Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris, Smith

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Don’t Let a Fear of Falls Hold You Back

Each year on the first day of fall, the Y joins national organizations from the Falls Free Coalition and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) for National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. On Monday, September 23, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is asking older adults, caregivers, family members and health care professionals to join us in raising awareness to prevent falls among older adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an older adult in the U.S. is treated in the ER for a fall-related injury every 14 seconds and dies from a fall-related injury every 29 minutes. Additionally, falls put an immense strain on the health care system, with the financial toll expected to reach $67.7 billion by 2020. The good news is falls are preventable, and the first step to prevention is understanding risk.

As a leading community-based organization dedicated to improving the health and wellness of residents of all ages, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA encourages older adults to learn their risk for falls by taking an assessment at  http://www.ymca.net/health-wb-fitness/ .

Once risk is assessed, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is helping older adults feel strong, steady and safe by reducing their falls risk through programs like Moving for a Better Balance and Enhance®Fitness.

The CDC suggests these basic lifestyle and safety changes to help reduce risk or prevent falls:

  • Begin an exercise program to improve your leg strength & balance.
  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines.
  • Get annual eye check-ups & update your eyeglasses.
  • Make your home safer by:
    • Removing clutter & tripping hazards.
    • Putting railings on all stairs & adding grab bars in the bathroom.
    • Installing proper lighting, especially on stairs.

To learn more about the Y’s Moving for a Better Balance and Enhance®Fitness programs, be sure to speak with a member of our wellness team during your next visit. Or, simply register online today!

Teen Achievers Kick-Off Lock-In Set For October 19

One of the Y’s most beloved programs, Teen Achievers provides area high school students with the guidance and support they need to discover their identities, embrace their passions, and become their best selves.

With the support of the Y’s dedicated Teen and Young Adult staff team, students learn to manage their stress, time, and emotions, and learn about the importance of making confident and wise decisions during their high school years. Through weekly conversations, informative guest speakers, and college visits, students learn about life after high school and receive the encouragement to, not just complete twelfth grade, but to be truly prepared for whatever comes next.

And with Teen Achievers sessions beginning soon, we’d like to invite students from the community to join us in celebrating the first ever Teen Achievers Kick-Off Lock-In on October 19! This event will be hosted at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and is sure to be a blast with a bounce house, pool inflatable, open gym, taco stand, karaoke, dance party and more! Come hang out with friends, meet new people, and discover more about our Teen Achievers program at this exclusive, high school student-only event! See below for details.

Teen Achievers Kick-Off Lock-In

Saturday, October 19 from 6:30-11 p.m.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Dr
Plainfield, IL 60544

Open to Freshmen-Seniors in high school

Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: October 18

Register online or stop by your local branch today!

To learn more about Teen Achievers, this year’s school sites, or our new TA2 program, which will be hosted at the Galowich Family YMCA beginning in October, click here.

For any additional questions please contact:
Kelsey Kruel
Teen & Young Adult Advancement Manager
[email protected]
(815) 782-0303

Morris Community YMCA Offering New Cycle Demos


The rumors are true—we have new cycle bikes! These bikes feature cutting-edge technology that allows you to measure your performance and track your workouts like never before. All those interested in participating in our new cycle programming can do so by completing the following steps.

Step 1: Download the “ICG Training” App for your mobile device.

Step 2: Register and attend one of the following free test sessions to set up your app*:

Monday, September 23 at 9 a.m.

Monday, September 23 at 9:30 a.m.

Monday, September 23 at 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 26 at 8 a.m.

Step 3; Register and attend one of the following free 30 minute demos:

Monday, September 30 at 9 a.m. with Lynn

Monday, September 30 at 4:30 p.m. with Lynn

Tuesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. with Jo

Wednesday, October 2 at 8 a.m. with Linette

Thursday, October 3 at 5:15 a.m. with Beth

Friday, October 4 at 8:15 a.m. with Linette

Saturday, October 5 at 9 a.m. with Jo

Demos will be open to the community and will include fun raffles. Every individual will receive a raffle ticket just for attending. If you bring a friend who has never attended a cycle class, you will receive an extra raffle ticket. Raffle items will include a free month membership as well as Y swag.

If you attend a demo you will also receive $5 off the Fall 2 session of cycle (offer expires 10/5)! Spots are limited and registration is required.

Register today!

*If you can not attend a test session, or have any additional questions, please contact Membership and Wellness Director Jamie Nelson at (815) 513-8100 or [email protected]

Fall Membership Sale


September 20-23

September is Hunger Action Month. The Y is taking action by holding a four-day food drive to coincide with its Fall Membership Sale.

JOIN THE Y AND SAVE*
Donate 5 non-perishable food items and you’ll pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee—a savings of up to $120. Your donations will benefit the following organizations:

Plainfield Area Interfaith Food Pantry

Morning Star Mission in Joliet

Family Outreach Program in Crest Hill

We Care of Grundy County

JOIN ONLINE

Take advantage of this special offer by joining online! You can bring your donated goods upon your first visit to the Y.

Join Now

Current YMCA Members who donate 5 non-perishable items will receive 3 additional guest passes!

*Offer available to new and alumni members only. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Some restrictions may apply.

Become Your Best Self: Jonelle Carter’s Story


At the Y, we know a healthy lifestyle goes beyond toning muscles. Improving your emotional health and well-being can be just as important. For Morris resident Jonelle Carter, working with a personal trainer at the YMCA not only helped her lose weight, but also find peace of mind. 

“A lot of people who know me know I struggled with worry and anxiety. It’s been nice to use exercise as a tool,” Jonelle said. “I would say my journey has been 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical. For me, the body changing was a plus.”

