August 07, 2012

Healthy Grilling

by Downtown Admin

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be difficult, particularly during the summer. Why is it that when we practically have to live in our swimsuit in order to keep cool, we also have to fight off the constant urge to eat every hot dog, hamburger and cheesy-filled treat in sight? BBQ’s can be a great way to get family an ...more

August 07, 2012

A Guide to Yoga

by Downtown Admin

Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Kundalini. No, these are not Lord of the Rings characters; these are in fact different yoga styles. A bit overwhelming, isn’t it? Yoga has been a growing trend worldwide, and while you may take a sporadic class here and there, how much do you really know about yoga? Being familiar w ...more

May 15, 2012

Social Responsibility: Bike to Work!

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An important component of social responsibility is doing environmental good for our neighborhoods. Why not join your community in being socially responsible and bike to work? Do your part to help the environment! Bike to Work Day is a nationally recognized holiday celebrated annua ...more

May 15, 2012

Simple Ways to Implement Exercise

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How do you maintain an active and healthy lifestyle with your busy schedule? Has it been difficult for you to achieve your fitness goals? Although hard, it’s not impossible. The trick to healthy living is making small changes, like taking more steps, for example! The Downtown Y is teaming up with moonclimb.org to encour ...more

November 03, 2011

Don’t Let the Winter Do You In

by Downtown Admin

With shorter, colder days upon us, the energy one usually feels accustomed to for a good chunk of the year is finally faced with winter, that vicious season when people have been known to fall off their workout regimens and give into festive snacking. Although it feels great lounging on a warm couch eating cookies with ...more

October 06, 2011

What are the benefits of Yoga?

by Downtown Admin

EXERCISE YOUR BODY & MIND Yoga is not just for the young and flexible. You are never too old to give it a try. It might change your workout routine. Or even your approach to life. YMCA yoga instructor Karen Terra, 200 RYT, says, “I usually tell people that yoga really is available to everyone, but that ...more

August 30, 2011

Understanding Cravings

by Downtown Admin

Cravings Schmavings: What do they really mean? The body is an amazing source of intelligence. It is always there for you, pumping blood, never skipping a heartbeat, digesting whatever food you put in it and maintaining homeostasis. Is this reliable, intelligent bio-computer making a mistake by craving ice ...more

July 28, 2011

Can I benefit from being outdoors?

by Downtown Admin

Stay Healthy, Get Outdoors Recent studies point to the mental and physical benefits of being active outdoors and having regular contact with nature. Researchers in Britain reported a positive effect on the mental health of people who spent at least five minutes a day in a park or woods walking, fishing, cycling, or r ...more

June 27, 2011

How Can I Protect My Skin This Summer?

by Downtown Admin

Summer Shot of Sunscreen By Suzi Ivie, D.C., CSCS, CMT It’s July and for most folks this means 4th of July celebrations, summer vacations, trips to the beach and lots of sun exposure (for me, I think of only one thing, Comic-Con, but that is a whole different discussion). Today we are talking about su ...more

June 02, 2011

How Can I Overcome This June Gloom?

by Downtown Admin

Overcoming June Gloom By Dr. Suzi Ivie, CSCS We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.— Carlos Casteneda, author and philosopher. As the gray days of May and June, lovingly known as May Gray/June Gloom, descend upon us, it is easy to feel “put upon ...more

May 02, 2011

How Can I Promote Health at Work?

by Downtown Admin

Being a part of a fitness facility helps alleviate stress by elevating health and well-being! May 25, 2011 is recognized as National Employee and Senior Health & Fitness Day. Senior Fitness The Downtown YMCA offers “Fitness for Life” three times a week for older adults. Older adults, both male and female, ...more

March 31, 2011

Why is “Rep Reebok” no longer offered?

by Downtown Admin

It is important to mix-up your workout routine— it helps keep your workout fresh and exciting. “Rep Reebok” instructor, Cindy Sands, is currently on maternity leave (congratulations Cindy!) and we have temporarily replaced the class with “Circuit Training”. If you were an avid “Rep Reebok” attendee who enjoye ...more

