Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Morris Hospital YMCA Offering NEW START Health and Wellness Classes this Winter

Are you ready to jumpstart your health and wellness mindset? The Morris Hospital YMCA’s NEW START class is for you! This class will guide you through evidence-based principles of optimal well-being, helping you build a sustainable foundation for a healthier and happier you.

Led by Morris Hospital YMCA group fitness instructor Maureen Keegan, NEW START features 2 health and wellness sessions lasting 60 minutes each. Sessions will combine interactive lectures, Q&A activities, and goal-setting exercises to dive into eight foundational pillars of health:

Nutrition: Learn the power of whole foods, plant-based eating, and how to fuel your body for maximum vitality and disease prevention.

Exercise: Discover the benefits of effective, enjoyable ways to move your body, enhance mood, boost metabolism, and improve cardiovascular health, regardless of your current fitness level.

Water: Understand the essential role of hydration, how much you truly need, and the best ways to incorporate water throughout your day.

Sunlight: Explore the benefits of sun exposure for Vitamin D, mood regulation, and circadian rhythm balance.

Temperance (Balance): Uncover the art of moderation in all things, from diet to work habits, and learn to find true balance in a busy world.

Air: Learn why deep breathing and spending time in nature’s clean air are vital for detoxification and mental clarity.

Rest: Master the science of restorative sleep and relaxation, discovering techniques to improve sleep quality and manage stress effectively.

Trust (Faith/Spirituality): Explore the profound connection between your spirituality (a trust in a larger purpose or power) and your physical health, cultivating hope and emotional resilience.

Participants can register for one of two sections:

January 9 and January 16
9-10 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY

February 2 and February 9
5:30-6:30 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY
Cost: $15 for Facility Members, $30 for Community Members
About the Instructor: Maureen Keegan has nearly 20 years of experience working in health and wellness and has been teaching group and specialty fitness classes at the Morris Hospital YMCA for the past year. Her enthusiasm is boundless and her favorite thing about working at the Y is helping members learn about a wide range of health topics.
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Registration Underway for YMCA Winter Homeschool Swim Lessons

The Y is excited to offer youth swim lessons for homeschool families this winter! These programs are open to kids, ages 4-14, and will feature 30 minutes of lessons and 30 minutes of open swim. PLEASE NOTE: Participants will be swim tested at the first lesson.

Winter 1 Lessons: 4-week session running January 5-February 1
Cost: $47 for Facility Members, $94 for Community Members

Winter 2 Lessons: 5-week session running February 2-March 8
Cost: $58 for Facility Members, $116 for Community Members

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY

Galowich Family YMCA
Thursdays, 11 a.m.-Noon
REGISTER TODAY

Morris Hospital YMCA
Mondays, 11 a.m.-Noon
REGISTER TODAY

To learn more, please contact the aquatics director at your local Y branch:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Jack Glimco
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 228

Galowich Family YMCA
Catie Wallis
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 320

Morris Hospital YMCA
Coni Schram
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 520

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Registration Underway for 2025 YMCA Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge

Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge Starting November 17

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 17 and November 23)
Week 8 (some time between January 5 and January 9)

There will also be optional weigh-in:
Week 4 (some time between December 12 and December 14)

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 Hospital YMCA

Cost: $30

PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes on November 16.

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Healthy Lifestyles Start Here: Melissa Jorstad’s Y Story

At the Y, we know that taking the first step on your health and wellness journey is often the most difficult. That’s why, at the Y, we strive each day to create a welcoming environment and provide our members with the support they need to achieve their goals.

Since joining the Morris Hospital YMCA last year, member Melissa Jorstad has found that being part of the Y community has boosted her confidence in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“I hadn’t really worked out since 2019 and I think one of the barriers that held me back for a long time was thinking I’m out of shape and I’m not athletic enough to work out or do fitness classes. As it turns out, a lot of people have that kind of background and we’re all growing together. That sense of community has meant a lot to me,” Melissa said. 

Melissa credited a combination of group exercise classes and personal training sessions for keeping her focused on her health and wellness goals. 

“I do not do self-directed exercise very well. I need groups, I need people, I need structure. You can jump on a treadmill anywhere, but you can’t get the same instructor help you get in a yoga class, or with a personal trainer, like you do at the Y. And I work from home, so the group classes have been a really nice way to connect to other people,” she said. 

Melissa now visits the Y up to six times per week, something she also said wouldn’t be possible without the support of the onsite childcare offered to members while they work out.

“I have a three-year old and a one-year old and all the staff members in Kids Corner know my kids at this point. There are so many things for my kids to do and the playground is so much fun for them. They love being able to play outside when the weather is nice,” Melissa said.

Looking ahead, Melissa said she is excited to kickstart fall by participating in this weekend’s Corn Fest 5K.

“I’ve never been a runner, that was never me, but I did the Couch to 5K class so now I’m signed up. That would have never happened if I wasn’t coming to the Y,” she said.

We are so proud to have Melissa in our Y community and we wish her, and all Y members participating in the 5K, the best. We know everyone will do great!

If you are interested in working with a YMCA personal trainer, now is the perfect time to start! The Y’s September Personal Training Sale runs through the end of the month and you can learn more by clicking here. 

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YMCA Members Invited to Participate in Fight to Be Fit Health and Wellness Challenge

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Y wants to help by encouraging our community to participate in a special Fight to Be Fit Health and Wellness Challenge!

Here’s how it works:

  • Participants will use a special punch card to track their participation in group fitness classes throughout the month of October. (Punch cards can be picked up by visiting the Membership Desk).
  • Upon attending their tenth class, participants will turn in their punch card and receive a special pink bandana.

PLEASE NOTE: Free and open to YMCA Facility Members only.

Let’s show our support and get stronger together!

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Feel Healthier, Be Stronger: Kathleen Bernard’s Y Story

At the Y, we know that having a strong support system can make a big difference when you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For C.W. Avery Family YMCA member Kathleen Bernard, personal training sessions have proven to be a crucial way to kickstart her health and wellness journey. 

“Having a personal trainer is amazing because you are not by yourself and you are being guided through the whole process,” Kathleen said. “I’ve been working with Suzanne (Ventrice) since July. She’s supportive and not judgemental. And I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

Kathleen said the YMCA’s resources and friendly and welcoming atmosphere have helped to change her outlook on exercise.

“It’s opened up a whole new world. Even though I’ve exercised in the past, I’ve never had this kind of experience where I’m walking in and I’m not afraid and I don’t feel judged,” she said. “Suzanne has shown me stuff that I was afraid to try and would never do by myself. Like weightlifting, who knew I was so strong?”

In addition to improved physical fitness, Kathleen said exercising has had a positive impact on her mental health. 

“My self esteem has improved and I feel so much better. I was feeling bad about myself, but I’ve been able to do things that I wasn’t able to do before. I’m 49 years old and I’m working out like when I was young,” she said.

Kathleen is now looking forward to expanding her Y experience to group fitness classes and exploring all the amenities the Y has to offer. 

“It’s so easy.  You don’t have to jump through any hoops. There are so many activities at your fingertips. You walk in, check in, and you can go right into the gym or the pool. I’ve also got my husband signed up for a membership and ready to go,” she said. 

And when it comes to advice for potential Y members, Kathleen believes taking the first step is the most important one. 

“Just make the call or stop in. Everyone here is so kind,” she said.  

We thank Kathleen for being a part of our Y community and wish her the best as she continues on her health and wellness journey.

If you are interested in working with a YMCA personal trainer, now is the perfect time to start! The Y’s September Personal Training Sale is underway and you can learn more by clicking here. 

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