Free Wi-Fi, coffee and the newspaper in our Y Cafe available to all Y members

THE Y – MORE THAN JUST A GYM.

By Carrie Schmeck.

Spend a morning in the Y Cafe and it becomes clear that the YMCA is far more than just a gym. It’s a social hub. The cozy corner bustles with chatter and laughter. A woman calls out to members by name and shares an embarrassing mishap with a giggle. A cluster of middle-aged men rib each other as they nurse coffee and share life. Two women lean in over their table and share secrets—obviously in deep conversation. As with anything, the YMCA is what you make it. For hundreds of members, the Y provides the backdrop for a great workout. For others, the benefits go far beyond fitness.

Barbara Ammon, a member since 1988, says that without the YMCA she would probably “sit home, eat and get fat.” For years, she commuted to Red Bluff for work and lacked the time to cultivate local friendships. When she retired nearly five years ago, she started attending a morning aqua aerobics class that, she says, has become her hub of friendships. The class is a tight group, from all walks of life. Yet they have come to care for each other as people, not just as workout buddies. If someone misses a few classes, “we’ll call them to make sure everything is okay,” Barbara says. The group is familiar with each other’s families, joys, and moods. In other words, they are friends.

When Barbara notes that she has lost 100 pounds since starting the class, she is quick to say that she couldn’t have done it without the support of her pool friends. She seems hard-pressed to distinguish between the weight loss benefit and the friendships. In her mind, the two are intertwined. “The Y is absolutely integral to my health and well-being.”

Kelly Bishop, 29, says that the Y makes her happy. She works out on Fridays when her group home buses her and her housemates to the gym. She takes yoga and works out on the treadmill in an effort to lose weight. Every Sunday, also, she practices basketball with a team for the Special Olympics. “The member services staff are my friends,” she says, clearly touched by the gentle but fun prodding they offer.

Hewlett Todd, 70-something, comes to the gym six days a week. So ensconced is he in the rhythm of the Y that he has his own ceramic mug stowed near the coffee bar. He takes classes each day “because they push me,” and says that he appreciates the Y’s family and charitable environment. “I like that people are here to help themselves and others.” Mostly retired, Hewlett sees the Y as his social network away from home. As he chats and laughs, it is clear the YMCA means far more to him than a good workout – and far more to many who have reached out and found joy beyond the equipment.