Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris

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Have Fun and Stay Healthy: Super Bowl Fitness Challenge

The biggest game of the NFL season is just days away, which means plenty of game-day foods and parties. And, if you’re trying to stay on track with your health and wellness goals, you may want to try adding some fitness fun into your Super Bowl plans on game day!

Here are some great exercises to tackle during your Super Bowl Sunday festivities:

Kick-Off: Rotational Push-ups

To start the first and second half of the big game, celebrate with some enhanced push-ups. For this exercise, be sure to alternate rotation on each side.

Interceptions: Runner Side Planks

If an interception occurs during the game, challenge yourself to some runner side planks. Complete ten running side planks on each side.

Touchdowns: Squats

Each time your team scores a touchdown, try performing a set of squats. If you’re looking to enhance this exercise, try adding a few squats for each touchdown.

Halftime: Supermans

Just before the halftime show, try to complete ten superman exercises.

For additional exercises or demonstrations of these workouts, check out the full article, courtesy of the American Council on Exercise.

And, if you’re looking to establish a healthier lifestyle in 2020, be sure to speak to a member of our Wellness team during your next visit.

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Staying Active For Life: Jose ‘Jaime’ Portales’ Story

When someone joins the Y, they are not just joining a gym. Members will find a supportive community full of friendly faces at the YMCA. At the Galowich Family YMCA, one of these friendly faces belongs to Jose ‘Jaime’ Portales. 

Portales’ relationship with the Y goes back 35 years and he has worked at multiple Joliet locations in a variety of departments and programs. He currently serves as a Wellness Attendant on weekday afternoons at the Y’s Houbolt Road location.  

At 70 years old, he continues to serve the community with energy and passion, promoting a lifetime of health and wellness. You can learn more about him in the Q&A below: 

Can you share a little about your background with the Y?

Portales: I started in 1985 when I got my certification to be a lifeguard at the old YMCA in downtown Joliet. Then I came over to Galowich as a lifeguard. I started by helping kids learn to swim and then I taught adults. I’ve probably taught close to 100 adults how to swim. 

Jaime’s first lifeguard certification card from 1985.

Why have you stayed connected to the Y for so long?

Portales:  It’s a big part of my life and it makes me happy. I enjoy what I do and I always want to teach something. It’s really important for people to think about being healthy and staying active. I have played a lot of sports and I have a run club that I really love doing. I also teach Teen Fit and Self-Defense classes. 

What are your favorite memories of being at the Y?

Portales: The best thing that has happened is how many good friends I have made. I love my co-workers and getting to know all the new members who come in. That’s what I enjoy most. 

Why do you think people should join the Y?

Portales: When I talk to my friends about why it is good to join the Y, I tell them about how much they learn about staying in good health. It also helps your spirit.

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Jaime is just one member of a dedicated staff team that is ready to help new members succeed as they move along their Y journey. Be sure to say hello to Jose the next time you visit the Galowich Y!

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New Year’s Resolutions: Help Yourself and Your Neighbors

It’s always exciting to change the calendar from December to January. A new year is filled with potential and the chance to start fresh. And after the busy holidays filled with celebrations and tables of delicious treats, it’s not surprising that, according to a 2019 survey, 65 percent of people resolved to exercise more with the New Year. 

But what if your New Year’s resolution could benefit more than just yourself? When you join a community-based organization like the Y, you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier; you’re supporting the values and programs that strengthen the communities where you live. 

With impactful programs for every member of your family, the Y is a place where you belong. YMCA Facility Members enjoy before and after school programs, swim lessons, free group exercise classes, priority registration on all programs, and so much more. The Y doesn’t just strengthen bodies—it strengthens people, families, and communities. 

As your friends and neighbors look to make themselves healthier in the New Year, we would like to remind them that when they join the Y, they’re not simply joining a gym—they’re joining a community. The YMCA brings together people from all different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, and ensures that we all have access to the opportunities, relationships, and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive.

To learn more about joining the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, please contact your local branch or visit www.jolietymca.org. And, starting January 1, new and alumni members will pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee–a savings of up to $120 when they sign-up for a YMCA membership during our January Membership Sale.

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Let the Fun Begin: Family-Friendly Outdoor Winter Activities

It may be cold outside, but don’t let the chilly weather keep you and your loved ones from enjoying family-friendly outdoor activities. With the proper outdoor attire, every member of your family can enjoy a variety of fun fitness activities during the winter months.

As you begin to make your family’s winter break plans, you may want bundle up and have some fun with these winter-themed activities:

Play in the Snow

Make the most out of a snow day and take the family outdoors for some fun in the snow. From building a snowman to an old-fashioned snowball fight, you and your loved ones can have a great time staying active.

