All those classes: What I have learned thus far....

Wow, there are a lot of activities going on at the YMCA! Even after visiting many different activities each week I am nowhere near close to sampling all that the Y has to offer. I am looking forward to seeing how the senior program, the Silver Sneakers works, fingerpainting with the little kids and playing Wallyball with the girls league. I will need to get a special dispensation for that one! Still, I have done a pretty good sampling of activities and have learned a lot in the past month and a half.

First; the YMCA is truly a gathering place for all ages. This became more apparent to me as I began to sample afternoon classes and did some of the activities with young adults getting off work. By the way, I learned that being in-shape for an "old dog," is more than a little different  than for an athlete years younger. From the nursery to carefully designed activities for seniors in the Silver Sneakers program, there is is something for everyone. The YMCA serves everyone from excellent triathletes to those who are working on regaining some mobility after an injury or illness.

Second; although you can't turn back the clock it is absolutely amazing what many senior athletes are doing at the YMCA and there are some wonderful success stories of people who not only have regained a level of fitness they thought they had lost forever, they have been able to expand upon this. 

Third: variety is not only the spice of life, it can improve your level of fitness. I sometimes wince when someone tells me how their new treadmill or whatever is going to return them to a level of fitness. Sometimes people have the self-discipline to stay with only one activity but most people crave variety. This is why you so often see exercise equipment on yard sales.

Fourth: not only do a variety of activities, such as is provided at the YMCA, keep a person interested, it helps one develop in a surprising way physically. You see our bodies tend to adjust to any single exercise which is why we plateau so often. By mixing activities and challenging our bodies with new and novel activities, we can become even stronger and more flexible.

Fifth: fitness magazines and websites are not the same as professional instruction. I could tell what was wrong with my friend's golf swing, but typically couldn't hit the ball straight to save my life. It is very hard to coach yourself. The instructors at the YMCA have been phenomenal. Whether it has been in the weight room, the pool, yoga or Zumba or any number of the other activities I have participated in, the instructors have provided me with tips on technique and a healthy lifestyle that are truly paying dividends.

Finally, and probably most important, the YMCA is awesome fun. Both the instructors and the participants are some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet and there is not the sense of competition that may make people uncomfortable. Both the instructors and the participants seem truly invested in helping each person  at the Y develop or maintain their skills to their full potential and better yet, have fun doing it.

Next: Getting a kick out of Kickboxing.....