GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

Christina Hester, a mother of three from Morris, was just months away from turning 30 when she realized she was in need of a lifestyle change. Her initial approach was simple: one hour of cardio each day at the Morris Y. Until one day, Christina decided to break her routine and attend AM Boot Camp, a fitness class known for its intensity.

“I was in the back of the room, terrified,” she said. “I was closest to the door, so in case anything went wrong, I could escape.”

Fortunately, her getaway plan wasn’t needed. Christina was instantly hooked. Now, in addition to Boot Camp, she’s a regular at Zumba, Hip-Hop Fit, and as of recently, yoga.

“The classes are intense,” she said. “You might think, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this.’ But you work your way up. It’s exciting.”

Today, Christina is 70 pounds lighter and no longer hides in the back. She visits the Y five days a week, typically two or three times per day.

During the Y’s August Fitness Challenge—in which members were challenged to swipe in 20 times in a month—Christina checked in 36 times.

“It’s weird when others start noticing you’ve lost weight, but it makes you feel really good,” she said. “My family and friends have been a strong support system. My girlfriends and I have a Facebook group, where we post ‘sweaty selfies.’ It’s in a closed group so everyone doesn’t have to see it. We motivate each other.”

Her biggest motivation, Christina says, are her children: Amber, Lola and Maximus. Thinking back, Christina recalls days when going up the stairs or playing at the park wasn’t so easy. But thankfully, now that Christina has chosen the path toward a healthy lifestyle, those days are behind her.

On August 8, the Morris Community YMCA hosted a free “Back to School” Camp Day in Coal City, where a tornado earlier this summer left many homes damaged and many residents displaced.

The event, held at Coal City Middle School, brought more than 120 kids together to enjoy a morning that included crafts, snacks, horse rides and much more. At the end of the day, parents were invited to join their children and YMCA staff for a free BBQ-style lunch, courtesy of Nutrition Services at Morris Hospital and Heathcare Centers.

From the Morris Herald-News:

The free camp day was created when Morris YMCA Executive Director Missy Durkin visited Coal City Superintendent Kent Bugg two days after the tornado, asking what she could do for the community.

“I talked to Dr. Bugg and went back to work, and spoke with the CEO and COO of the YMCA and told them that we needed to do something for the Coal City community,” Durkin said. “Then I talked to Dr. Bugg to come up with a plan where the kids could have fun, as well as the parents.”

Durkin and Morris YMCA Program and Membership Director Sarah Porzel put their heads together to create a free mini day camp and family lunch.

Photos from the day can be found on the Morris YMCA Facebook page.

Gus Rousonelos joined the C.W. Avery Family YMCA five years ago. He works out six days a week and regularly attends classes such as Pilates and yoga.

As a result of his hard work, and with the unwavering support of his trainers, Lisa Behounek and Melissa Vidito, Gus has completely transformed his life.

Not only has he lost more than 50 pounds, but Gus has become an avid participant in 5K and 10K races.

At this year’s Giving Gala, an event held each February at the Bolingbrook Country Club, Gus was the lucky winner of the “Strike A Pose” live auction item—which included the opportunity to be included on the cover of our 2015 Fall Program Guide.

With the help of generous individuals like Gus, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Giving Gala has raised more than $350,000 to benefit families in our community. Thank you, Gus, for being a loyal Y member and a true campion of the Y’s mission in the Plainfield community!

The 2016 Giving Gala is scheduled for February 27, 2016 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. To learn more about supporting the Giving Gala, please contact:

Carolyn Hamilton
Vice President of Marketing and Membership
Phone: (815) 729-9638, ext. 313
E-mail: [email protected]

Six months ago today, the Morris Community YMCA opened its doors to a temporary facility, located at 320 Wauponsee Street. In that brief period of time, our membership base has grown tremendously, and we’ve had the opportunity to introduce a variety of new programming. We’d like to thank everyone who had a part in our growth, from our partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers to our board members to our staff. Last, but certainly not least, we’d like to thank all of our members! The best is truly yet to come.

There’s no question about it: Since moving into our new home, the Morris Community YMCA has left quite an impression on Wauponsee Street.

With the support of Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, the Y was able to open its doors to the community in January.

Since then, with a core of just three full-time staff, we’ve welcomed in more than 2,000 members and introduced an assortment of both youth and health-based programming.

Now, here we are, halfway through the year, and the Y is ready to introduce a new era of programming – thanks to the recent hire of our fourth full-timer, a health science buff by the name of Ian Stewart.

Stewart, a Champaign native, officially started with the Morris Community YMCA in late May, becoming the first Health and Wellness director in its history.

This, however, isn’t his first stint with a YMCA: While Stewart earned a degree in Exercise Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, he spent five years at the local Y in town, where he worked extensively in conditioning, rehabbing and sports training.

Stewart’s intentions are to bring similar practices to the Morris YMCA, where he plans to pioneer high-quality programs while sharing his expertise on embracing a healthy lifestyle.

“Healthy is a broad term,” he said. “When I think of someone being healthy, I don’t just think of someone who looks healthy.

Instead, I see someone who’s able to walk around freely and enjoy their life, who has found a happy medium between exercise, wellness and nutrition.”

Stewart definitely knows his stuff. Words such as “biomechanics” and “plyometrics” are part of his daily vocabulary. It’s clear that he’s excited to hit the ground running.

One of his top priorities, he says, is to get members acquainted with the Y’s fitness center and weight room, where he’s already noticed some equipment being underutilized.

As a result, Stewart has invited members to sign up for a free fitness orientation, where he will demonstrate how to use strength equipment properly. For those interested in taking their health to the next level, the Y also has begun offering personal training.

What Stewart’s most excited about, however, is a sports-specific training program that he’s developing. The program, which can be tailored to individual athletes or entire teams, relies heavily on strength and conditioning, as well as plyometric training – a form of situational training that aims to prevent injuries and develop speed and agility.

Each workout features an extensive and specific design that varies from sport to sport, and may include anywhere between 20 and 30 different exercises. His goal is to pilot the program as early as fall 2015.

The Y offers a variety of different wellness-based programs for people of all fitness levels.

With a membership at the Morris Community YMCA, members have access to our fitness center and weight room, and are invited to participate in our free fitness classes.

For information about health and wellness programs at the Morris YMCA, please contact Ian Stewart at 815-513-8080, ext. 514 or email [email protected].

Our Teen Achievers program is a grant-based program that guides teens through high school, encouraging them to set and achieve educational, professional and personal goals, while developing their talents and leadership skills. Since 2005, 92 percent of graduating seniors in the Teen Achievers Program have advanced to college.

Each year, the group embarks on an out-of-state college trip, where they visit several universities over the course of three or four days. This year, Executive Director Maurice Fears and the Teen Achievers travelled to Indiana and Kentucky to visit Butler University, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, among other institutions. For a firsthand perspective of this impactful program, check out the video above.