Impetus Gym
The Hammersmith Campus has its own small but functional gym in the sub-basement of the Commonwealth Building. It is free for students to use, while post-docs and staff need to pay a yearly charge of £160. The gym is open 7 days a week from 7.30am to 9.30pm. Before you are given access, you need to attend an induction session which you can complete by turning up between 11am and 6pm on Mondays. The personal trainers can also devise you a program of exercises especially tailored to your needs, so just ask. To get in touch with the Impetus Gym staff, send them an email or visit their website.
Football
Students wanting to play five- and six-a-side football can join the MRC football mailing list. Games are every Monday and Wednesday at 6 or 7pm, but this depends on the numbers of people interested. The MRC football team is always on a lookout for more players to join!
NEW!! Furthermore, the IRDB has just started a football team to play on Wormwood Scrubs. It’s Thursdays from 5-7pm and is open to everyone! For more detailed information please contack Fred Jean-Alphonse or Tankut Guney.
NEW!! Ju jitsu (extension from the Self-Defence and Personal Safety Course)
Ju jitsu is a very street effective martial art and covers various topics such as boxing, kicking and groundwork, keeping you fit fit fit! Furthermore, the class will include as well as extend the Self Defence course which was held in September 2011.
Courses started in January 2012 but you are welcome to join any time. Furthermore, people who attend regularly will be able to follow a full grading syllabus from White to Black Belt. It will take place in the Wolfson breakout area every Wednesday from 5.30-7.30pm. The cost per two hour class will be £7 plus a one-off annual membership/member insurance fee of £35 (valid from January to December). The only other cost involved will be your GI (training suit) which you would only have to purchase if you decide to continue through the belts. For more information, have a look at the poster or contact Rick Bates to book.
NEW!! Pilates
Pilates is back! Classes will be held for 45 minutes every Thursday lunchtime (12-12:45pm) in the Wolfson Breakout Space. All levels are welcome since the exercises will be presented in both a standard and an advance version. They will be taught by a CYQ Qualified Pilates Instructor and all you need to bring is comfortable clothing, water, a mat or towel, and the ambition to strengthen your body’s core and well-being. Bookings need to be made in advance (£45 for 10 sessions; £5 of this go to the Genesis Research Trust!) by contacting Suzy Liu. For more info, have a look at the poster.
Yoga
Yoga classes are held on Tuesdays at 6pm in the Wolfson Breakout Space, lasting one hour. Membership can be purchased for two months in advance, which is how the cost is kept down to £6-7.50 a class depending on the number of participants (yoga is normally £8-12 depending on where you go). New students of all levels are always welcome. The professional instructor from the Lotus Exchange tailors the class to students’ needs and requests. The course is open to anyone who is interested, so friends and family who live or work nearby are also welcome. If you’re interested or would like to attend a tester class, please email Ailon Freedman.
Basketball
During the summer, open-air basketball is played every Wednesday at 6pm in the playground behind the Linford Christie Stadium. Anybody interested in playing should email David Carmena.
French classes
An experienced native French teacher offers French classes in a friendly atmosphere. There are four levels starting with complete beginners and ending with the advanced conversational level. The classes run for 11 weeks and are held on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes for 1 hour in the basement of the Commonwealth Building. The cost is £77 plus £15 for the textbook. For more info, please have a look at the course’s poster or website; if you’re interested in signing up, please email Stephanie Radet.
English Classes
This year’s English classes will take place in the sub-basement of the Commonwealth Building. There is a choice of writing, listening and speaking classes in different time slots, and it’s free for registered MSc and PhD students, visiting researchers or staff of Imperial College. As you may know, all non-native PhD students are required to take an initial English test, so this is the place to do it. For more information about course times or contact details, have a look at the poster or contact Roy Clements.
Lunchtime Concerts
If you fancy listening to live classical music in your lunch break this is something for you! Monthly lunchtime concerts are organised by the Blyth Centre of Music and Visual Arts in the Wolfson Lecture Theatre 1. Look out for the ads in the Ex Libris or Wolfson cafes, or wait for emails advertising the concerts.
Activities you could organise
Email us if you have any suggestions! For example…:
Running club
The Linford Christie Stadium and the Wormwood Scrubs are great places at our doorstep to go for a simple jog or get into more serious running. We are currently looking for people who would like to set up a running club for our campus. If you think you are the person for it, email us and we can advertise it for you.