Alliance Family YMCA

The Alliance
Family
YMCA
strives to provide a
wide variety of services
for its members
of all ages.
"Serving our
members is what we
want to do " we want
to offer the things
that they want and
they need and have a
place where families
can come so they can
enjoy recreation as a
family," said Jennie
Slimon, associate
executive director of
the Alliance YMCA.
Several fitness
classes are offered to
members at the facility including group cycling, Pilates, Core Pole,
step aerobics, Rapid Results, kickboxing, ballroom dancing and
Silver Sneakers Fitness for senior citizens. Most fitness classes
incorporate stretching and strength and conditioning along with
aerobic activity.
Last fall, the YMCA introduced a new class, Zumba, which has
proved to be popular with members. Zumba, a Latin dance fusion,
is offered on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and
on Tuesday mornings. The class meets in the large gym, where
participants mirror instructors located at the front of the room.
"There's no right or wrong " you just feel the music and have
fun with it," Slimon said of Zumba. "It's kind of an infectious class."
The YMCA will be offering its second "City-Wide Health Challenge"
in February. Last year, 350 community members participated
in the six-week challenge, which encouraged participants to
lead an overall healthy lifestyle. Challenge participants kept daily
journals and logged physical activity, diet, water intake and goals
throughout the program.
"It's how to make yourself healthy," Slimon said of the challenge.
"Quality of life is not a number on the scale, it matters how
you enjoy your life."
Registration for the challenge will take place Jan. 28 through
Feb. 8 and the challenge will begin on Feb. 11.
"I think doing the challenge in the spring will give participants
a better chance to solidify it (good habits) into their plans," Slimon
said.
Included in the YMCA's facilities are a double gymnasium, a
six-lane 25-yard swimming pool, a whirlpool, a third-floor women'sonly
wellness center, racquetball courts, a gymnastics center,
Dance Dance Revolution machines, a Keiser training room and full
lines of Cybex, Life Fitness and Hammer strength weight equipment.
The YMCA offers aquatics programs ranging from parent/infant
water orientation classes to lifeguard training and swim team participation.
Progressive swimming lessons are offered for children
six and older. Swimnastics, water fitness and arthritis classes are
offered free to members.
Other programs include youth fitness for students in third
through sixth grades, teen strength training and weight room
orientations for individuals new to exercise. Sports programs such
as flag football, T-ball basketball, soccer and volleyball are also available.
Free babysitting is
offered for children six
and younger, and a
game room is available
for children seven
and older.
The Alliance YMCA
has more than 3,600
members. In January,
the YMCA will be
offering half off its
start-up fee to join.
Scholarships are also
available to individuals
and families based on
income.
The YMCA is located
at 205 S. Union
Ave. and is open from
5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
on weekdays; from 7
a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays except in
January, February and March. For a class schedule or a tour of the
facility, contact the YMCA at (330) 823-1930.