Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Helping You Live Better: Practice ‘Safety First’ this Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is filled with family, fireworks and good food.  But, it’s also a holiday when safety is a priority, especially when it comes to fireworks.

Our partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, along with Dr. Charlotte Albinson, the Hospital’s medical director of immediate care and occupational medicine, offer this excellent advice to help keep your family safe during your patriotic festivities.

One of the best solutions to keeping your family safe is to simply join friends and family to watch your town’s firework display. Professional fireworks are spectacular and they help to keep your family out of harm’s way, unlike setting off your own firework show at home.

Sparklers, which many people consider to be the most ‘innocent’ of fireworks, are more dangerous than you think.  According to Dr. Albinson, sparklers can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. At those high temperatures, sparklers can burn the skin and articles of clothing can catch on fire.  Even in the safest hands, fireworks can be hazardous and unpredictable.  Hands and fingers are the areas of the body that are most commonly injured by fireworks, followed by the head, face, legs and eyes.

If you and your family decide to celebrate the holiday at home, be sure to never light fireworks in your hand.  And, only use them away from other people, houses and flammable material.

Dr. Albinson recommends sitting back and enjoying a public firework show put on by qualified pyro-technicians.

“Instead of lighting fireworks at your home,” she said. “leave it to the professionals.”

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National Water Safety Month: Tips for Keeping Your Family Safe In and Around Water

National Water Safety Month

May is National Water Safety Month, which aims to raise awareness about the well-being of individuals around bodies of water.  Swimming is not only a great physical activity, but it’s also a popular pastime enjoyed by families throughout the summer.  And, with drowning being the leading cause of death among children, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA encourages you and your family to practice water safety year-round.

If you’re looking to help keep your family safe around the water, you may want to consider these helpful tips before or during your next trip to the pool:

Sign-Up for Swim Lessons

Enrolling your child in swim lessons at a young age is extremely beneficial.  Children, ages 1-4, have a decreased risk of drowning when they’ve participated in swim lessons.  And, as an adult, it’s always great to take a refresher course or ‘dive’ into swim lessons yourself.

Did you know the Galowich Family YMCA offers a learn-to-swim program for adults? 

The Y’s ‘No Fear Fridays’ swim program is underway!  Throughout the month of May, adults, ages 18 and up, are invited to learn basic swim skills and improve their health and well-being during this new class on Fridays from 9:15-10 a.m. at the Galowich Family Y, located at 749 Houbolt Road in Joliet.

Swim with a Friend

It’s important at any age to have a friend or family member accompany you while swimming.  The risk of drowning can happen at any time, so having a friend or family member close by is important in case of an emergency.

Get Certified or Re-Certified in CPR

Understanding CPR is an excellent life skill to have, and is especially important when you’re around water.  Being able to perform CPR during a medical emergency can help to save a life.  The YMCA offers CPR classes at its Joliet and Plainfield locations.

To learn more about CPR classes at the Y, visit the Y’s website.

Have a Phone Available for Emergencies

Whether you’re heading to the beach or the pool, be sure to have the ability to contact 911 if an emergency should arise.

 

To learn more about water safety, check out this great article, courtesy of the American Red Cross.

As a reminder, summer swim lessons will get underway on Monday, June 3.  Families are invited to take advantage of the Y’s Early Bird offer and save $5 on Summer 1 swim lessons through Tuesday, May 28. To learn more about swim lessons at the Y, please visit the Y’s website or contact your local YMCA’s Aquatics Director.

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Discovering Peace of Mind with the Help of the Y’s Meditation and Yoga Programs

Meditation and Yoga Programs

Every now and then, we all need a moment to ourselves.  Whether it’s a breath of fresh air or taking time to gather our thoughts, we all need to hit the reset button occasionally.  A great way to achieve mental balance and wellness is through meditation.  Often times, the practice of mediation is paired with physical fitness elements such as yoga and Pilates.  Some benefits of meditation include improved blood circulation, less anxiety and lower blood pressure, among many others.

The YMCA offers many free group exercise classes, including yoga, Pilates, and several mind and body healing classes, which are available to our members year-round.  YMCA Facility Members also enjoy access to four wellness centers and fitness studios, all fully programmed with fitness programs for the entire family.

