Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Healthy Happens Here: Celebrating Our Amazing Partners During National Hospital Week

This week is National Hospital Week, which celebrates hospitals and all the amazing workers who support the health and well-being of their communities through dedication and compassionate care from the heart.  It also recognizes the miracles they help to make happen on a day to day basis, both large and small. During National Hospital Week, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA encourages you and your family to thank all of these dedicated individuals, including physicians, nurses, therapists, volunteers, administrators, and so many more.

At the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, we have the privilege of working with so many amazing health care professionals in our local communities.  In celebration of National Hospital Week, we’d like to thank our partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers and Endeavor Health for their continued support and commitment to enhancing the health and wellness of our members and their families.

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Getting the Most From Your Village of Shorewood YMCA Experience

We hope everyone enjoyed opening week at the Village of Shorewood YMCA! And, as we continue to welcome our wonderful new members to the facility, we have put together a convenient list of items that can help you get started on your Y journey. Click below for details.

Download the YMCA On the Go App
24/7 access the Y!

Become a Member of the My Y Rewards Program
Join by May 31 and earn a special bonus of 200 points!

Download YMCA Group Fitness, Gymnasium, and Lap Pool Schedules
Plan your weekly schedule!

Sign up for the Fit4U Introductory Health and Wellness Program
Kickstart your routine with help from Y staff!

Register for a YMCA Teen Wellness Center Certification Course
Open to ages 13-15!

Try the Y with Your Family and Friends
And don’t forget, Village of Shorewood YMCA Facility Members are welcome to share the Y experience with their family and friends by utilizing guest passes. Facility Members may bring one guest per day, and all guests must be accompanied during their visit.

Guests aged 18 and older will be required to present a valid photo I.D. upon entry.

Guests under 18 must have a valid Daily Visitor Membership and Facility Usage Waiver signed by a parent or guardian on file prior to visiting the Y. To create a Daily Visitor Membership, please click here.

PLEASE NOTE: Day passes and Nationwide memberships will NOT be accepted at the Village of Shorewood YMCA until June 1.

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Morris Hospital YMCA Invites Community to Participate in Murph Challenge

Stop by the Morris Hospital YMCA on Memorial Day weekend to complete the ‘Murph’ workout challenge to honor our fallen veterans. Members are invited to complete the ‘Murph’ in remembrance of Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who died heroically in Afghanistan on June 28. 2005.

Pick up a workout card at the Membership Desk and complete the following workout at your own pace anytime between Saturday, May 23 and Monday May 25:

1 MILE RUN
100 PULLUPS*
200 PUSHUPS*
300 SQUATS*
1 MILE RUN

*Modified versions may be utilized.

Once the challenge is complete, take a Polaroid selfie and add it to the bulletin board posted in the Wellness Center.

Community Members are welcome to join us at the Y during the holiday weekend to complete the ‘Murph’ by downloading a free daily pass. Please be sure to have your ID available upon check-in. 

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Helping You Live Better: YMCA Members Invited to Participate in Fit4U Introductory Health and Wellness Program

If you are looking to start a new fitness routine this summer and don’t know where to begin, or if you have taken a break from exercise and want to get back on track, the Y’s new Fit4U program is for you! This FREE introductory health and wellness program offers guidance, knowledge, and motivation to help you lead a healthier lifestyle and become more physically active. The comprehensive 4-week program will introduce you to Wellness Center amenities, help you set goals, and design a workout program that works best for you. Each appointment will introduce you to a new element of fitness under the guidance of a Wellness Attendant.

PART 1: GETTING STARTED AND BASELINE TESTS

During this opening session, we will assess your current fitness level, set goals, get body composition (if requested), and complete our Fit4U questionnaire. You will have the opportunity to get set up on the YMCA on the Go App and begin orientation on any cardiovascular equipment (treadmills, ellipticals and bikes) that interests you.

PART 2: CARDIO REVIEW AND UPPER BODY STRENGTH

This session will reinforce the basics of using cardio equipment and add instruction of upper body strength equipment based on your fitness goals.

PART 3: LOWER BODY STRENGTH TRAINING

The third session will introduce lower body strength equipment based on your fitness goals and review progress on your new fitness schedule.

PART 4: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

In this closing session, we will review and answer any additional questions related to cardio or strength equipment, workout progressions, and Personal Training options.

Open to Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members Only.

REGISTER TODAY

To learn more about Fit4U, please contact your local Y branch:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Kristen Derengowski
Health, Wellness and Dance Director
[email protected]

Village of Shorewood YMCA
Alissa Koenig
Health and Wellness Director
[email protected]

Morris Hospital YMCA
Ro Petersen
Health and Wellness Director
[email protected]

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Celebrate the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial with Decades Week Group Fitness Classes

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, marking a century of service, leadership, and impact.

To help commemorate this historic milestone, the health and wellness teams from all Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches are encouraging members to participate in special ‘Decades Week’ group fitness classes throughout the year.

The celebration continues next week with ‘Disco Fitness’ of the 70’s! See below for details.

Morris Hospital YMCA and Village of Shorewood YMCA
Members are encouraged to wear their 70’s themed attire in any class between May 4-10.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Members are encouraged to wear their 70’s themed attire in the following classes:

WERQ
Tuesday, May 6
7 p.m.

Zumba
Thursday, May 7
5:30 p.m.

WERQ
Wednesday, May 7
7 p.m.

Additionally, the following classes will feature music from the era:

Pilates
Monday, May 4
8:30 a.m.

Cycle
Tuesday, May 5
9:15 a.m.

WERQ
Tuesday, May 6
7 p.m.

Cycle
Saturday, May 9
9:15 a.m.

Founded in 1926, the YMCA is one of the area’s leading nonprofit organizations, strengthening our community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To learn more about our Centennial Celebration, click here. 

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Stay in the Know: Improve Your Y Experience With the YMCA On the Go App

If you are new to the Y then there is no better way to get started on your journey than with the YMCA On the Go App!

YMCA On the Go provides Y members with access to the YMCA 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This interactive tool is loaded with free workouts, on-demand videos, and nutrition tips.

With just the click of a button, App users can also:

-Scan in when visiting the Y. Just open the Check In feature in the App, enter your member barcode number (which can be found on the back of your membership card/tag) and scan in at the membership desk each time you visit the Y.

-Register for their favorite YMCA programs. From the On the Go App, users can log in to the Y’s membership database and register for swim lessons, youth sports, or their favorite specialty fitness classes.

-Access updated group fitness, gymnasium, and lap pool schedules.

-Reserve a spot in their favorite group exercise classes. Reservations will open 24 hours prior to class time.

-Simplify fitness tracking by syncing the YMCA On the Go App to their Apple Health and Google Fit accounts.

-Improve their overall health by setting goals, meeting milestones, and tracking body metrics.

-Celebrate progress along their health and wellness journey by earning fitness points, badges, awards, and achievements.

-Experience stronger connections in the Y Community by taking part in discussion groups and fitness challenges.

All YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, receive Basic access to the On the Go App included with their YMCA membership. Facility Members must have an active email on file in their Daxko account to receive access to the App. Community Members may pay a monthly fee to access content, and all members can upgrade to a PRO account to access additional features.

YMCA ON THE GO APP USER GUIDE

DOWNLOAD FROM THE APP STORE TODAY

DOWNLOAD FROM GOOGLE PLAY TODAY

For more information, or to provide feedback on the App, please stop by the Membership Desk or speak to a member of the Y’s Wellness Team during your next visit.

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United Way