Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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My Y Rewards Special November Earnings Event

MY Y REWARDS SPECIAL NOVEMBER EARNINGS EVENT

Get ready to burn off those Halloween candy calories with a special bonus for My Y Rewards program participants!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, enrolled in the My Y Rewards program will receive 100 bonus points if they attend eight group fitness classes in the month of November .

Learn how to enroll by clicking below.

ENROLL TODAY

Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll also earn points each time you check-in, take a class, or refer a friend to the Y. In fact, you’ll earn your first 50 points for simply enrolling in the program. You can then redeem your points for fun Y swag and program and membership credits.

If you should have any questions or any feedback on the My Y Rewards Program, please be sure to stop by the Membership Desk during your next visit or email [email protected].

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Starting Strong: Participate in the Y’s Planksgiving Challenge

A strong core is the foundation of a strong body. Join this self-paced, 30-day challenge to increase your core strength and stay consistent during this busy time of the year.

The Challenge: Aim to do at least one plank per day. Your personal goal is to improve your standard forearm plank time by double or maybe even triple your starting plank time by the end of the month. The challenge runs November 1-30.

Use the Y On the Go App to track your progress!

  • On the App home screen, tap on ‘Calendar.’
  • Click on ‘Plan Something,’ then ‘Activity’ and search for Plank exercise.
  • Complete your exercise, then edit and save today’s plank time.
  • To save your progress, click on ‘Add to today’ and ‘Finish training.’

PLANK VARIATIONS:

Want to mix it up a bit? Add these plank variations to your Thanksgiving menu:

  • Side Plank
  • Thread the Needle
  • Hip Dips
  • Reverse Plank
  • Renegade Row
  • Plank Jacks
  • Weighted Plank
  • Bird Dog Plank
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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Members Eligible for Jumpstart Your Health Program Special Offer from Endeavor Health

Beginning Tuesday, November 3 at 6 p.m., Endeavor Health will offer Jumpstart Your Health with Group Lifestyle Balance™ in-person at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

What is Jumpstart Your Health?
Jumpstart Your Health is a year-long lifestyle change program designed to help people lose weight, increase activity and prevent disease. Jumpstart Your Health utilizes Group Lifestyle Balance™, a research-based curriculum that helps individuals make lasting lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease and develop healthy lifestyle habits.

What will the program entail?

  • Virtual or in-person, 1 hour group classes
  • 22 total classes over the one-year program (beginning weekly, then tapering to monthly)
  • Education on nutrition, physical activity and behavior modification
  • Self-monitoring of weight, food and activity
  • A trained lifestyle coach to help guide and encourage you
  • Support from other participants with the same goals as you

Are you a candidate?
Jumpstart Your Health is for anyone over the age of 25 looking to lose weight and take charge of their health. A one year commitment is required. Attendance at class is a key indicator of success in the program.

How much does it cost?
The one year program fee is $199 for C.W. Avery YMCA members and $249* for non-members.

*May be eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement. Not covered by most insurance.

Jumpstart participants may be eligible for a free 30-day membership at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and will be offered a $0 Joiner’s Fee to continue their membership. This offer is only available for new members.

To register for the class with this offer, please call Class Registration at 630-527-6363 and let them know you would like to sign up for the Jumpstart class at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA. Non-members may call Class Registration or email [email protected] for more information.

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Registration Underway for 2026 YMCA Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge

Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge Starting November 16

Our 8-week Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge will help you get in shape and keep the weight off during the holiday season. We have a great plan to help you adopt healthy eating and exercise habits while saying ‘No’ to those tempting holiday cravings.

Are you up for the challenge?

If you can maintain your weight within 2 pounds for 8 weeks, you will receive a $20 YMCA credit that can be used towards any fitness program, including personal training. If you gain more than 2 pounds during this eight-week challenge, your fee will be donated in your name to the Y’s Mission Strong Fund.

There will be two mandatory weigh-ins:
Week 1 (some time between November 16 and November 22)
Week 8 (some time between January 4 and January 10)

There will also be optional weigh-in:
Week 4 (some time between December 7 and December 13)

As part of this fun-filled Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge, you will receive:

  • A one-of-a-kind YMCA Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge T-shirt
  • Weekly emails with workout tips, healthy holiday recipes and special fitness challenges, designed specifically for challenge participants

Let’s have a little fun this holiday season. Together, we will help you celebrate the holiday season happy and healthy!

Registration is now open. Select your branch below and sign up today!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Morris Hospital YMCA

Village of Shorewood YMCA

Cost: $30

PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes on November 22.

