Ten Reasons to Come to the Y in the Fall
Summer is coming to an end, school’s in session, and our 2025 New Year’s resolutions haven’t even been imagined yet—so why would we want to head to the Y—or join—right now? It turns out that the Autumn season is a great time to pick up your Y membership card and visit any of the Lansing area branches. Here are just ten:
- Make good on your 2024 resolutions! According to a 2023 Statista Consumer Insights survey of adults in the U.S., most New Year’s resolutions pertain to health, wellness, and community—three things the Y is famous for! Each time you enter one of our branches, you are upholding an important promise to yourself.
- Keep loneliness at bay. The U.S. Surgeon General has deemed loneliness an “epidemic,” as damaging to our health as smoking and obesity—and it was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. People are spending less time with friends and family or participating in clubs or organizations, and the social disconnection has both mental and physical consequences. But the YMCA provides both a place and the people that are essential to combatting loneliness—the whole YMCA movement was founded to “meet social need in the community.”
- Bring a friend, make a friend. During September, if you refer a friend to join the Y (with only a $10 new-member fee), you will get your own October fee waived! What a great way to boost a friendship!
- Get in on the latest sports craze: Pickleball! If you haven’t played pickleball yet, you’re behind the times. This sport has soared in popularity since the start of the pandemic because it’s easy to play and doesn’t require much equipment or athletic prowess. Try it out at the Westside YMCA Monday through Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Our Oak Park branch also offers it Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
- Youth and adult sports programs and leagues. Wondering what to do with all that pent-up energy at the end of the day or week? Check out our programs and leagues for both adults and kids. There’s also information about Westside’s rock wall!
- Try out a new fitness class. Our recent “Olympic Challenge” proved to be a great incentive for people to try different activities at all the Y branches. Help us keep the Olympic spirit alive by visiting a class that you’ve never taken before: cardio drumming, yogalates, aging athletes, tai chi, pound, and many more! Check out the group fitness schedules and descriptions at all the branches for something new.
- Play golf, year-round. Whether you are just learning or fine-tuning your competitive game, practice makes perfect when it comes to golf. The Westside YMCA has the golfer’s solution for winter weather: golf simulators! Click here for more information and to sign up.
- Reduce parental stress. According to the American Psychological Association, parenting—though rewarding—can lead to high stress and burnout. The YMCA provides ways for families to decompress, with our Child Watch programs at each branch giving parents time to exercise, swim, take a fitness class, or simply relax in the steam rooms and saunas.
- Boost your immune system prior to cold and flu season. There are numerous ways to ward off illness, and one of the best is regular activity. The great thing about the Y is that it provides options: you can swim, walk, lift weights, take a class—it never gets dull! And we can’t emphasize enough the benefits of social connection to physical and mental well-being.
- Get healthy BEFORE the holidays so there’s less pressure in the New Year! Autumn is a great time to embark on new health practices, and the YMCA is here to be your source for information and action!