Exciting and important changes are underway at the Portage Township YMCA, and soon everyone will have the opportunity to experience the transformation. A major overhaul of the strength training and cardio machines, as well as a spruced up facility with lots of paint and a bit of elbow grease, has renewed a spirit of camaraderie among staff. Even members are volunteering their time to help support their Y. A sense of ‘change’ is definitely in the air.
The Y invites everyone in the Portage area to try the Y any time between April 12-19. This week long open house is open to everybody, including those who have never been to the Y or if it has just been awhile. Just like Y Members, individuals and families may go to the Y whenever and as often as they’d like. Participants may take group exercise classes, play an open sport in the evenings, walk or run on the Indoor Track, and more. Adults are encouraged to get their training started in the Cardio and Strength Training Centers, which are open during all business hours. In addition to taking advantage of the normal activities, themed programs each day target different people’s needs.
The Y is so much more. Families and individuals who join the Y from April 12-30 will receive discount coupons to help them try even more of the Y’s programs. With a combined value of more than $200, coupons include youth and adult sports, swim lessons, personal training, aquacise, summer camp, personal massages, and more.
The Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day kicks off the open house on Saturday, April 12. From 10 a.m. to noon, families are invited to a fun morning of sports, swimming and playing together. Highlights include a bounce house, family walleyball and cornhole, hoola hoop contests, and more. If you’ve always wanted to know more about fitness and exercise, YMCA 101 will help you get your workout started. From 7 am to 8 pm on Monday, April 14, and Thursday, April 17, Wellness Coaches will be available for tours and consultation. Health screenings will also be available. Come learn more about the Y’s Welcome to Wellness program, which includes a free orientation to the exercise machines, a body fat assessment and a Next Step consultation. Information about Personal Training, group exercise, and more will be available.
Seniors are encouraged to come to the Senior Health Fair on Tuesday, April 15. This fair will be presented by St. Mary Medical Center. Community Nurse Danny Gonzalez will be present to share information about pertinent topics. Free blood pressure screenings will be available.
Those who wish to lose weight and learn more about nutrition will want to attend one of two lectures on Wednesday, April 16. “10 Myths about Weight Loss and Nutrition”, followed by a Q & A session, will be presented twice. A cooking demonstration by Chef Ryan of St. Mary Medical Center will round out the day’s activities.
The family fun continues on Friday evening, April 18, with opportunities to swim in the Y’s Family Float Night at the Portage High School West pool. Gym activities for all ages will be provided in the Y gym.
“Try the Y Week” ends with Fitness Sampler Day on Saturday, April 19. From 10 am to noon, 15 minute rotations of several classes will enable participants to sample the wide variety and levels of classes offered at the Y. Individuals are also encouraged to come any time during this week to attend the full class periods.
A schedule of all open house activities, including facility hours, as well as information about joining the Y can be found at www.ymcaofportage.org. The Portage Township YMCA is located at 3100 Willowcreek Road in Portage.
IT’S SAID THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.
This certainly can be said of the Portage Township YMCA with the numerous and exciting changes in the works there.. The Y’s cause- strengthening community -will never change. And their mission- to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all -remains the same as always. So what’s changing?
OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS NEEDS ARE CHANGING, and as a movement charged with filling gaps in the community wherever they may be, the Portage Township YMCA is committed to making improvements and modifications to meet these changing needs. Lifestyle changes are leading to a national and local health and obesity crisis. More parents needing to work to survive means a depletion of family time for children. Military families are coping with loved ones overseas. Now more than ever, the Y is seeing the need to serve more people in ever more meaningful ways to help them stay confident and secure in their quest to get healthy. “We encourage people to come and see the intentional changes we’re making in the way we present ourselves to the Portage community and to the people we serve so we can be more supportive, more intuitive, and more welcoming to all,” said Chris Aungt, CEO. The outcomes of these changes and updates are what’s important: people getting healthier, families having fun, and children realizing their potential.
