Membership at the Y!

By Emily Tittle

There’s so many different types and ways you can exercise. There are gyms dedicated solely to cycling, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing and more. You can join a running club or tennis league. Some places are open 24 hours, some offer a large variety of activities or classes or the latest and greatest fitness technology.

But in my opinion, the YMCA is the best place to be. Why? Because it is so much more than a gym.

All of the Greater Dayton YMCA locations have wellness centers, filled with all kinds of cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines. They offer a variety of (free!) group exercise classes. Personal training is available. There are tracks, basketball gyms and swimming pools. Any location is a great place to go work out.

But they all offer so much more.

I love the sense of community at the YMCA. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The staff truly cares about the members. You can sign up to learn how to use the equipment directly, and a trained employee will guide you on how to use it.

There’s also access to YMCA360, which has virtual workouts, nutrition information, kids classes and more. In addition, ActivTrax is a free fitness program that is great for everyone, even beginners!

The YMCA is great for the whole family. Several locations have game rooms, or you can play basketball during open gym time. My family enjoys swimming during open swim. We’ve participated in fun events around Halloween, and even took a picture with the Easter bunny at the YMCA! Everything is free or low-cost. You can also take part in family fun nights.

The YMCA offers a variety of programs for kids, families and adults. They have swim lessons and numerous opportunities to play sports. As a member, you get to sign up first and get discount rates.

You can work out while your kids are in Child Watch for free. Or, sign your kids up for a great week at day camp or overnight camp during the summer!

One last perk? Unlimited access to all 12 locations in the Dayton area. Plus, you can visit locations across the country as part of the AWAY program!

So if you aren’t a member yet… why not?