Undergraduate students can receive Alternative PE Points for participation in personal training, group exercise and private swim lessons. For detailed information, please visit the MIT PE website.

MIT Recreation’s main facilities include the following:

Zesiger Center, W35, 120 Vassar St.

• Multi-Activity Court (MAC)
• 50 meter pool with diving boards
• Separate 25 yard teaching pool
• 6 international squash courts
• Massage Suite
• Two floors of cardio, strength & conditioning areas
• DuPont Athletics Center, W31/W32: 2 Squash courts, 2 multi-purpose rooms, T-Club Lounge (studio), 2 Full Sports Courts, Wrestling Room, Fencing Room, Indoor Golf Range,
• Johnson Athletics Center, W34: Indoor Track (200Meters), Seasonal Ice Rink
• Rockwell Cage W33, 3 Full Sports Courts
• All Gender locker rooms:
  • All-Gender & Family Locker Room (shower, restroom, and lockers) Pool Office Corridor | W35-166
  • All-Gender Restrooms (no shower or lockers) 2nd Floor Fitness | W35-271 & W35-269
  • All-Gender & Family Changing Rooms (no restroom, shower, or lockers) Johnson Ice Rink | W34-105 & W34-106

Alumni Pool and Wang Fitness Center, Building 57, 32 Vassar St.

• 6 lane 25 yard pool
• Separate teaching pool
• 1 floor of cardio, strength & conditioning areas
• Group exercise room/dance studio
• Cycle Room

You do not have to be affiliated with MIT to become a member or to use MIT Recreation facilities. Those non-affiliated with MIT can purchase a Friends of MIT membership or a temporary pass.

Day Passes are available for guests looking to visit MIT Recreation’s facilities.

Day Pass Packages can be used for consecutive or non-consecutive days. Day passes are non-refundable and non-transferable out of the account under which they were purchased.

In order to purchase and use day passes at our facilities, you MUST bring a photo ID.

There are many ways that you can help MIT Recreation spread health and wellness throughout our community. You can bring Wellness Your Way to a convenient space, gather at a free ENGINEERyourHEALTH event, or sign-up for The MIT Recreation Ambassador Program.

About MIT Recreation Ambassadors

The MIT Recreation Ambassador Program was created for members who are passionate about inspiring our community to find balance, manage stress, and enhance their overall well-being through participation in recreational activities. Learn More Here, or if this sounds like the right program for you, Sign-up Here.

Yes, it’s that simple!

MIT full-time students have a membership included in their “activity fee”. So, all you need to do is stop by the main desk at the Z Center or at Alumni/Wang and sign our electronic waiver. Then, our staff will add facility access to your MIT student ID.

Your membership payment history can be found in your Membership Profile under Statements. Payment documentation should be sent directly to your insurance provider. If your provider requires additional documentation please email memberservices@mit.edu. Unfortunately we’re not able to provide or sign-off on attendance.

For more information on the MIT Fitness Benefit visit the MIT Medical Wellness Benefits page.

If you are canceling a membership within 60 days of purchasing, a $50 cancellation fee plus prorated pass fee will be applied. Annual and 6-Month memberships are non-refundable after the first 60 days. All temporary passes are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Auto Renew memberships may be cancelled after the first year, with a 30 day notice.

To cancel your membership please complete our online Membership Change Form.

Patrons may request an upgrade/downgrade on membership type and/or term by completing our online Membership Change Form no later than 14 days prior to your current expiration date.

You are eligible to remain in your Faculty/Staff membership for 30 days after your next membership billing date. Paid in full members can remain in their membership for 30 days after their last day of employment. After 30 days, members will be transferred to the appropriate membership type based on their affiliation with MIT.  Members without affiliation will be eligible for the Friends of MIT membership type.

If your ID card stops working you’ll still be able to access our facilities. If you’re unable to obtain another MIT ID (e.g. Alumni ID), we’ll provide you with a MIT Rec Sports membership card that will replace your expired MIT Employee ID.

The auto-renewal membership provides a greater level of ease and flexibility for members.  It eliminates the need to go through the renewal process each year.  After 12 months the membership is no longer under contract, the rate is simply the annual fee divided by 12 payments on a month-to-month basis.  After auto-renewal members have completed their initial 12 month term, they can cancel their membership without penalty by providing a 30 day notice in writing.

Available for faculty/staff/postdoc/retiree, alumnus/a, affiliates, and friends of MIT memberships.

We offer an optional paid towel service to members and MIT students. For day and month pass users, we offer towels for purchase at a discounted rate.

Towel Fees:

• Students = $3.95 per month
• Non-Students = $4.95 per month
• Non-Members and Temporary Pass Holders = Towels available for purchase for $2.95

Inform a staff member at any of our entrance desks. Towel service will be billed to your account on a monthly basis. A payment method on your membership account is required to enroll. If you don’t have a credit card or bank account on file, you can add one to your account online.

With prior notification (no less than 5 business days before your next monthly billing date), members may elect to freeze their MIT Recreation account for 30 or 60 days, once per membership term. Consideration for freezes longer than 60 days (in 30 day increments) or multiple freezes, require supporting documentation, e.g., doctor’s note, military orders, rental agreement. Freezes will go into effect on your next billing date (1st or 15th of the month).  To request a freeze, please complete our membership change form.