“So here we are,” said Aungst, “with a new list of resolutions for 2014. The intent of the open house is to show off what we’ve done so far and what we plan going forward. People can come experience for themselves our resolve to step up our Health and Wellness programs.” In late March, much of the Strength Training Center was updated with new strength and free weight machines. Five new machines in the Cardio…… A list of the Cybex top of the line VR3 model series machines can be viewed on the Y’s website at www.YMCAofPortage.org.
In addition to new equipment, the number and variety of group exercise classes are increasing. In the past two months, most classes have already doubled in attendance. New health initiatives with medical partner St. Mary Medical Center are planned.
To provide a positive foundation for all who enter their doors, staff development and training will help employees and volunteers be good stewards of the mission and the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith.
Upgrades and cosmetic changes to the facility have begun and will continue in stages throughout the year. Staff and volunteers are working together to clean and paint in areas that previously needed a face-lift. As soon as the weather breaks, a long overdue partial roof replacement will occur.
We want to welcome you to a brighter Y, a brighter year, a brighter YOU!
We welcome you to the Y- and to the improvements that will enable us to continue doing what we’ve always done - with a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. It’s very exciting, and we’re ready to go.
WE’RE STILL THE Y, STILL FOR YOU. In fact, the Y Movement has been in a state of evolution since its beginnings 160 years ago. We’re here to fill gaps, whatever they may be. When men flocked the cities looking for work, the Y was there to help them occupy their time. Sports and recreation filled those gaps with such YMCA inventions as basketball, volleyball, and racquetball. The Y made communities safer by teaching scores of people how to swim. As more women began filling the workplace, the Y stepped in with quality programs that focused on the learning and development of their young children. Moving forward, we are concerned about the health and wellness of our community and our responsibility towards filling those gaps.
The community will soon see a “new” Y. To see for yourself, everyone in the community will have the opportunity to try the Y for a week for free.
We can show you how to get your workout routine started now. Why wait?
Try our Strength Training & Cardio Centers ...INCLUDING 50 BRAND NEW STRENGTH, CARDIO & FREE WEIGHT MACHINES Try any of our 50+ group exercise classes ** ...YOU JUST MIGHT MEET A NEW FRIEND - Talk with a Wellness Coach ...WE’RE FRIENDLY AND HERE TO WELCOME YOU TO WELLNESS. Play an Open Sport ** ...CORN HOLE, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, RACQUETBALL
Come to any of our themed activities, where you will learn what it’s like to be a member of the Y family. From health and wellness activities for adults to sports, swimming and play for kids and families, let us help you learn, grow and thrive...all the Y way!
PASS THE WORD! 50 NEW CARDIO, STRENGTH, and FREE WEIGHT MACHINES will be arriving at the end of March. We're so excited for YOU!
New Strength Center
17 BRAND NEW PIECES! That's how much new equipment is going into our Strength Center's Cybex Machine room. Taken from Cybex's top of the line VR3 model series, the list of new equipment includes machines for: -Leg Presses -Leg Extension and Curls-Leg Adduction and Abduction (inner and outer thigh)-Calf Raises-Chest Press-Overhead Press -Lat Pulldowns -Back Rows -Arm Curls and Extensions (biceps and triceps)-Dips and Pull-Ups -Shoulder Raises -Abdominal Crunches -Torso Twists-Back Extensions Stay tuned for features on our new Free Weight and Cardio equipment AND for the revealing of the expected arrival date!
Free orientation
To properly learn how to use all of the equipment, schedule a free equipment orientation through our Welcome to Wellness program. You can also register for a Next Step consultation or our Y-Lose Itprogram for weight loss goals, which will start in April. Get more information, including scheduling appointments, at the Welcome Center.
Photo:Y member Larry Cafin works through the circuit of Strength Training machines with the support of Lisa Sandberg, personal trainer and wellness coach. The Portage Township YMCA recently updated their Wellness Center with more than 50 new pieces of Cybex exercise equipment. Fellow Y member Elise Goff gives Cafin encouragement as she completes her own workout session.