YMCA Report
What do safe workouts look like during a public health crisis? As 2021 draws near and New Year’s resolutions stay top-of-mind, experts from the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago have some tips on how to maintain an active lifestyle while staying protected from COVID-19.
Becky Neal, Health and Wellness Director at the Fry Family YMCA in Naperville, emphasizes the importance of fitness as a preventative health measure.
“As a fitness expert, I urge just about everyone to keep a regular exercise routine,” Neal said. “Staying fit means your body’s better equipped to fight illness in general. With proper planning, incorporating gym workouts into your daily life can help boost your immune system.”
The rhythms, layout, and structure of out-of-home workouts have changed substantially since before the pandemic, Neal notes. From closed locker rooms to using exercise equipment with a mask on, acclimating to fitness’s “new normal” requires some adjustment and advance preparation. When working out at the Y, Neal suggests arriving 10 minutes before a scheduled gym time, dressed and ready to work out, to accommodate the Y’s thorough check-in process. She also emphasizes the importance of easing into physical activity.
“A mask adds a whole other dimension to working out,” said Neal. “It’s really important to listen to your body. Walking is okay. Slowing down is okay. Interval training’s great. Less resistance can be good. The health and wellness industry often instills the mentality of really pushing yourself—and you certainly can, in this new context—but it’s fine, important even, to take that step back so you don’t hurt or exhaust yourself.”
Neal also encourages individuals to try out different types of masks and face shields to figure out which provides adequate protection while allowing for cardiovascular or aerobic activity. When working and teaching at the Fry Family YMCA, Neal prefers wearing a plastic face shield, as it creates space between mouth and barrier while providing full coverage of breath and droplets. While in-person fitness classes at the Y are currently suspended due to Tier 3 mitigations, Neal notes that the Y’s fitness staff are available to help with exercise modifications in an open gym setting. As in-person, masked classes start up again, leaning on instructors to modify workouts will be key to ensuring a challenging but pleasant fitness experience, no matter the activity.
Above all, Neal remarks, working out during a pandemic requires a change in mindset—one that mirrors COVID-19 adjustments already commonplace in other areas of life.
“We have to shift gears all the time,” said Neal. “As a community and as a society, we’re getting better at shifting gears to keep ourselves safe—exercise is no different.”
The Y of Metro Chicago’s locations throughout the city and suburbs adhere to strict safety protocols that include temperature checks, hand sanitizer stations, frequent facility cleanings, and safety questions upon entry for both members and staff. In accordance with local and state public health guidelines, Y centers currently operate at limited capacity, and masks are required at all times except while swimming. A reservation system has been put in place at all membership centers to maintain social distancing and capacity limits.
Much like making an online reservation at a restaurant or hotel, individuals and families can reserve time at their local Y for general equipment use, lap swim, or Family Open Gym. The latter, a new offering, allows families to set aside up to an hour of private full gym and basketball court access for an entire household. To make a reservation, members can visit the Y of Metro Chicago’s Reopening Resource Center webpage or use our mobile app.
The Y of Metro Chicago’s staff work tirelessly alongside our diverse, engaged membership to create a healthy environment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels to maintain active lifestyles. For Kenne’quia Howell, Executive Director at the South Side YMCA in Chicago, it’s the collaborative, community-driven approach to pandemic-safe fitness that sets the Y apart from other gyms.
“When you join the Y, you’re not just joining a gym—you’re becoming part of a family. There’s a sense of belonging no matter where you are in your fitness journey,” said Howell. “The YMCA community is like no other because the YMCA is more than just a gym. We have made it our mission to serve the whole person. It’s a place where your entire family can come and participate together or find their own favorite ways to stay fit.”
This sense of community, Howell adds, goes a long way in building trust and assuaging any trepidations individuals and families might have about engaging in fitness outside the home.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Howell. “As a nonprofit organization that has been in existence for over 100 years, we’ve been able to be agile in listening to the needs of our community and fulfilling those needs. We always want to ensure we’re good stewards of the trust that our community places in us.”
For those interested in joining the Y of Metro Chicago’s diverse, health-minded membership, the Y is currently offering a limited-time, $0 joiner fee. To sign up or for more information, visit their website, contact your local Y center, or call Member Services at (773) 905-5115 (M-F: 8AM – 7PM).
