6 minute read
GETTING TO KNOW THE OTTAWA YMCA
What the Y can offer new members
Story and photos by Shannon Serpette
Those who want to soldier on with their New Year’s resolution of better fitness may want to consider joining a gym for the encouragement, opportunity, and structure it provides those seeking a healthier lifestyle. The Ottawa YMCA offers a great mix of inclusiveness, family atmosphere, caring staff, and great exercise opportunities.
Even those who have never been a member of a gym before don’t need to feel intimidated while joining the Ottawa YMCA, according to Karen Szewczuk, health and wellness director at the Ottawa YMCA. The YMCA welcomes prospective members and will be happy to show them around.
“Before committing, they can have a
Although the Ottawa YMCA has lighter weights and circuit machines for those who want to build muscle, they also have a lot of heavy weights for members to use. The Ottawa YMCA has a nine-foot-deep swimming pool with multiple lanes for members and swim teams to use.
guided facility tour,” she said.
The YMCA offers a free Smart Start program for new members, comprised of four one-on-one visits with the YMCA’s wellness coaches. They can learn how the equipment works, hear about programs that might benefit them, and work on goal setting.
“They can learn at their own pace,” Szewczuk said. “We get to know you and see what’s doable in your life.”
The staff will take a look at your lifestyle, goals, commitment level, and schedule and help you come up with a fitness goal that will be attainable.
“Our wellness staff pulls that information from the new member and tailors it just for them,” she said.
While walking around the building, potential new members might notice how unique the layout is, which is one of the things Szewczuk loves about the Ottawa YMCA. Built in the 1950s, the building has many intimate-feeling rooms with personality, which is a stark contrast to some of today’s impersonal, modern-feeling gyms. One of the weight rooms, for instance, is located in a converted former kitchen.
Those looking for a wide variety of exercises – both individual and group – should enjoy the YMCA. It offers programs that are free to members and a select group of programs that have an additional cost.
With the YMCA’s popular evidence-based programs, instructors must undergo specific training.
“There are special certification instructors have to have for these programs,” Szewczuk said.
Evidence-based programs offered at the Ottawa YMCA include:
Diabetes Prevention: This class will help members learn about healthy eating, increase their physical activity, and strive to decrease their body weight by 7 percent.
Moving with Parkinsons: This class, specifically for people with Parkinsons, teaches people with the disease how to exercise to help counteract their symptoms.
Enhance Fitness: This one is a community-based senior fitness and arthritis management program. The focus is on helping the older members become more active, empowered, and energized by their movement.
Livestrong at the YMCA: This program is tailored
See YMCA page 12
for adult cancer survivors. It uses a small group setting to help members build muscle, improve energy and self-esteem, and increase endurance and flexibility.
With a small pool with lanes that is used by members and for swim team meets, several fitness rooms, a preschool for 2-year-olds, a pickleball court, a small track, youth sports, special events for kids, and much more, the YMCA offers something for everyone. Szewczuk said members enjoy the wide variety of options.
“Enhanced fitness has to be one of the most popular programs,” she said. “All of the exercise classes are well-attended. Pickleball is also a huge part of the Y. It’s definitely growing.”
The staff at the YMCA in Ottawa is constantly evaluating which programs aren’t popular and which newer fitness programs trends and programs their members have an interest in. As a result, they can add or remove programs or equipment as needed.
The Ottawa YMCA enjoys a lot of community support.
“We have 1,590 active units,” Szewczuk said, adding that number includes families, so the total number of members will be higher than that figure.
The Ottawa YMCA is also generously supported by its Partners in Youth donors, and the banners highlighting the sponsors are displayed at the YMCA.
“Each banner has its own (monetary) value,” she said.
In addition to the physical and emotional benefits of working out, those who join the YMCA will quickly find friendship and fellowship if they want it.
“All of our members are extremely social and welcoming,” Szewczuk said. “It’s not only about the body. It’s about the mind. The social aspect (of joining the YMCA) is huge.”
“You can never be bored here if you’re willing to try new things. Retirees are sometimes concerned about how they’ll fill their day. When they join the Y, they sometimes say, ‘I feel like I have a part-time job here,’” she said.
What Szewczuk most enjoys about working at the YMCA is the same thing that keeps many members coming back year after year.
“The family atmosphere,” she said. “We want to keep a nice, wholesome environment that makes everyone feel included. I love the acceptance of others.”
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