5 Ways to Stay Active and Healthy at the YMCA of Western North Carolina

When people start thinking about "in shape" or getting fit, they tend to think of a gym. It's understandable—gyms have been hubs for fitness since ancient Greece. But for many of us, a more active and healthy lifestyle takes more than a gym.

You may have questions about food, exercise, and commitment, that put the lifestyle you want out of reach. That's why at the YMCA of Western North Carolina, we're proud to be more than a gym. Through our numerous programs, we provide opportunities for everyone in our community to carve out the healthy lifestyle they've been searching for. From children to seniors and folks of all levels of fitness, there's a YMCA fitness program for all.

There are so many ways to stay active and healthy with an affordable gym membership at the YMCA of Western North Carolina that it's hard to narrow it down to just five. But we think personalized coaching, our YMCA group fitness classes, mind and body programs, dance classes, and the world-class facilities in our YMCA fitness center and online all crack the top five.

Complete Health Starts with An Active Lifestyle

As you begin your YMCA fitness journey, you might have questions about these programs and how they can help you. So first, let's explore why an active and healthy lifestyle is worth pursuing for both your body and mind.

Exercise has Physical Benefits

As we begin our fitness journeys, we imagine the muscles and other external changes we expect as we progress. But exercise has impacts on our health that go far beyond what mirrors and scales say. Exercise is an important tool in preventing and treating pervasive diseases like Type-2 Diabetes and Heart Disease.

Various styles of exercise, or physical activity, can help to prevent Type-2 Diabetes and make its effects more manageable. From aerobic exercise to balancing workouts to just avoiding long periods of being seated, all help. Perhaps most important, these benefits accrue even if there isn't weight loss.

The same is true for those at risk of heart disease, too. Consistent physical activity, like a group fitness class or just walking the dog, lowers the risk of heart disease. For those already at risk and showing some symptoms, exercise can help prevent heart disease from developing.

An Active Lifestyle Boosts Mental Health

The benefits of routine exercise aren't neck down. Engaging in consistent exercise has positive impacts on mood, cognition, and aging.

• Mental Health: Mental conditions like depression and anxiety are on the rise in communities like ours. But exercise can stimulate brain chemicals that help combat the neurological components of these mental health conditions.
• ADHD: For children and young adults, exercise has positive impacts on the symptoms of ADHD. Exercising can help boost their neuroplasticity, aiding their learning too.
• Aging: Our genetics and lifestyle may make us predisposed to cognitive decline as we age. But, promising research shows that we can prevent this decline through physical activity. We can promote healthy aging through group fitness classes that defeat loneliness, cognitive decline, and improve mobility.

1. Get Fit by Getting Personal

One of the biggest barriers to achieving a healthy lifestyle is a lack of access to information and education, especially among vulnerable communities. When we don't know what exercises are best for our fitness level or what our specific dietary needs are, it's easy to walk away feeling defeated and hopeless.

We're tackling that feeling head on at the YMCA of Western North Carolina through our coaching connection, health coaching, and affordable personal training.

• Coaching Connection: After you join the Y, you'll likely still have some questions. In a coaching connection session, you can have all your questions answered. We'll show you our YMCA fitness center, explain our equipment, help you navigate the Y mobile app, and talk through our YMCA group fitness schedule.
• Health Coaching: There's more to fitness than exercise, so we offer health coaching to drive behavioral health changes. If you want to learn how to reduce stress, manage a chronic condition, improve your nutrition, or improve your relationships with others, find answers through health coaching.
• Personal Training: Wherever you are on your fitness journey, you can benefit from the personal touch of one-on-one training. Our nationally certified professional trainers can develop exercise plans that meet you where you are and motivate you to keep going.

2. Commit to Fitness in a Group Class

Who said getting active and healthy meant flying solo every session? In YMCA group fitness classes, you can find the motivation, accountability, and community you've been missing in your normal workout routine. Our fun, professional group exercise instructors create approachable, friendly, and heart-pumping classes sure to bring your fitness goals within reach.