If you’re looking to refresh your current exercise routine or looking to simply clear your mind from the hustle and bustle of your day, you may want to check out these relaxing fitness classes at the Y:

Mind and Body Healing

C.W. Avery Family YMCA-Plainfield

The C.W. Avery Family YMCA, located in downtown Plainfield, offers many free group fitness classes, which can help to calm the mind.  Of these many free classes, Mind and Body Healing is great for those looking to add meditation to their workout routines.  Mind and Body Healing combines the practices of yoga and meditation.  This class is free for YMCA Facility Members and is held on Tuesday mornings from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Kids Yoga *NEW!*

C.W. Avery Family YMCA-Plainfield

The C.W. Avery Family YMCA is now offering a free Kids Yoga class. Children, ages 8-12, can unwind during this new kids-only group fitness program.  Kids Yoga is offered on Fridays from 5-5:30 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga

Galowich Family YMCA-Joliet

If you’re looking for a physically-active yoga class, give our Vinyasa Yoga class a try at the Galowich Family YMCA, located at 749 Houbolt Road.  Vinyasa Yoga focuses on the coordination of breath and movement.  This class is free for YMCA Facility Members and is offered on Mondays from 6:05-6:50 p.m.

Hatha Yoga

Morris Community YMCA

Center your mind and body during Hatha Yoga class at the Morris Community YMCA, located in downtown Morris.  Hatha Yoga includes challenging postures, breathing exercises and meditation. This class will help to improve your strength, flexibility, mental clarity and overall well-being.  YMCA Facility Members are invited to attend this free class on Saturday mornings from 7-7:50 a.m.

Yoga

Smith Family YMCA-Joliet

Join us for a traditional yoga class at the Smith Family YMCA, located at 1350 S. Briggs Street.  This yoga class uses movement and breath together while focusing on stretching and relaxation.  This class is free for YMCA Facility Members and is offered on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-11 a.m.

To learn more about these stress-free fitness classes or other fitness opportunities, be sure to speak with your local Y’s Health and Wellness Director or check out our group fitness schedule online.   You can also subscribe to your branch’s online schedule to access, view and set reminders for your favorite free group fitness classes.  To subscribe, visit your branch’s schedule page and hit the subscribe button at the top.

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Helping You Live Better: The Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency

With the bitter-cold weather upon us, you may be feeling the need for some sunshine and your body may be feeling that same need. Many people run low on vitamin D during the dark, colder months of the year, as we stay indoors exposed to fewer of those vitamin D-producing rays from the sun.  And, if you’re active outdoors during the winter months, you’re usually bundled up, effectively blocking what little sun you’re exposed to.

Our partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers along with Dr. Paulo Aranas, a family medicine physician at the Morris Hospital Ottawa Campus, provide insightful details on this essential vitamin.

“A lot of people know that vitamin D plays a big role in working with calcium to give you strong, healthy bones,” Dr. Aranas said.  “However, studies coming out also suggest that vitamin D provides benefits to your immune system and cardiovascular system, as well.”

Dr. Aranas said anecdotal studies suggest vitamin D might also increase cognition in older adults.

Additionally, vitamin D also plays a big role in your mental health, with 20 percent of Americans suffering from fatigue and depression each winter as a result of low vitamin D levels.  So, how much vitamin D do you need?  Between ages one through 70, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 600 International Units (IU).  Those over the age of 70 should get at least 800 IU of vitamin D each day.

Another source of vitamin D is through foods, which include fatty fishes such as swordfish and salmon.  Swordfish has approximately 566 IU and salmon has approximately 477 IU in three ounces.  As an alternative, Cod liver oil is an especially rich source, containing 1,360 IU per tablespoon.

While there are many contributing factors to low vitamin D, you may be at a higher risk if you have dark skin, are obese, spend excess time indoors, take certain medications, had gastric bypass surgery, have kidney or liver disease or a condition that limits absorption by the intestines.

If you’re looking to take supplements to help with vitamin D deficiency, be sure to not overdo it.  Too much of this fat-soluble vitamin can cause nausea, vomiting, itching, weakness, confusion and many other side effects.

According to Dr. Aranas, signs of vitamin D deficiency include persistent joint pain, muscle aches and fatigue.  A simple blood test at your doctor’s office can test your vitamin D level.

If you’d like to get your vitamin D level tested, a blood test is available through Morris Hospital’s Wellness Wednesday screenings for $50.  Easy to understand test results will be provided within one week.  For more information or to schedule a blood test, visit www.morrishospital.org  or call (815) 416-6089.

To learn more about vitamin D deficiency, read this informative article, courtesy of Healthline.com.

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