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Meet Endeavor Health Physical Therapist Maddie Robbins

Located within the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, the Endeavor Health Physical Therapy Clinic has been an invaluable resource for the Y community since 2022. And now we are excited to highlight the newest addition to the Endeavor staff team in physical therapist Maddie Robbins! Maddie is a Shorewood native and a graduate of St. Louis University, and said that she has found the Y to be a welcoming environment since joining the team earlier this summer. 

“When I was younger, I remember coming to the Y to work out as a guest with my friends who were members. And so far everyone that I’ve met is very nice, open, and willing to get to know me, which is amazing,” Robbins said.

Maddie said her passion for physical therapy came from her background in athletics and past experience navigating injuries. 

“I was a gymnast and a competitive cheerleader. With that came a lot of injuries, and with those injuries came a lot of physical therapy. I saw how much it benefitted me and how much better it made me feel. I wanted to be able to do that for other people,” she said.

Maddie said that one of the keys to helping patients is getting ahead of any potential injury concerns. 

“A lot of people don’t know that physical therapy can be preventative. If you’re working out a lot and don’t have the correct form that would be something we can look into with movement analysis and performing different types of  exercise. We know the proper form to help make sure we prevent injuries from happening,” she said.

She said this process is made easier through the partnership between Endeavor and the Y. 

“We’re allowed to take patients out into the wellness center and if someone does work out here a lot that’s a better way to analyze their form. It’s especially effective for higher level athletes,” Maddie said. 

But whether you’re an athlete looking to rehab an injury sustained on the field, or looking to rehab following back surgery, members of all ages and health backgrounds are encouraged to learn more about Endeavor services.

“Your therapy will be based on your needs, and throughout your sessions, you’ll receive flexibility and strength training based on what’s needed. We want to see all patients progress and feel better,” Maddie said.

On behalf of the Y, we are so happy to welcome Maddie to our community and remain thankful for the amazing services provided by the Endeavor Health team to support healthy living in our community. 

To make an appointment to see a physical therapist at the Endeavor Health Physical Therapy Clinic at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, please call (630) 527-3375. The Endeavor team will obtain insurance approval, provide you with the number of visits allowed, and give you an estimate of your out-of-pocket cost per visit.

Hours are available by appointment on weekdays during the following times:
Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Endeavor also offers free injury screenings. To schedule your screening, visit the Physical Therapy front desk during normal operating hours or call to set up a screening time.

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Meet Endeavor Health Physical Therapist Will Thompson

Located within the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, the Endeavor Health Physical Therapy Clinic has been an invaluable resource for the Y community since 2022. And now we are excited to highlight Endeavor staff member Will Thompson! Will has more than two decades of experience in healthcare, including the last three and a half years assisting physical therapy patients at the Endeavor clinic. He said that the community building aspect of the Y has offered one of the more unique work experiences of his career. 

“I’ve worked with a lot of patients that are members of the Y. Even after their therapy has ended, it’s nice to be able to see them in the wellness center, say hi, and have conversations with them. Everyone with the Y staff is amazing as well,” Will said.

Will maintains a passion for physical therapy driven in large part by the day-to-day improvements he sees with his patients. 

“The most rewarding thing is seeing the journey patients go on. They come in with an impairment, likely in a lot of pain, and to see them progress as we go on through therapy is amazing. We try to have them face less frequent pain, eventually incorporating regular activities back into their life that they want to do,” he said.

Will said that regular exercise, incorporating enough warm up time, and using proper form are the most important ways to prevent injuries, and that in many cases physical therapy comes down to getting back to basics. 

“People sometimes think ‘Well, that’s an easy exercise, why are you making them do that?’ It’s because the exercises are often the fundamental thing that can get someone back to doing what they want to do. It’s a situation about being able to crawl before you can walk,” he said. 

And because Y members have convenient access to healthcare resources while completing their therapy at the Y clinic, Will said the impact extends well beyond physical wellness.

“When you feel a little better and your motivation goes up, you start to feel good in general with a better attitude and higher self esteem,” he said.

On behalf of the Y, we are so happy to have Will in our community and remain thankful for the amazing services provided by the Endeavor Health team to support healthy living in our community.

To make an appointment to see a physical therapist at the Endeavor Health Physical Therapy Clinic at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, please call (630) 527-3375. The Endeavor team will obtain insurance approval, provide you with the number of visits allowed, and give you an estimate of your out-of-pocket cost per visit.

Hours are available by appointment on weekdays during the following times:
Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Endeavor also offers free injury screenings. To schedule your screening, visit the Physical Therapy front desk during normal operating hours or call to set up a screening time.

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