Private Lessons can only be purchased through our Mobile App or in-person at one of our main Member Service desks at the Z Center or Alumni/Wang.

Due to a high demand we recommend that prior to purchasing new lessons please fill that you out this survey so that we can ensured that we have a match for your request. After we match you with an instructor we will follow up with next steps on purchasing a lesson package to fit your goals.

You will be contacted to confirm we are working on your swim lesson request within 48 hours of your survey submission. If you are looking for lessons during our peak times, it may take up to several weeks for us to find an instructor with space in their schedule. If your availability is flexible, we may be able to place you with an instructor in as little as one week.

If we are not able to place you with an instructor within the time-frame you need we offer a full refund of lessons purchased. We are also able to transfer purchases to group lessons or other activities.

Generally, private lessons can be scheduled anytime that the pool is open and an instructor is available, but there are some days and times when scheduling can be challenging.

Peak Times – during our peak times instructors are often teaching other programs and their availability for private lessons may be limited. New registrants looking for reservations during these times may be placed on a waiting list until a space becomes available. Peak times include:

Weekdays between 3:00pm  – 7:00pm

Weekend mornings between 8:00am – 2:00pm

Youth Restricted Hours – During the academic year youth under the age of 18 are not allowed in the Zesiger building between 5:00 – 7:00pm. During this time youth lessons can only be scheduled at the Alumni Pool.

It is our goal to keep scheduling as consistent as possible, but every instructor’s schedule is different and some instructors are able to be flexible with lesson time changes when needed.

If you need to cancel a private lesson please contact the instructor directly as early as possible. Lessons canceled with less than 24 hour notice may still be charged. Missed lessons or “no-shows” will always be charged in full. Please be respectful to your instructor and their time by keeping cancellations to a minimum and contacting them as soon as a cancellation is needed.

Generally parents are not needed in the water with children for a private lesson, but we always want to work within the best interest of the child and encourage parents to be in the water if helpful. However, all parents must remain in the Aquatics area during lessons for supervision of children who are under the age of 18 years old.

Members are allowed to swim during the lesson, but must remain available should they be needed by our instructors. If non-Members wish to swim during lessons, they must purchase a day pass.

Members are able to select as an add on fee to their membership towel service.  More Information

If anyone forgets a towel one can be purchased at the Membership Desk for a small fee.

Unless noted all Private Lesson packages expire one year after purchase.

We do not pro-rate classes, it’s best if you sign up ahead of time. If you do end up signing up after the class has begun, you will still pay the full fee.

No, we prefer you do attend as many classes as possible, but realize things do come up.

We do not schedule make up classes if the participant can’t make the scheduled class, but we try our very best to reschedule all classes if they are cancelled due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control.

You have the option to come in as desired and utilize the available court space based on our Open Recreation Schedules. If you would like to reserve a specific space to ensure availability, please see below.

Squash reservations are available on the hour, one hour at a time. Active members can make reservations by phone at 617-253-9485, or login to your account and click on the scheduler.

Indoor tennis reservations, in the Tennis Bubble (W-53), can be made during the 30-week season October – April by calling 617-253-1451. Outdoor tennis court reservations (summer only) are available by calling the Vassar Street Member Services Desk at 617-253-9485.

Facility reservations for groups and special events are also available. Please see our Rentals & Reservations page for details.

Additional reservations:

• Fitness Birthday parties email fitness@mit.edu
• Pool Birthday parties email aqua@mit.edu
• Other Facility rentals emails slett@mit.edu

Most often the pool is configured in Long Course between late December and early January and from early May through mid-August.

To reduce the possibility of water contamination we ask that all swimmers not completely toilet trained wear a swim diaper covered by tight fitting plastic, rubber or vinyl cover. Appropriate plastic, vinyl/rubber covers can be purchased at our member services desk and are found most infant/toddler retailers.

Recreational Swim or “Rec Swim” is time on the pool schedule when members and guests are welcome to swim, including lap swim, family swim and aqua jogging. While MIT Recreation Private Swim Lessons may also be conducted at this time, lessons from non-MIT instructors are not permitted.

We rely on all swimmers to work together to maximize the available pool space.

Adult supervision is required for children 17 and younger in same pool area at all times. We request that all non-swimmers be fitted with a U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation device and stay within arm’s reach of an adult.

Class reservation opens 48 hours before the class official start time.

Class reservation is open until 1 hour before the class start time or until the class reaches maximum enrollment.

No. You can reserve a spot in class online through our website or in person at either the Vassar Desk or Alumni Wang fitness desk.

Your spot is only guaranteed if you are on time for class.

Canceling enrollment for a class can be done either online or through the MIT Recreation app by clicking on the class you enrolled for and following prompts to cancel. Please note that cancelation through the app or online cannot be done the hour before your class start time. At that point you may arrive in person to cancel (no phone calls or email cancellations accepted).