Explore our strength classes to build muscle while learning proper form and new training techniques. Or kick-start a new cardio routine with a cycling class, or have a dance party in Zumba or Hip Hop. Our instructors will guide you through intense levels while making sure you feel safe and have fun.

We also offer a full-body HIIT workout, short for High-Intensity Interval Training. 30 minutes to crush your workout and leave you feeling hungry and ready for the next challenge. If you're really looking to push your limits in a fun, social atmosphere, sign up for one of our obstacle course race prep programs. Gain the fitness and confidence to tackle anything that comes your way!

We offer classes for every age group and fitness level, and at convenient times for your schedule. Here are just some YMCA group fitness classes we offer:

Fluid Movement

Our Fluid Movement class is a great option for people with mobility or joint limitations looking to get active in the pool. Our coaches and instructors will work through some walking and range of motion exercises to improve flexibility, balance, and endurance.

Bootcamp (paid program)

If you're looking for a class that will help you build strength, confidence, and leave you feeling like an athlete. look no further. No drill instructors here, though, just a fun way for members of all fitness levels to ramp up their cardiovascular fitness.

Women on Weights (paid program)

In this 6-week strength training program designed specifically for women, you'll tone muscle, lose weight, and build strength. If you want an approachable, judgment-free space to exercise, this is it!

3. Engage Your Mind and Body

While just about every form of exercise engages the brain, there are some that build a deeper connection between our mind and body. At the YMCA of Western North Carolina, we offer numerous group fitness classes that get your body moving while clearing out your mind. Whether you want to wash away stress at the end of the day or get ready to face it in the morning, we have classes that fit right into your schedule.

Find Your Flow With Yoga

We offer yoga classes for all levels and are suited to any fitness goals. If you're looking for mindful movement we offer our Vinyasa Yoga class. Our instructors will guide you through conscious breathing while you become more flexible with each movement.

If you're looking to harness the benefits of yoga while breaking a sweat, check out our Power Yoga class. With a faster pace and intense flow, you'll move through plenty of familiar yoga poses in a calorie-burning class.

Yoga doesn't have to feel out of reach for you, especially if you have mobility or flexibility concerns. We offer Chair Yoga, Gentle Yoga, and Yoga for Osteoporosis (paid program) classes to match our members' needs. In chair yoga, you'll feel the relaxation, flexibility, and mindfulness of a traditional yoga class, from the safety of your chair.

Our Gentle Yoga Class, meanwhile, offers a great introduction to yoga fundamentals. It's perfect if you're new to yoga or looking to stay active while promoting muscle rest. Finally, our special Yoga for Osteoporosis class helps support bone health through motion and low-impact exercises.

Power Up With Pilates

If you love yoga and want to get into pilates, start with our Yogalates class! We integrate pilates exercises into slow-flow yoga to strengthen core muscles. We also achieve the muscle-lengthening focus of Pilates through particular yoga flow sequences.

If you want a traditional Pilates experience, check out our Pilates class. You'll learn proper breathing techniques to build core strength and become more flexible. Pilates is a great way to tone your muscles and build overall cardiovascular health.

Tai Chi

Meditate while you move with Tai Chi. If you've never tried it before, don't sweat it, we offer classes for beginners and advanced practitioners. In our basic class, you'll learn how to integrate the mind and body through breath to deepen your innate capacity for calmness.

Once you become comfortable with the basics, you can explore our specialized Tai Chi programs, like our Tai Chi for Arthritis and Balance and our Tai Chi for Energy classes. In Tai Chi for Arthritis and Balance, members, with or without arthritis, can build strength, flexibility, and balance through safe movements.

In our Tai Chi for Energy class, we combine Chen and Sun Tai Chi into one complementary energy boosting class. Members will experience Chen Tai Chi's complex style and use of fast and slow movements. At the same time, they'll explore Sun Tai Chi's powerful Qigong movements to promote healing. Join today if you want to improve your mood and energy through Tai Chi.

4. Dance Your Way to a Healthy Lifestyle

Prefer to get the mental benefits of exercise just as much as the physical? Then, get your blood pumping with a smile on your face with YMCA of Western North Carolina's dance fitness classes. As a YMCA member, you'll eagerly await your next dance workout while everyone else heads to their same old, stale gym. So why not help them out and bring a friend to your next dance class? Together, you'll explore new cultures, music, and movements while getting fit.

