I Joined the Ridgewood Y. Here is Y you should too.

I know I need to work out, I know I feel and look better when I work out, and as a doctor, I fully understand the health benefits of exercise … yet, sweating really just isn’t my jam. Every year, I vow that I will start an exercise routine, and every year, I struggle to follow the advice I give all my patients. I’ve contemplated joining a gym or a yoga studio, but worry I will join, not show up and waste the money.

I just found the solution. I joined the Ridgewood Y with a family membership. It is affordable, there are loads of classes, the exercise equipment is brand new, and it is low pressure and friendly. Granted, the building itself is old, but it is clean, spacious, and we don’t need pretty in a gym. As members, we can use all the facilities including the two pools and get discounted rates for any additional programs. Larry and the kids will be there a lot, and here is the best part. Even if I never show up for a class or a session in the weight room or a turn on one of the ellipticals, I can feel great about my membership fee because the Y is a community based, non-profit organization. It is the health center where I can focus on my health and wellbeing, but it is also the gym I can never go to and still feel good I joined.

The Y runs programs for people living with cancer and people with Parkinson’s disease. It has a free Rainbows program to support kids who have suffered a major loss in their lives. It gave 40 scholarships for the overnight summer experience at Camp Bernie to families who couldn’t afford the fee. Almost every year, the Y sends a group to Haiti to build community centers and bring supplies. That’s what I know so far, and I’m still learning about all the Y offers to our community. Until I joined, I had no idea all that was going on behind those brick walls. I look forward to learning even more about all the Y offers to our community and those beyond, and I’m really happy to be a part of an organization that supports wellness across all ages.

Check out the website to learn more and expect to hear about some new things happening at the Y.