Go Ice Skating

Throughout the winter season, you may notice several pop-up outdoor ice rinks.  Ice skating is a great winter exercise that is sure to burn quite a few calories. Consider gathering your friends and family and taking a trip to the rink.

Head to the Sledding Hill

After a good snowfall, head to your local sledding hill. Sledding is an exciting activity for the whole family and it’s a great aerobic activity.

For additional outdoor activities, check out the full article, courtesy of Everyday Health.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Legacy on Display at Joliet Area Historical Museum

The Y has a long and proud history of serving the city of Joliet and the surrounding communities. This holiday season, area residents can explore that legacy by visiting the YMCA exhibit at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, located in downtown Joliet. 

In preparing items to showcase, the Y rediscovered several pieces of memorabilia that connect to the earliest stages of its operations in Joliet, many of which are now on display. Highlights include a book containing the Joliet YMCA’s first charter as well as a light fixture from the original downtown location.

“We’re honored to have a bit of our history on display at the Joliet Area Historical Museum,” Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Katy Leclair said.

Heather Bigeck, Museum Curator of Collections, said the museum was happy to play a role in sharing the Y’s story as a part of its dedication to showcasing important community organizations. 

“The museum thought of this concept to work with various community groups to do what we call a community case display about a year ago,” Bigeck said. “One of our board members, Nick Macris, happens to be a board member at the YMCA. A while back, he had asked if we had any material history on the Y. We had a couple early photos, but that was about it.”

Nick Macris, who serves on the Y’s Board of Directors, said the opportunity was a great way to demonstrate the YMCA’s lasting presence in the Joliet area.

“The YMCA has been a part of Joliet’s culture for over 90 years and provides valuable services to the Joliet community. We want to ensure that the community continues to be aware that we have been a contributor to the city’s growth and development,” he said.

“It’s really nice to be able to work with organizations who have maintained their physical artifacts and be able to put them on display,” Bigeck said. “Some of the members found these wonderful materials in their collections.”

Visitors can also learn about the Y’s evolution through the years.

“There is a framed collage that presents each of the expansions of the Y over time,” Bigeck said. “The Y is important because it is a community partner not only with other institutions but with community members themselves. It has always been an organization focused on bringing families together and giving kids something to do outside of the school system.”

And, as LeClair notes, the bonds the Y has built with the community aren’t limited to the confines of a display case.

“Artifacts can help us remember, but the relationships formed through Y service, programs and membership will also live on in memories for generations,” Leclair said.   

The Y’s exhibit at the Joliet Area Historical Museum will be on display through the end of December. To learn more about the museum, click here.

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Life Lessons We Can Learn from Christmas Classics

The holiday season is well underway, which means Christmas commercials and movies are plentiful. Each year, we become more and more familiar with our favorite Christmas classics, which might include Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone, just to name a few. But, have you ever stopped to think about the life lessons that our favorite holiday flicks teach us?

With the holiday season underway, we invite you to pop some popcorn, curl up with your favorite blanket, and take some great advice from some our favorite holiday movie characters:

Elf: Smiling is Contagious

The holidays are an exciting time of year, but they can also be stressful.  And, sometimes a simple smile can bring such joy to yourself and others. To help spread holiday cheer, try giving a smile or two as you make your way around town or to family gatherings this season.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Everyone is Capable of Showing Love and Kindness

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to help others in need.  While the holidays can be a joyous time for many people, they can be tough for others. Giving back to your community during this time of year can be especially rewarding and make a difference in someone else’s life.

At the Y, you’ll find many ways to give back through volunteering or making a gift to the Y’s financial assistance program, which helps to ensure that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay.

The Santa Clause: Sometimes Your Life Can Change Completely in a Single Moment. Sometimes that Change Can be the Most Magical

Making changes in your life allows you to open doors to new opportunities. Whether it’s focusing on your health and well-being, engaging in a social group or trying a new sport, the Y encourages and helps support members to achieve their greatest potential.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Never Be Ashamed of What Makes You Different. Your Differences Are What Make You Special

Sometimes it can be difficult to embrace your differences, but your ideas, actions and perspectives are essential to those around you. At the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, we are dedicated to fostering a culture that promotes the goals of accepting, respecting and valuing differences amongst all members, staff, volunteers and guests. And, we strive to create a welcoming environment that’s inclusive and open to all.

For more heartwarming Christmas movies, check out the full article, courtesy of Odyssey.

To learn more about our programs or to make a year-end gift to the Y’s Annual Campaign, please visit our website or stop by the Membership Desk during your next visit.

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