November 2022
NEWS & UPDATES
November 23rd- Closing at 3pm
November 24th- Closed
Facility Hours
Monday-Friday 5am-8pm*
Saturday 6am-5pm*
Sunday 10am-2pm*
*24/7 Access holders have access to the Gym, Wellness Center and Racquetball Courts outside of our regular staffed hours and during holiday and summer closures.
Add 24/7 Access
Email Distribution Lists
Stay up to date on all that's happening at the Y!
You can now subscribe to area specific updates, including Gym, Pool, and Youth, directly from our website!
Newsletter & Updates Sign-Up
Current Schedules
Get the most out of your membership and check out what all we have to offer! You may find a new favorite class, learn a fun and social sport, or find a time to take a dip in the pool!
Check out the current schedules for the Gym, Pool, and Group Fitness Classes.
6pm BODYPUMP is on pause until 12/15
Current Schedules
Don't like what's on the TVs? You can change that!
Stop at the Member Services front desk and check out a remote control so you can change the channel on any of our TVs. Please bring an item to leave behind as collateral until the remote is returned to the front desk.
Improved Handicap Access
In an effort to improve access and safety in our facility, we are adding additional grab bars in the locker rooms and showers.
POOL SCHEDULE CHANGES
Modified pool and pool deck hours November 23rd-27th
The hours for the pool and pool deck amenities will be:
Wednesday, November 23, 6am-2:30pm
Thursday, November 24, closed
Friday, November 25, 7-11am
Saturday, November, 26 7-11am
Sunday, November, 27 closed
The national lifeguard shortage has forced us to take a hard look at our pool schedule, staff availability, and pool use. For the months of November and December, we will close the pool and pool deck amenities on weekdays from 9-11am, and Saturdays at 2:30pm. We appreciate your understanding.
2023 MEMBERSHIP RATES NOTICE
Thank you for being part of the Winona Family YMCA. We believe the Y is for everyone, and that belonging to the Y supports our cause of strengthening communities and making a difference in people’s lives. Your YMCA membership is a tremendous value! As a member of the Y you have access to a top end facility, unlimited fitness classes, programs, and wellness opportunities. We are proud to welcome everyone, regardless of financial circumstances.
Membership rates are approved by the Board of Directors, and are reviewed on an annual basis. With rising costs, we are making a nominal adjustment to membership rates, effective January 1, 2023. This change will be automatic - no action is required on your part. If you have concerns about the rate increase, we invite you to apply for financial assistance.
YMCA PROGRAMMING
Register
Family Yoga w/ Renee
Saturdays
1-1:45p
Please register by noon the Friday before!
Fitness Schedule
TEEN WEIGHT ROOM ORIENTATION
The Teen Weight Room Orientation, is geared toward youth ages 13-15 who wish to use the Wellness Center independent from an adult. The youth member will meet one-on-one with a personal trainer who will go over the safety aspects of using the machines, as well as general gym etiquette and YMCA expectations. When the orientation is completed and passed, the youth may use the Wellness Center without adult supervision.
To encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle, and increase safer use of equipment, we have removed the financial barrier to our teen members by waiving the registration fee for the Teen Weight Room Orientation.
Contact our Fitness & Wellness Director with questions - jgoyette@winonaymca.org
Are you a new member who would like an equipment orientation to better understand how to use the machines in the Wellness Center? Our fitness intern is happy to help you! Please contact them at fitnessintern@winonaymca.org
Register
Mondays 6:15-7pm
Thursdays 4-4:45pm
$10-Members
$15-Non-member
Register
LEAVE A LEGACY
Leave a Legacy
Every dollar makes a difference. Since 1985, the Winona Family YMCA's Heritage Club has helped ensure the continued growth and development of the YMCA. The Y’s endowment fund provides stability to our vibrant mission, and has become an increasingly important element in our sustainability. You can make a great difference in the lives of everyone who turns to the YMCA for a chance to grow in spirit, mind and body. Your gift will help provide a community health resource for generations to come.
We are excited to recognize our current Heritage Club members with a beautiful new donor wall, which will be prominently displayed in the main hallway on the first floor.
Heritage Club
VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Winona Family YMCA proudly nominated Nathan Woodworth for a YMCA Volunteer Leadership Award. The recognition stated, "Nathan Woodworth has made an incredible impact on our organization. He's volunteered extensive time on the board, various committees, capital campaign and annual campaign fundraising, assisting with the planning of our new facility, and researching endless ways to improve our financial health and member experience, including adding 24/7 access, a café in our lobby through a local partnership, Towel Tracker vending machine, facilitating lease dialogues with partners, and countless negotiations on the Y's behalf. Thank you, Nathan!"
SPECIAL EVENTS
Caroling by Candlelight
After a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, Caroling by Candlelight is back! Get into the holiday spirit and bring your family and friends to Windom Park on Friday, December 2, from 6:30-7:00 p.m. for caroling at the gazebo! The event is free and open to everyone. Bundle up and bring your own candle!
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Welcome to the Personal Training Team, Parker!
"Very early on in my own fitness journey, I realized that having someone to help me out and keep me motivated made a world of difference. We all have hidden potential and I look forward to helping others find that potential through a healthy active lifestyle. If you are just starting out or if you are looking to take the next step towards your fitness goals, I’m here to help!"
Education: Y-USA Strength & Conditioning Certified Personal Trainer.
Availability: Mon-Fri 6-8:30 am, Mon-Fri 4:30-9pm, Sun 10-5pm. New clients are welcome.
Personal Training
CAFE CLOSURE
The Winona Family YMCA and Unlimited Nutrition have had a strong partnership since our new facility opened in January of 2021. We are grateful for this partnership, which has benefited our members and the community in many ways over the last two years.
