At the YMCA in Waukee, health is about taking care of the mind, body and spirit. “We want people to remember that being healthy is more than just being physically active. There’s no ‘look’ to healthy; it’s different for everyone,” says Erin Olson, Wellness Director at the Waukee YMCA.
The benefits of exercise for the mind and body are obvious, but its impact on spirit is just as important. “It’s more than just fitness classes and exercise opportunities,” says Olson. YMCA members thrive on the connections they make with one another. Relationships formed in YMCA classes have a tendency to develop into friendships outside of class.
“We foster the balance of work, life and play,” says Olson. For fitness goals, she recommends seeking the same balance.
Make a commitment to lifestyle changes. Making a commitment isn’t just a statement of intent; it means taking action to ensure you’ll follow through on your goals. It might mean looking at your schedule and making room for fitness goals. It might mean moving obligations around, or saying “no” to engagements that stand in the way of your goals. It means committing to your fitness goals by investing in the membership or tools you need to make it work.
Be specific. When we first decide to put effort into health and fitness, we might start out by saying, “I want to work out more.” That’s a good start, but it’s not specific enough. How many hours per week do you want to work out? What time of day? What are your goals? Those are the questions to consider when changing your fitness level.
Have fun with it. Fitness is a very personal thing. What one person finds challenging and fun might be utterly boring for the next person. Take the time to experiment and find the fitness regimen that works for you. That might include classes that you’ve never tried, or workout routines that take you out of your comfort zone.
Take it step by step. Change is hard. If you’ve never run a lap before, but your goal is to run a marathon, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to work up to it.
Give yourself the gift of “me time.” Many of us spend our days helping and serving others, so when it comes time to make space for taking care of our own needs, it can be a challenge. It’s not unusual to feel guilty about it, but remember that you’re not just doing this for yourself; you’re doing it for your family.
Find an accountability partner. It’s important to find someone who will hold you accountable to your goals. It could be a spouse, family member, friend, or even a co-worker. Whoever it is, make sure you tell them the details of your plan and incorporate check-in dates. You’ll want to find someone who is supportive of you and your goals.
Give yourself a pat on the back. When you make changes to your routine, make sure to give yourself credit for your healthy choices. It’s easy to get caught up in the shortcomings or failings in our new diet or exercise plans, but instead of dwelling on where you might have fallen short, focus on the goals that you did accomplish.
The Waukee YMCA is a great place to get started on your fitness goals. Wellness coaches are available to help you create your goals and walk you through the options at the facility.
They’ll even set up a monthly check-in to hold you accountable. The YMCA offers more than 80 classes per week, including specialty classes and boot camps, and free childcare for up to two hours.