Note: You have three no-shows (if you register and do not show to class without canceling) before being penalized. View all Group Exercise Policies

No. If you reserve a spot online, you can go straight to class. Check in will being 5 minutes before the class official start time. Please have a form of identification with you when checking in.

If you were not able to cancel your reservation and do not show up for class, you will receive a no-show “freebie.” After 3 no-show “freebies,” you will not be permitted to preregister for classes in advance for 7 days. After 6 no-show “freebies,” you will not be permitted to preregister for classes in advance for the rest of the current schedule*. You are still encouraged to attend classes, but must use the standby line.

No-show “freebies” do not roll over into the next schedule. Patrons start each schedule with a clean slate.

*Schedule refers to January – May (Winter/Spring), June – August (Summer), and September – December (Fall)

Our Group Exercise schedule will often list any free classes that we offer. Members or temporary pass holders are welcome to join those classes until they reach capacity.

No, MIT Recreation will provide the equipment you need for class. All you need to be prepared is proper workout attire and shoes for all classes with the exception of Capoeira, Pilates and Yoga which do not require shoes but you can wear them if you are comfortable.

Guests participating in Group Exercise will need to purchase a Day Pass and a Group Exercise Single Class Pass, which you can purchase online. Guests will need to use the stand by line for entry to the class and cannot pre-register online or using the app.

Monthly and annual group exercise passes are not available for guests/non-members.

You can purchase personal training packages online or in-person at one of our main member service desks. You will be contacted within 3 business days to begin scheduling your sessions. When you get to start depends on a few things: how soon you return our forms, if you need a physician’s consent, and the availability of the trainer and yourself.

After purchasing your desired package of private training, you will be sent a registration packet with important medical documents, a goals sheet, and a contract to complete. These are used to match you with the best trainer based on your schedule and goals.

To purchase online, follow these instructions:

1. Log into your account
2. Choose Account Information
3. Choose “Buy Series Sales”
   1. Drop Down Module, select “Scheduler”
   2. Drop Down Service Category, select “Personal Training”
   3. Service, select the appropriate item & hit submit
   4. Now select the package you would like to purchase and “add to cart”
   5. Make Payment

Note: Sessions cannot be scheduled through the scheduler feature and participants will be contacted by one of our staff.

You should consider your personal training experience (beginners often start with longer sessions) and your personal goals. If you need help figuring out which direction to take, consider a Fitness Assessment or email our Personal Training Program with any questions.

Personal training for children between 13-17 years old is offered. In order for your child to join you on the 3rd floor fitness space outside of the youth restriction hours, they must participate in teen personal training which is a chance to educate teens on appropriate fitness center etiquette, proper exercise technique and safety.

Gloves or mittens are recommended. Wear clothes that do not hinder movement. Dress in layers so you can adjust your temperature. It is better to wear thin socks or tights, with tighter fitting skates.

We recommend leather figure skates, as plastic will not support your ankles and feet properly. Your skates must fit snugly for proper support. Tie up your skates tight around your foot and ankle. You should not be able to fit your hand between your ankle and the tongue of the skate.

Yes, visit the main desk to pay and then drop your skates off (with the receipt) to the skate rink office during general skate.

How do I schedule a massage ?

Massage packages can be purchased online or in-person at on our member services desk. After purchase of your massage, you will be contacted by a Manager to set you up with a masseuse that fits your schedule.

TO PURCHASE A MASSAGE ONLINE, follow these instructions:

1. Log into your account
2. Choose Account Information
3. Choose “Buy Series Sales”
4. Drop Down Module, select “Scheduler”
5. Drop Down Service Category, select “Massage”
6. Service, select the appropriate item & hit submit
7. Now select the package you would like to purchase and “add to cart”
8. Make Payment

Note: Sessions cannot be scheduled through the scheduler feature and participants will be contacted by one of our staff.

The massage room is located in W35-325 (the Zesiger Sports & Fitness Center, 120 Vassar St.) Go to the third floor of W35 and take an immediate right into the office suite. The massage room is the first door on the right. If you need help, our staff can assist you with further directions.

You can wear comfortable athletic clothes or just your undergarments, whatever makes you most comfortable. Our massage therapists learn how to properly drape with towels and sheets as part of their professional training.

Tipping is completely up to the client, most of our clients at MIT do tip our therapists, but you are not required to.

For Golf Lessons, you can choose to bring your own clubs or use the ones provided by our instructor (both right and left handed, youth and adult sizes).

For Golf Range reservations and use of the Golf Simulator, members and guests are welcome to use the MIT Recreation golf clubs provided, which include a selection of men’s and women’s clubs.

Yes, members and guests can make a reservation for the Indoor Golf Range to access the Golf Simulator. Learn more and make a reservation here.

There is only one hour of booking time permitted per host, per day. If you are playing in a group, another member of the group can book another hour as the host.

Members can reserve a court online, in the MIT Recreation app, or by calling 617-253-9485.

*Reservations are not available for non-members.

Note: Squash court reservations can be made up to 24 hours in advance; for 1 hour per day.

We do not have racquets for rent, but we do sell racquets, goggles, and squash balls at the main desk of the Zesiger Center.