It’s a new year and many people take stock of their lives and decide to make some changes. And for many people, those changes include getting fit and losing weight.
The Clearfield YMCA is there to help. In addition to year-round facilities such as a lap pool, weight lifting equipment and other fitness opportunities, the Y offers different programs for young and old alike.
According to Executive Director Don Herres, the Y is doing something new this year to help with that weight loss goal. The New Year Weight Loss Challenge will kick off soon and encourages people to form teams with three to six other people.
Herres said that they have found that people do better keeping to goals if they work with others.
The program begins with a weigh in, and from there the participants work together on the program particulars. At the end, there is a “weigh out” and the numbers are calculated into a team percentage.
Prizes are awarded at the end of the program for reaching various goals, etc.
Another new program is Mommy and Me Tumbling for mothers and their young children. The program will last for six to eight weeks and starts soon.
For the hockey enthusiast in your life, the Y will begin holding a youth floor hockey program as an introduction to the sport. The program also begins soon and will be held Mondays and Fridays.
Herres noted that there will also be returning favorites, including swimming lessons on Saturdays for kids, and the Body Pump classes, which have been very popular, as have the Silver Sneakers aerobics program.
Two new fitness programs include spinning classes, which are group exercise bike programs, and the Lunch Crunch program held Mondays and Fridays for one hour.
Most programs are either free or at a reduced fee for members, but are also open to non-members for a fee.
The year will see the return of popular events, beginning with Winterfest at Parker Dam State Park Jan. 26-27.
Winterfest includes many outdoor activities held with or without snow, including the popular Freeze Your Gizzard 5K Run.
Something new this year is the Winter Paws Dog Show where people can bring their dogs and enter them into various categories, such as an owner look-alike contest, fashion show and “best wagger” among others.
Herres said they will also have a dog sledding team doing demonstrations both days. The team is able to do demonstrations with or without snow.
The kids snow box derby is also part of the event and kids can win prizes for decorating their boxes as well as for the race down Avalanche Hill
Winterfest ends with a demonstration of ice cutting using old-fashioned tools in the morning, and then at 4 p.m. is the Polar Bear Plunge into the lake during the ice cutting.
In April a women’s self-defense class will be held. Herres said it was very popular last year and so the Y decided to bring it back. He said it will begin April 8 and run for four weeks. It is open for all women who want to learn about self-protection.
April 5 will be the annual Comedy Show fundraiser at St. Charles Cafe. The fundraiser helps the YMCA defray various costs and also helps with the financial aid program the Y has in place for those who cannot afford the regular membership fees. Funding from Clearfield United Way also helps with that program.
This spring the Y will hold swimming classes for any third graders in the Clearfield Area School District interested in participating. The program is free and the students are bused to and from the Y.
The YMCA has various membership options, from family membership, to individual, student and senior. For information on these or other programs at the Y, call 814-765-5521.