Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Take the ‘Operation Transformation’ Health & Wellness Challenge


February 10-April 5

Transform your life in 2020 by participating in the YMCA’s Operation Transformation Health and Wellness Challenge. This 8-week program will provide you with the inspiration you need to get in shape and embrace a healthy and active lifestyle. Plus, it’s a great way to change up your fitness routine while trying new classes and meeting new people!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

  • Beginning February 10, you can earn points (up to 5 each week) for every fitness class you attend.
  • Additional points may be earned by completing weekly bonus activities.
  • Members who turn their completed cards into the Membership Desk each week will have the opportunity to win weekly prizes.
  • At the end of the 8-week challenge, the member with the most points will win his/her choice of three free 30-minute personal training sessions OR one free 5-week specialty fitness class.
  • FREE TO ALL YMCA FACILITY MEMBERS (AGES 16 & Up)

You will receive your tracking card during Week 1 of the challenge. After each fitness class, be sure to ask your instructor to punch or initial your Punch Card.

To sign up, stop by the Membership Desk of your local Y branch or register online below:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

Skills for Life: Smith Family YMCA Executive Director Donnie Chestnutt Learns to Swim

As Executive Director of the Smith Family YMCA, Donnie Chestnutt is proud of the results of Y programs like Safety Around Water (formerly known as SOAR). She says seeing kids from Fairmont School District learn to swim at the Y is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.  

But when it came to her own swimming abilities, she thought finding the time to learn the important life skill might be out of reach. That was until this fall, when the topic of her hesitancy around water got to close friend and volunteer swim lesson instructor Larry Johson. 

“Somebody spilled the beans to him and one day he said ‘What’s this I’m hearing? You can’t swim?’. I said ‘Uh, no. I can walk, and sometimes I can run.’ He goes ‘you get in here and I’ll teach you to swim. I’m not taking no for an answer.’ All of the sudden the staff was cheering me on,” Chestnutt said. 

Johnson, a volunteer in Y’s Safety Around Water program, said he learned to swim at a YMCA and helping teach lessons, whether to children or adults, is a fulfilling way to give back. 

“In college, I wanted to work for a YMCA but ended up teaching. I retired a little over a year ago and I knew that I wanted to volunteer, and specifically volunteer for the Y,” he said. “I think that even helping one person means I could be saving someone from drowning. It’s extremely rewarding to see them succeed.”

Together, they put a plan into place to help Donnie face the challenge of learning to swim. Donnie said she was able to overcome her reservations about the process by thinking back to the students in the Safety Around Water program. 

“When I look at the Safety Around Water program, the kids come in on Monday and you see a vast difference in them on Friday. It makes you think ‘maybe I can learn.’ It’s scary, but at the same time it’s inspiring,” she said.

She described being acutely aware of ebbs and flows of improvement every day in the water.  

“You know when you’re doing well and when it is not a good day you can feel it too. One day I was trying to steal breaths and I wasn’t getting enough air. When I would bring my head up I tended to stop kicking and Larry always tells me to keep kicking,” Chestnutt said. 

Over the course of a few weeks Johnson said he noticed a significant change in her abilities. 

“Donnie really has worked hard. I was very impressed. Of all the adults I’ve worked with she was probably the most committed,” he said. “She went from being at least nervous, if not afraid, to being fairly confident around water. She’s willing not only to jump in the deep end, but swim the length of the pool.” 

And for Chestnutt, the message is to spread further awareness that it is never too late to learn.

“I just get giddy thinking of it. I know I’m not alone. There are a lot of people like me out there. Hopefully this will encourage others,” she said.

If you would like to learn more about taking swim lessons at the Y, you can find more information here.  And for more details on our Safety Around Water Program, including how you can help support the program through a charitable gift, click here.

Staying Active for Life: Stretch and Tone Fitness Class Benefits Seniors

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is focused on serving the community and supporting a lifetime of healthy living. We also take pride in the partnerships we have built over the years to help achieve those goals. One of our newest partnerships, recently formed with Senior Services of Will County, has helped to introduce new fitness opportunities for area seniors.

Last year, Senior Services of Will County Executive Director Barry Kolanowski met with Y officials to discuss ways the two organizations might be able to work together to provide assistance and programming for seniors. From these conversations, it was determined one of the areas where combining resources would be most useful was through a Stretch and Tone Fitness Class.  

The class, which serves individuals 55 and older and emphasizes cardiovascular activity, flexibility and muscle toning, has now been taught by YMCA instructors at the Senior Services building since June.

“Having a class that is run by somebody who is a professional in that area gives seniors more encouragement to attend, and when they attend the class we reduce social isolation that can also occur for seniors,” Kolanowski said.  