We are saddened to inform you that Unlimited Nutrition will be closing their YMCA location, effective mid-November. Their Main Street location will remain open and will continue to offer a delivery option.
While their decision was based in part on the national staffing shortage, we are disappointed to share with you that it was also in response to a member violating our code of conduct, as well as incidents of verbal abuse from members that resulted in Unlimited Nutrition staff quitting.
Our YMCA values are Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. We ask our members to keep these values in mind as they interact with each other, with YMCA staff, and with all members of our community.
We are currently exploring alternative options for the YMCA cafe space, including vending machines. Thank you in advance for giving our staff space and grace through this transition.
CPR Certification Class
This course will prepare you to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults and infants and meets OSHA/workplace requirements. This is a blended learning course including an online portion and an instructor-led classroom skill session. The online portion must be completed prior to attending the in-class portion and must be taken on a PC or tablet with a high speed Internet connection. Allow approximately 2-3 hours to complete the online portion. Upon successful completion of this course you will receive a digital certificate for Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED valid for two years.
Open to everyone
Dates: November 21 or December 5th
All class dates are from 5:30pm-8pm
Cost:
Member: $95.00
Non-Member: $110.00
Contact Becky Wisted for more information: bwisted@winonaymca.org or
(507)454-1520
Register for a CPR class
American Red Cross Blood Drive
The Winona Family YMCA will be hosting blood drives on the upcoming dates:
December 9th 9a-3p
December 23rd 9a-3p
Donate Blood
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Like so many others, 2020 was not a great year for Tarsila Borges. Tarsila, a Brazil native, was living out her passion as an educator, and residing in China as a teacher. Tarsila was excited to use the holidays as the time to make the journey home to Brazil and see her family and friends. During her vacation back home, the world began experiencing the catastrophic events of a virus that continues to impact the world drastically. As the world began shutting down, Tarsila’s employer called her and informed her to not return to China as the virus was rapidly spreading out of control and crippling the country. Tarsila was forced to abandon most of everything she owned, and relied on friends in China to sell off or ship her belongings back to Brazil. After considering her options for a while, Tarsila made the brave decision to move to the United States, Minnesota specifically, and obtain her certification for teaching here.
Tarsila’s first months in Minnesota came as a bit of a shock for her as she learned the reality and loneliness of Minnesota’s cold winters. Due to arriving later than planned, Tarsila’s educational program had to change and be moved strictly to online, leaving nearly all of her human interactions through a screen. The arrival to this new country, with over 4,000 miles separating her from almost everyone she knew, and lack of human contact, coupled with the harsh weather and confinement in her tiny apartment, had Tarsila wondering what she had gotten herself into, as depression began sinking in.
One day, Tarsila decided it was time to explore. She remembered that sometimes during her walks near the lake, she had seen a building with a big Y on it from afar and there were always many cars there. She wanted to know what the place was. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, that was the day that she made the first step toward changing her life here in Winona. As she walked through the doors of this unknown building, she immediately felt welcomed. The staff at the front desk explained to her what the Y was, and provided membership information, including explaining the financial assistance program. Tarsila was intrigued and thought to herself that this could be the place to help her get her life back, a place where she could exercise and meet people. Within a short period of time after completing the simple financial assistance application, Tarsila signed the membership paperwork and began experiencing all that the Y offers.
It didn’t take long for Tarsila to find her groove at the Y. She tried everything at first: Swimming, Barre, yoga, Zumba–she enjoyed it all. Her advice, “Try everything here! Don’t be scared! There are a couple classes that sound “scary” but they’re not!” The Y quickly became an extension of her life and she accredits the Y in helping her achieve physical, emotional and mental fitness; it helped her acclimate and connect to the Winona community. “This happened to me when it had to happen to me. It helped me enjoy the little things in life since moving to Winona,” Tarsila said. The connections and friendships made at the Y further helped Minnesota feel more like ‘home’. Through these new friends, Tarsila was able to learn the ins and outs of Winona, find out where to go for certain things, and even received help getting her Minnesota driver’s license.
Now in her second semester at St. Mary’s University, Tarsila is enjoying her life in Winona, and the beauty of the area. She enjoys the lake and scenery and she loves being a Winona Family YMCA member. “People will find where they belong, there is a place for everyone here. There is a class from everyone and all styles. Don’t be afraid to test the waters,” said Tarsila.
Share your Y story with us, we'd love to hear it!
Contact Lisa, Membership & Marketing Director at LEngfer@winonaymca.org
SUPPORT THE Y!
Give a Gift of Health
Need an unique gift that will never be out of style or the wrong size? Look no further than your Winona Family YMCA-give a gift of health and wellness!
Give cards are available at the Front Desk and are available in any denomination and can be used for memberships, daily admission or programming!
Support the Y with One Click!
Make a difference this holiday season. Shop for gifts using AmazonSmile when shopping online on Amazon and generate donations for the Winona Family YMCA!
smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0693890
Self-Care
Resilience is our ability to get through challenging circumstances, and not just get through them, but come out stronger and wiser on the other side. It is a foundational component of our mental health. Resilience is like a muscle, the more we train it, the stronger it gets. It grows through healthy and supportive relationships, taking care of ourselves and others, and asking for help when we need it. Join our friend Sarah Johnson for the Dinner Table Resilience video series and skills sheets on building resilience. Tips, topics, skills, and strategies that we can use at our own tables to build resilience in ourselves and others.
Thank you to our friends at the La Crosse Family YMCA for allowing us to promote these fantastic videos to our members!
Dinner Table Resilience Ep 12: Rest Your Body
La Crosse Family YMCA Mental Health