HEALTHY LIVING
SUPPORTING YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY
Whether you are new to fitness, working towards a goal, maintaining your health or recovering from injury, the Y is here to support you wherever you are on your wellness journey while making sure that all individuals feel welcomed and safe. Individuals of all ages, backgrounds and creeds are able to find ways to achieve healthy lifestyles and build meaningful relationships together.
“I had a recent knee injury and my weight was at an all time high after having a baby. It was a blessing that the Y gave our family a free military membership that included babysitting. This let me focus on my own health and well-being. My husband and I work out together too! Now, I’ve lost 40lbs, I’m almost back to pre-baby weight, and my knee is stronger than ever! I’m so thankful that the Y is here for us.”
- Brittany F., Summit YMCA |
“I’ve always wanted to learn yoga. I started taking a beginner yoga class at the Y and I am extremely happy with my progress. I like that the teachers make an effort to get to know us and push us to improve. Other members are so encouraging and supportive, and I’ve made some wonderful friends along the way.”
- Jessy L., Summit YMCA |
731,199members and community members visited the Berkeley Heights YMCA and Summit YMCA to engage in healthy activities in 2019. “When people ask me, they don’t believe I am 91 and everyone thinks I am in my 70s. I first joined the Y when I moved to Summit in 1980. It was a place to meet other people and exercise every day, and now exercising consistently helps my bad knee too. My daughters went to The Learning Circle YMCA for child care, and then eventually my daughter Claire started brought the yoga program to the Summit Y and kicked off her career as a Yoga Instructor there. I’ve made friends of different ethnicities and backgrounds at the YMCA and we have very interesting discussions on a variety of topics every week. I’m never at the Y for less than an hour. Once a month, we all go out to eat at an Italian restaurant, and I call it the Italian Dinner Club. There are also monthly Lunch and Learns with some very good speakers. It’s a source of great pleasure and happiness to me, I like being a member.”
- Robert D., Summit YMCA |
"The catalyst for wanting to get back in shape again was when I started not fitting my suits anymore. I started doing personal training with Dorian Jackson at the Summit Y and his workouts have resulted in me losing 15 pounds, gaining more muscle and increasing my endurance. I’ve lost a good amount of body mass and people say that I don’t look my age, which is great. Coming to the Y has introduced me to so many people and my relationships here hold me accountable to come on a daily basis and make healthier choices. Beyond getting in shape, it’s encouraged me to become a better person and has given me a sense of community."
— Steven B., Summit YMCA 292Wellness Navigations administered, guiding participants through their wellness journey in understanding their health and the Y's ability to support their goals.
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DEVELOPING YOUTH WITH SPORTS
Many Summit Area YMCA programs and services serve more than just one area of focus, such as Youth Sports. Not only do children get the exercise and activity they need for a healthy body, but they are also surrounded by role models, instructors and coaches that teach and enforce the Y values of respect, caring, honesty and responsibility and more. Youth and teens are positively impacted each and every moment they spend with the Y, where community is built and strengthened every day.
951kids participated in our Youth Soccer and Youth Basketball programs, learning invaluable skills in teamwork, sportsmanship, respect and more from experienced and passionate volunteer coaches dedicated to our the positive development of our community's youth.
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"The only time I felt loved and important was when I came to the Y. Growing up, I had a rough childhood and got into plenty of trouble back then, but when I started going to the Summit YMCA to play basketball, I fell in love with the game. When I came to the Y, I got to meet with my big brothers who showed me the way. They told me the value I had when I believed I had none. This was my safe haven. If I was feeling bad with my life, I came to the Y. Every time there was a major thing in my life, I always came to the Y. This is where I could think, where I could sit and be in the moment. Because of the Y, I was able to become a better person.
When I finally became a Basketball Coach at the Y, despite having tattoos and being completely against the grain, we won 3 games our first year and then went on to win 20 championships. Getting kids in here and keeping them off the street as it did for me, helping families to keep the community strong is what the Y is about. Now I'm starting to see guys who were here 10, 15 years ago and they're having kids. And guess where they're bringing their kids? To the Y. And they're going through exactly the same thing. I don't look for the glory or any of that, I do look for the kids to say that they had a positive experience with me and this Y. I want them to love the Y like I love the Y. " — Kareem D., Summit YMCA |
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA PROGRAMThis free, 12 week small group recovery program for adult cancer survivors runs throughout the year at the Summit Area YMCA. The LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program was created to help individuals impacted by cancer to rebuild confidence, muscle mass and strength, increase flexibility, endurance and functional ability. The program also provides a welcoming and supportive community where they can connect meaningfully with other survivors and wellness resources.
22cancer survivors participated in the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program at the Berkeley Heights YMCA and Summit YMCA in 2019.
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BLOOD PRESSURE
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GROWING MORE THAN JUST VEGETABLES
The Summit Achieve Community Garden is supported by the Summit Area YMCA, Overlook Foundation, the Summit Garden Club and Junior League of Summit. In addition to supplying the community with opportunities to promote healthy eating, the garden also donates produce to local food pantries such as St. Teresa's, Christ Church and the Community Food Bank.
500pounds of fresh produce was donated to local food pantries to encourage improved healthy eating in our communities. |
In the summer, Community Garden volunteers taught teens from the Summit Area YMCA Leaders in Training camp about gardening and healthy eating.
“A community garden is a great place for kids to learn about growing things and shows where food comes from. It builds a healthy, connected community. It provides a connection with growing things with the soil, with the people that are there, harvesting things and then taking them to the local food pantries. It’s a connection to the community that didn’t exist before.”
— Marian G., Summit Achieve Community Garden member |