Y Wellness 24/7: Quality YMCA Fitness, Guidance and Nutrition: Live, On-Demand, and On-the-Go!
Megan McCuen, Director of Group Wellness and Engagement
Finding the right time and place, frequency and fitness activities to work into the daily or weekly routine has always been the crux to getting into healthy habits. We have learned over time that wellness is not only about fitness and exercise, but about nutrition and mental health as well.
With the onset of COVID-19, wellness seekers such as YMCA members have had to stretch (pardon the pun) to find new, safe and creative ways to fill the space once occupied by gyms, fitness centers and indoor exercise classes. The fitness industry itself had to quickly pivot to offer alternatives to keep members engaged.
Now that lockdowns and closures are, for all intents and purposes, behind us, we are the beneficiaries of the innovations that kept us healthy and engaged while doors were closed. YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties is no exception, having partnered with Burnalong, the online fitness platform, to offer Y Wellness 24/7.
Y Wellness 24/7 is a one stop shop at home AND on the go site offering whole body and mind wellness opportunities to Y members. Access is free with your YMCA branch or Cause membership, and as soon as you set up a log-in, the site immediately begins to ask about your interests and goals, ready to make recommendations and help the user craft a tailor-made experience. At home sessions, office workouts, mindfulness meditations, habit analysis, and healthy recipes based on your diet are just some of the diverse offerings of Y Wellness 24/7. There are over 50 categories of content available, and literally thousands of live and on-demand classes to attend.
What distinguishes Y Wellness 24/7 from other online wellness platforms is it connects YMCAs across the country, specifically 48 YMCAs in 11 states, and is growing. This means the instructors are YMCA certified trainers and educators, trusted and qualified, so that you can feel confident in the information, training and guidance you receive.
Another feature unique to the site is the rich library of mindfulness and mental health resources. A quick search of the word “stress” reveals 299 on-demand class videos, most of which clock in under 7 minutes. Searching the word “relax” yields 48 videos. So along with stretching, yoga, pilates, cardio and strength building classes, of which there are thousands, users have access to teachers and guidance addressing our mind and spirit needs to better strive for whole wellness.
The ebb of the pandemic tide has revealed a number of innovations throughout life and work. We have learned to be more adaptable and flexible, and with Y Wellness 24/7, our health and wellness resources have adapted to the times and our needs. Visit Y Wellness 24/7 to preview, and visit our Cause Membership page to learn how $10 per month comes with free access to the Y Wellness 24/7 platform.
Visit Y Wellness 24/7 Cause Membership
About the Author:
Megan McCuen instructs wellness classes for all fitness levels out of the Quakertown and Doylestown branches of YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties. Megan is also the recipient of the 2022 Instructor of the Year Award by Burnalong, which powers the Y Wellness 24/7 online wellness platform.