 17:30 | Bear Mountain
Join us as we journey north to Bear Mountain to take in some of the finest hiking in the region! This rocky and picturesque trail provides unparalleled vistas of the surrounding mountains. This is a moderate hike, with rocky trails and some steep inclines, but the payoff is worth it for this kind of view!
Please meet at the Cook Rec Center at 8:30 AM.
Cost: $20
Registration required. For more information and to register, follow this link: go.rutgers.edu/recoutdoor

Observe the night sky!
2026-03-26 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-03-19 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-03-12 21:00 - 23:00 | Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, 08854, United States
Observe the night sky through a 20-inch optical telescope at the Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory on Rutgers’ Busch Campus.
Public open viewing nights are scheduled for the second, third and fourth Thursdays of each month, weather permitting. Free admission!
Observing will be canceled for that night if the skies are cloudy at the beginning of the observing session. Please check this web-site for the most up-to-date information. https://observatory.rutgers.edu/
Naked-eye visibility of satellites from the Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory may be found at the Heavens-Above Main Page .
More details on location: The Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory is located in the dome on the roof of the Serin Physics Laboratories on the corner of Frelinghuysen Road and Allison Road on the Busch Campus of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Our address is 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ and directions to our building are available. The public can park in lot 53 (between the building and the street) or lot 53A (about one block east on the other side of Frelinghuysen Road), but should obtain an electronic permit beforehand. To obtain the permit, follow this link. Rutgers faculty, staff, and students do not need to obtain an additional permit, but should only park in lots allowed by their existing parking permits (in most cases, this does NOT include lot 53). Enter the doors on the west end of the building (facing Allison Road) and take the stairs (left or right sides of the lobby) or the elevator (left side of the lobby) to the fourth floor.

Self-Defense And Personal Safety
2026-03-24 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-03-10 17:00 - 18:30 | College Ave Gym, 130 College Ave, New Brunswick, 08901, United States
Join RUPD for an entry-level assault defense course that requires no previous martial arts training. We will discuss situational awareness and the impact awareness has on you and a potential assailant. Since physical force is a last resort, we will discuss alternative means to de-escalate a situation, either by confronting an attacker or by diffusing it. Once a situation becomes physical, the goal is to get away from the threat as quickly and efficiently as possible. Come out and join RUPD for tactical training tools to help you protect yourself if you ever become a victim of an attack.
Location: College Ave Gym – Multipurpose Room (dance studio)
Dates: 2/10, 2/24, 3/10, 3/24

Meet Your Stretch Goals: Body Scan and Mindful Stretching Session
2026-03-24 08:30 - 09:00 | Livi-Well Room, Livingston Apartments, Building A, 55 Rockafeller Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
At this event, Facilitator Aisling Cassidy will be leading a restorative body scan/guided meditation aimed at helping you identify where you store tension in your body during the workday. The session will then guide you to creating a mini-stretch routine that focuses on these identified tension areas to build small stretch habits that are directly targeted to your specific needs. The session will last 30 minutes and have a maximum of 30 participants.
Location: Livi-Well Room, Livingston Apartments, Building A.
NOTE: Event starts promptly at 8:30, doors open 10 minutes prior. Participants will need to communicate when they arrive so they can be let in the building.