Jonelle’s wellness journey started back in February on a trip to Key West with her husband, Terry. As musicians, Jonelle and Terry regularly take trips around the country to scout potential show locations. These trips are supposed to be a fun part of the job. But on this occasion, things weren’t quite right. 

“I had an anxiety attack while we were away. I knew I wasn’t in the place I wanted to be,” Jonelle said. “My media team was sending me pictures and I didn’t like how I looked. More than that, how I felt started to change in a negative way.”

When they returned from their trip, Jonelle made it a point to rekindle her relationship with the Y. A self-described ‘on-again, off-again’’ member since 2015, she started conversations with Y trainer Ro Peterson to begin a new training regiment. The first steps forward weren’t easy. 

“During my first session with Ro I felt like I was going to pass out. It wasn’t even physical, my anxiety was through the roof. She was so gracious to talk me through my first day. That’s what we did for an hour, we talked,” Jonelle said. 

But Jonelle stuck with her commitment and eventually started making improvements. She described her mind and body as hitting what was, in essence, a reset button. 

“My big thing was that when my heart was beating fast, it was like telling my brain something is wrong. That never felt good, and I avoided it at all costs. It wasn’t until two months in that I was able to change the way my brain thinks, not just my body. I was finally able to have that feeling that people talk about where you love when your heart is beating fast and you’re building up a good sweat,” Carter said. 

Jonelle has lost 21 pounds since starting her personal training sessions. But she feels that the day-to-day goals have had a bigger impact on her confidence level. 

“The things that make me excited are the little personal goals. They might be little, but I’m doing things I never thought I would be able to do. I couldn’t even run for 30 seconds when I started. Then I could only run for three minutes. Now I can run a mile,” she said.

And Jonelle credits much of her success to her relationship with her personal trainer. 

“Without a trainer you sometimes get lost in your own head,” she said. “I don’t think I ever would have come back if I didn’t have Ro. I didn’t want to let her down. Now, I don’t want to let either of us down.”

Whether you’re just starting a fitness routine or looking to add a little variety to your exercise program, a YMCA personal trainer can help you to achieve your wellness goals. One-on-one or small group coaching enables our certified personal trainers to interact with members in creating a fitness program that meets their needs and offers direction, education, motivation and support every step of the way.

The Y’s personal training sale runs through September 30. If you buy four sessions, you will get one free. For more information about the sale, please click here or stop by your local branch.

Meet the C.W. Avery Family YMCA Sports Team

plainfield YMCA sports team

The Y’s Youth Sports Programs foster new friendships, teaches kids the importance of teamwork and provides youth with fun physical activity.  Spearheading the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Youth Sports Program is Sports Director Maria Romero and Sports Manager Omar Solano.

Romero started her Y career as a summer day camp counselor.  At the time, her brother worked in the Y’s summer day camp program and he encouraged her to apply.  For three consecutive summers, Romero continued to work part-time at the Y until she graduated college, and in 2006 she accepted the role as the Kids Zone Manager at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.  In 2011, she joined the Y’s leadership team as the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Sports Director.

Solano’s Y journey began similar to Romero’s. At the age of 18, he was looking for a part-time job in the Plainfield area when he noticed the C.W. Avery Family Y was hiring for its Kid Zone Program. Knowing several friends that worked at the Y, Solano decided to apply for the position.  He started working as a counselor in the Y’s Kid Zone and summer day camp programs and eventually pursued a sports career at the Y. As a former high school athlete, Solano taught youth sports classes and reffed at games. In April, Solano took on the exciting role as Sports Manager at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

With the fall sports season in full swing, Romero and Solano are already finalizing plans for the 2019-2020 youth basketball season. The Y’s highly anticipated Youth Basketball League will kick-off in early January 2020.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Romero: I grew up in Plainfield, IL and I have been with the Y for 15 years.  I have a son, Leo, and we both love spending our time at the YMCA!

Solano: I also grew up in Plainfield, IL. And, I attended Plainfield Central High School, where I played on the basketball team for four years.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at work?

Romero: When I’m not busy working, you can find me working out and staying active playing sports, including softball.  I also enjoy spending quality time with my family.

Solano: Aside from playing sports, I enjoy working out and listening to music.

Q: What inspires you?

Romero: My parents and my son–they make me want to be a better person.

Solano: Definitely my parents.

Q: What is your favorite part about working with young athletes?

Romero: It’s very rewarding to watch a child figure out a sport that’s theirs.  Nothing can describe the feeling I get when I see a child discover a sport they love.

Solano: It’s cool to see the impact a sport has on a child.  From making friends, to learning the fundamentals of a sport, to watching them thrive in a sport they’re passionate about—it’s awesome.

Q: What makes sports programming at the Y unique?

Romero and Solano: At the Y, we work with our athletes and their families.  We want to make every young athlete’s experience enjoyable in any way possible.  And, it’s important for their parents to know that they are not held to any strict obligations. We are understanding and flexible when it comes to their busy schedules.   We’re here for their child(ren) to have a great time playing sports.   

Q: What is your favorite sports team?
Romero: The Chicago Cubs!

Solano: I am also a Chicago Cubs fan, but I enjoy college basketball too.  I am a huge Duke fan!

As a reminder, registration for the Y’s Youth Basketball Leagues is underway! Registration can be done online or in-person at your local branch. If you have questions about youth basketball leagues, youth sports programs or just want to say ‘hi’ to this athletic duo, make sure to stop by their offices the next time you are at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA. You can also email them directly at [email protected] and [email protected].

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