by rebecca blackson | photos by kim schofield

Wellness is not simply a number on a scale or how much weight someone can lift. It is having the support, relationships, and opportunities needed to live a healthier life. For the past eight decades, the Idaho Falls YMCA has played a pivotal role in providing these kinds of experiences for residents.

More than just a gym, the YMCA is a full community center. Workout rooms with exercise equipment and fitness classes for all ages and levels provide the opportunity for exercise.

But for most parents juggling family responsibilities, a key component can also be child care. The YMCA’s program Child Watch allows a parent to have their children tended right at the gym, turning exercise from something a parent hopes to do into something they can realistically fit into their life.

Jenacee Buck, a mom of two little girls, says the Child Watch program made the difference for her in being able to work out.

“I just needed a gym where they had childcare, and the YMCA’s program is amazing,” says Jenacee. “My girls love it because they have a room with toys and tricycles, arts and crafts, and a bunch of stuff to keep them entertained.”

In addition to young moms finding a place at the YMCA, mature adults can also find movement and connection there. The Active Older Adults program at the YMCA provides group fitness classes, group exercises, and health and nutrition classes. These classes focus on mobility, flexibility, safety, and overall health.

Joan Whittington has attended group fitness classes there for nearly 10 years. She said, “I go almost every morning to a different class—yoga, Pilates, or even weight lifting. As you get older, you gotta do something to keep moving or else everything starts going south! It’s a good way to meet friends and stay in shape.”

She’s attended with friends and neighbors, and also enjoys the chance to continually meet new people. “We always have new people attend, and it’s so fun to get to know them. The Y is just like a big family. We all love each other and get along really well. We’ll even go to lunch together,” Joan added.

For people rebuilding after an illness such as cancer, a regular fitness class may not be the right match. Where most gyms overlook another social group in need, the YMCA steps up with the LIVESTRONG program. These group classes help someone regain confidence during or after cancer treatment. Certified LIVESTRONG Instructor, Betsy Keller, has been teaching classes at the YMCA for years and sees the positive impact the classes can have.

“The program works, and it helps people so much who are trying to rebuild their strength or cope with the difficulties of treatment. I tell participants, ‘Let’s just keep moving forward, without worrying about tomorrow or the next treatment.’ We want to encourage people and help them feel like they’re making progress,” Betsy said.

The program is free to cancer patients and classes are tailored to the participants, whether that means working in a chair, doing light cardio, strengthening and stretching, or even visualization exercises for relaxation.

Intent on providing the community with resources, the YMCA also has daytime child care and after-school activities for working parents. Toddlers and preschoolers can attend all-day care with a focus on early literacy, learning new skills, and play time in both an indoor and outdoor play area. Before and after-school care gives kids a safe and welcoming place to play, make friends, and complete homework.

The YMCA also coordinates youth and adult sports programs year-round, and their indoor volleyball and basketball courts are regularly bursting with activity. Another place where YMCA fills a need is by offering showers to the homeless population on weekday mornings. While a shower does not solve housing instability on its own, it provides a critical foundation for physical health and emotional restoration.

Kim Weimer, the front desk receptionist, spends her day greeting people as they come and go. She said, “The YMCA is amazing because of the community. Watching people reach out to each other who aren’t even in group exercise classes together is amazing to watch. Everyone knows each other here. It feels like a family.”

For 81 years, the Idaho Falls YMCA has been more than a place to work out—it has been where healthier lives, stronger families, and lasting friendships are built every day. For more information visit idahofallsymca.org.