They say time flies and 2016 was no exception. It’s now time for a new year, new calendar, and new you. The first is inevitable, the second an easy fix, but the third can be daunting. Thanks to the South Sound YMCA’s new exercise equipment and FITPATH program, a new you can be just around the corner.
English writer Gilbert K. Chesterton summed it up perfectly almost 100 years ago: “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes…Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”
Thanks to a stabilizing economy, nationwide fitness club memberships have increased from 32 million in 2000 to 55 million in 2015. To match the generosity—and keep up with the influx—of its many members, the South Sound YMCA is rolling out new fitness equipment and mentorship services at both their Briggs and Downtown branches.
Sunday, December 18 the Briggs location debuted a fully revamped 5,700 square foot space overflowing with treadmills, free weights, and equipment galore. These include CrossFit stations and soon the arrival of a cutting edge Queenax unit. The South Sound YMCA will be the only locations between Tacoma and Vancouver with these specialty structures which offer battle ropes, fixed parallels, plyometric platforms, Olympic bars, and more. The Olympia Downtown location will host a slightly different model but with many of the same multi-use options.
Jake Grater, Executive Director, is proud of these new upgrades; “They show we’ve never been more serious about your wellness.” With this in mind, the new space will soon offer the FITPATH program, including a centrally located desk staffed by one of their skilled fitness trainers.
The goal of FITPATH, soon to be offered at the Olympia Downtown branch as well, is to provide a 30-day jump-start to improved health. All new members, who can sign up throughout the month of January with no joining fee, are encouraged to visit at least 8 times in their first month of membership. The plan includes 3 one-on-one sessions with a fitness professional to establish your goals, measure progress, and connect you with the right equipment for your individual needs.
These changes were inspired after the Y brought in fitness consultants to explain “new trends in where fitness is going,” explains Grater. “Family value is our niche but by having the right equipment and everything you need—equipment you won’t see anywhere else—we can bring in new millennial families without excluding our active senior and family populations.”
Both branches will offer the new equipment and services, which will be introduced over the next few weeks. Free weight areas will be closed December 29 for the delivery of brand new weights and Queenax machines arrive mid-January.
In 2017 also look for a highly-anticipated cycle studio at the Briggs branch and the autumn launch of a dedicated two-hour family session where all members can combine physical and mental workouts in a neatly scheduled evening window.
If—like many—you find your motivation in a class or group setting, check out the many aquatic and fitness options. Unsure where to start? Visit for a blood pressure check, nutrition consultation, or well-being orientation to learn about the equipment and ask questions. Work out a little too hard? Member Services can schedule a massage or guided instructional session with a personal trainer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stress that “regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help: control your weight, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, reduce your risk of some cancers, strengthen your bones and muscles, improve your mental health and mood, improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you’re an older adult, [and] increase your chances of living longer.”
Let the staff at the South Sound YMCA help you reach your fitness goals in the new year or anytime. Give them a call at 360-357-6609 (Olympia Downtown branch) or 360-753-6576 (Briggs) or drop by seven days a week.
Sponsored