Alissa Koenig, Health and Wellness Director for the Galowich and Smith Family YMCAs, has relished her time working as one of the class instructors.  

“It’s about giving seniors more opportunities. When they take this class they also find out what else the Y has to offer,” Koenig said. “When I speak to them many don’t know that we don’t turn anyone away due to the inability to pay.”

Koenig says she tries to take class participants on an adventure with movements coordinated to mimic real life scenarios. 

“One day we went to ‘the beach’. We went through parking the car, walking through the sand with high knees, and playing with imaginary beach balls. And these were all movements participants could add weights to,” Koenig said. “I’ve taught classes where we’ve ‘brought home the groceries’. We squatted, lifted them up, and simulated putting them away. It’s all about function.”

For someone like Elouise McNair, who has been attending classes since July, these exercises and continued positive reinforcement has led to great results.

“A girlfriend of mine talked me into coming. I’m a retiree and this gets me out of the house. I’ve lost a ton of weight, over 20 pounds,” McNair said. 

And her improvements have gone beyond muscles alone.

“I just like the exercise. I’m an aesmatic and I’ve been able to improve my breathing,” McNair said.

Koenig said she has noticed the wide range of positive steps participants are experiencing. 

“We’re definitely trying to maintain their quality of life. We’re seeing flexibility come back, we’re seeing balance come back. Many individuals have seen their blood pressure go down. And their spirits have improved,” she said. 

Kolanowksi said the partnership between Senior Services and the YMCA is in a position to grow. 

“We’re helping the Y identify the needs of the current aging population and in this case it is our first formal use of the Y in a class setting. We’re extraordinarily thankful for the results,” he said. 

The Stretch and Tone Fitness class runs at the Senior Services of Will County building on Tuesdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and is free to Y Facility Members.

Have Fun and Stay Healthy: Ho-Ho Hold Your Weight Challenge


Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge Starting November 18

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 (November 18-January 8), 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 Annual Campaign.

There will be two mandatory weigh-ins:
Week 1 (some time between November 18 and November 24)
Week 8 (some time between January 2 and January 8)

There will also be optional weigh-in:
Week 4 (some time between December 15 and December 21)

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

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

Cost: $25

Building a Healthy Future: Morris Prenatal Fitness Class Benefits Mothers

The Y is always grateful to play a role in the important lifetime moments of those who walk through our doors. This is especially the case when it comes to the Morris Community YMCA’s Prenatal Exercise class, which is designed to help soon-to-be-mothers maintain a healthy fitness level during pregnancy.

“The primary goal for any expectant mom is to maintain her fitness level if she had an established workout routine before her pregnancy,” instructor Leigh Anne Hall said. “For the non-exerciser, it is to have her establish a fitness routine so that she will hopefully have an easier delivery and recovery period.” 

For Morris resident Kim Haiduke, the class was a new experience that helped her prior to having her fourth child.

Morris resident Kim Haiduke gave birth to her fourth child, Lillian, this past summer. Haiduke said attending the Morris Community YMCA’s Prenatal Fitness Class ultimately helped her post-delivery recovery.

“I had never done any of the classes at the YMCA but I saw a flyer at my doctor’s office for the prenatal class and could not wait to try it out,” Kim said.  

Kim said she rarely missed a class and was extremely pleased with the guidance she received from Leigh Anne.

“Leigh Anne motivated me to push myself and to want to be fit throughout my pregnancy,” Kim said. “She was the reason I continued to attend class week after week. She went above and beyond to challenge me, support me, and get to know me on a personal level. I felt like I was working out with a friend, which made the time fly by!”

Leigh Anne said that she always reminds class members to stay hydrated during the process and that they must listen to their bodies as tasks become more difficult in the later stages of pregnancy. 

“We have tried to remove all of the barriers and provide a place where women can be with others who are experiencing the same changes. They are pregnant, not sick, but as they get into the third trimester they cannot always do the same things they did when they were only one month along,” Leigh Anne said.

Kim gave birth to her daughter, Lillian, this past summer and said the class helped make the recovery process go quicker. Though her time in the class came to an end, she is already looking forward to the next stage of her relationship with the Y.  

“I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough for the daycare so I can try some new classes,” Kim said. 

The Morris Prenatal Exercise class is offered on Mondays and Wednesday from 5:30-6:20 p.m. and on Fridays from 9-9:50 a.m.

“When moms come in they always leave feeling great and glad they made the effort. We hope the word will get out and more will join us along this wonderful journey,” Leigh Anne said.

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]

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