May / 2005

"Our parents joined the YMCA a long time ago, so we started coming on weekends to play basketball and take karate lessons. On Halloween we got to do the kids events like rock climbing and playing with buckets of fake brains. It was cool!"
- Jon Powers and Jasim El-Ali, 11 years old

A good friend of mine told me about the YMCA's Mom & Babies exercise group last October. It has been a great opportunity for my 8-month-old son and myself.

This class makes exercising realistic for a new mom. The class is both physically and emotionally rewarding. Where else can you go to strengthen your abs and get ideas on how to get your infant child to sleep? I actually look forward to exercising with this group!

The instructor, Jennifer, is wonderful. She checks in with the class and adapts the format to suit the needs of the moms and babies. Her energy and enthusiasm are amazing.

I am so glad I found this class! Thanks Jennifer and the YMCA!"
- Barbara Rowland & Conor

"We love the YMCA, because our mom drops us off at Child Watch a couple hours a night on the weekends and we play video games, ride bikes and play tag outside. We see friends every time we’re here.

In the summertime we’re gonna play basketball again - we already got a trophy though. The pool is good when it’s hot, except when you have to wait in line to get on the slide. We just get behind the small kids because they slide down faster."
- Jael and Stephanie Alonso, 7 and 10 years old

"Every day during the week I come into the Y and do my routine. For five minutes I warm up my legs on the treadmill, then I move to free-weights and work out everything. I see a lot of people only working out their upper body, but I try to get to every muscle individually. Right now I’m focusing on my stomach. Some people even admire my ab workout and ask me how I do it. This only happens at the YMCA, because you comfortable with yourself and the environment"
- Moises Orozco, lost two pant sizes

"My wife takes water aerobics classes three times a week, but I prefer to use the cross-training equipment for a good workout. Two thumbs up on the FitLinxx program - I've lost 15 pounds over the last year and it's really noticeable how much easier my workouts are now. My heart rate used to race when I first started, but now I can do all my cardio, no sweat."
- Scott Brown, Y-member for 2 years

"I come after school to use weights and I just learned a great new way to work out my abdomen! The dance classes are fun and the teen nights you guys have are always cool. I'm really interested in getting involved with Y-Leaders too because I have some friends doing it."
- Bree Monson, 8th Grader at Sonoran Science Academy