Have Fun with Zumba & Zumba Gold

One of the most loved dance workouts in the world is Zumba, and for good reason. In this Latin-inspired class, you'll listen to international and pop music creating an upbeat tempo. Our coaches and instructors will guide you through fun, cardio-focused dance moves sure to break a sweat.

If you want a low-impact but equally fun experience, try our Zumba Gold class. This a great option for active older adults or people who are just dipping their toes back into a fitness routine. Coaches and instructors help the class move at their own pace and rhythm while still getting the benefits of a Zumba course.

Experience a Show-Stopping Workout with 567BROADWAY!

Finally, a dance workout for the Broadway fan in all of us! Sweat, sing, and spin through some of Broadway's greatest hits. The six-week program offers adults the chance to be the star of the show. You and your friends will learn the choreography and steps to famous Broadway songs until you're ready to put on a show of your own.

Barre Classes

Rooted in ballet, Barre classes are a great entry-point to dance-inspired fitness no matter where you are on your fitness journey. With Barre or should we say B.A.R.R.E. you build Balance, Agility, Resistance, Recovery, and Eloquence all in one full body workout.

If you're really eager to up the energy, try our Booty Barre class that combines Barre's dance roots with Pilates and Yoga to provide ultimate toning and sculpting. Booty Barre is where cardio, flexibility, and strength come together in a fun dance routine.

5. Check In or Check Online

One of our favorite things about a YMCA membership is that the benefits keep growing. When you join the YMCA of Western North Carolina, you can check into our state-of-the-art fitness center, fun group exercise classes, and now, exclusive access to YMCA360. It's all included in Western North Carolina's most affordable gym memberships.

Seven Fitness Centers Across Western NC

As a member of the YMCA of Western North Carolina, you can check into any one of our seven YMCA fitness centers. Wherever your day takes you in Western NC, there's a YMCA fitness center nearby. In addition to world-class free weights, cardio, and weight machines, all locations offer drop-in daycare for members so they can work out without stressing about childcare.

Many of our locations offer basketball and pickleball courts so you can engage in some sports-based fitness in addition to your regular workout routine. Three locations offer saunas and two have steam rooms, so you can unwind and recover after a great workout.

Plus, our Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler offers Westridge CrossFit, another way for members to get active without getting bored. If you haven't tried CrossFit before, get started with members-only pricing on a PunchPass for 10 sessions.

Take Your Y With You Wherever You Go

We get it, some days you just can't make it to the Y. Some days, your time is limited or you're worried you might be coming down with something but want to get a workout in. Thanks to YMCA360, included in your membership, you can take workouts from wherever you are. Through the app you can access a library of YMCA classes and workouts to break a sweat from home or on-the-go.

How to Become a Fitness Instructor at the YMCA

If all this talk of getting active has you wanting to make a career out of it, consider becoming a group exercise instructor or personal trainer at the YMCA of Western North Carolina. All our personal trainers and group exercise instructors must be 18 years or older and certified for CPR, AED, O2, and First Aid.

As a Group Exercise Instructor, you'll deliver fun, safe, and effective group exercise classes for all program participants. For our Group Exercise Instructors, we're looking for applicants with an accredited Group Exercise Certification and a certification for a specific branded class or modality, like cycling or Les Mills.

If you prefer working with members and program participants one-on-one, become a personal trainer at the YMCA of Western North Carolina. Our Personal Trainers create individualized exercise plans and carry them out while motivating and educating your clients. Our personal trainers must have current certifications and commit to maintaining their certifications through the completion of continuing education requirements. If this sounds like you, explore the benefits of a career at the YMCA and apply today!

Get Active Today

Joining the YMCA of Western North Carolina offers you one of the best ways to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle. With personalized coaching to get you started and group exercise classes that keep you on your toes—literally—there's nothing keeping you from the benefits of exercise. Whether you choose to lift, dance, or stretch your way to fitness, we're here to support you along the way. Whatever your Y, there's the YMCA of Western North Carolina.