Reciprocity

By Susan Hickey

It’s that time of year again – time to celebrate with family and friends near and far. For many of us, that will mean traveling to different cities or even states to visit and enjoy making memories together. It probably also means indulging on favorite holiday treats and skipping your regular workouts, right? Well…maybe not so fast. 

As YMCA members, we have a special membership perk that some of us don’t utilize. The Dayton YMCA has a nationwide reciprocity agreement that enables members to visit different YMCA branches free of charge. I personally have taken advantage of this benefit multiple times over the years, which is a great way to stay healthy over the holidays and frankly, any other time. For example, the East Butler YMCA has a branch in Middletown that is close to work, so I stop by there sometimes to get a few miles in on the treadmill before I get home.

Different YMCA branches have different procedures, so familiarize yourself with the local branch before you go. Some branches require photo IDs and paperwork – some branches just need to access a different screen in their computer system before you scan your badge for entrance.  Regardless, the process is generally pretty simple and once you’re in, you have access to their fitness center, pool, gym or other workout areas. It’s a great way to get a little break from the holiday stress, escape your in-laws, or just burn off that extra piece of pie.

There are some requirements to be aware of – for instance, you must visit your “home” YMCA branch (in my case, Coffman) at least 50% of the time in a month to be eligible to utilize reciprocal benefits. You must be a full member (not program-only) to use reciprocity. Some branches reserve the right to limit access to some programs to reciprocal members.  For instance, the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon is open to Dayton YMCA members under the reciprocity program, but their outdoor pool hours are limited for reciprocal members.  This information is located on individual YMCA websites.  You can also find other information about reciprocity here.  For specific questions, be sure to call ahead to the branch you plan to visit for the answers you need.

I personally feel that the reciprocity program is one of the best benefits of our membership.  Knowing that we have access to high quality fitness centers for my family when we are on the road is important to us.  We look forward to keeping up with our fitness routines when traveling. So make sure this holiday season that you save some extra space in your suitcase for your running shoes and some workout attire!  Your body will thank you for it in January.