March 28, 2011

Why is it important to drink water?

by Downtown Admin

Healthy LivingImportance of Drinking Water By: Dr. Suzi Ivie CSCS--Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist We all know we are supposed to drink water because it is good for us, but why is it good for us? Our bodies are made up of 70 percent water and use water for a multitude of functions such ...more

February 28, 2011

How do I train for mental discipline?

by Downtown Admin

It’s March and in the sports circle that only means one thing. Basketball. College basketball is on everyone’s mind, especially when our very own Aztecs are burning up the scoreboards. How does a team like SDSU excel? Mental discipline and toughness. To be a top performer in any sport athletes must not only be phys ...more

February 01, 2011

What is the Cowles Mountain Challenge?

by Downtown Admin

WHO: Fitness Coordinator, Jil HarrisWHAT: Climbing ChallengeWHERE: Cowles Mountain in La MesaWHEN: February 12, 9AM-5PMWHY: To support at-risk youthJil is challenging herself to see how many times she can climb Cowles Mountain in 8 hours!Help Jil help the children of San Diego by sponsoring her in this challenge for as littl ...more

January 28, 2011

Can I set up a personal fitness routine?

by Downtown Admin

Of course you can! The 12-Week personalized fitness program makes it possible! The 12 Week program is designed for health seeking individuals who are looking for guidance and structure in order to successfully begin a regular exercise program. What’s Included: ·Three one-on-one instruction with a persona ...more

January 20, 2011

How do I keep my New Years resolutions?

by Downtown Admin

The New Year is an exciting time when everything that passed in the previous year is past and the future looks brighter than ever. It’s tradition to make a resolution, to set a goal for yourself, but it is an unfortunate truth that the majority of our goals go unreached. Why is this? Are we simply undisciplined or is there so ...more

December 14, 2010

Giving back: P.E. at the Monarch School

by Downtown Admin

I am in 3rd grade at the Monarch School. I like P.E. at the YMCA. We do a lot of fun stuff with our coach. The first time I went I was happy and having fun. It was the best! Every kid’s guardian should let them come to the YMCA to check it out. We love P.E.! — Ricardo, 3rd Grade Among other school ...more

December 08, 2010

Can I go to other YMCAs to workout?

by Downtown Admin

With your membership to the Downtown Y, you can workout at Mission Valley, Hazard Center and Toby Wells no questions asked. For gyms outside of those listed above, the YMCA has implemented the AWAY Program. Through this program, members can visit any of the 2000+ YMCAs in the country and workout for free or at a discounte ...more

November 23, 2010

What are tricks to a healthier holiday?

by Downtown Admin

Staying healthy in the holiday season is a struggle. Most people get time off of work and are surrounded by the foods that they wait for all year long. It is hard to maintain the will-power that you have during the rest of the year. Holiday weight gain is a curse that most of us have come to accept, but try a few of thes ...more

November 10, 2010

Y is running a better cardio workout?

by Downtown Admin

Of course, like most exercise activities, the amount of calories and fat you burn is based primarily on the amount of effort exerted. When we exercise, the goal is to burn fat and lose weight, but is there one type of cardio that is better than the rest? Runners often look fit and thin, but do they hold the secret to w ...more

September 08, 2010

Y is the YMCA no longer a Hotel?

by Downtown Admin

History: Until the late 1950s, YMCAs in the United States were built with hotel-like rooms called residences or dormitories. These rooms became a significant part of American culture, known as an inexpensive and safe place for a visitor to stay in an unfamiliar city. In 1940 there were about 100,000 rooms at YMCAs, more ...more

January 03, 2010

Y is the YMCA considered a non-profit?

by Downtown Admin

Each and everyday the YMCA reinvests in this community and surrounding communities. The Y caters to those who couldn't afford certain services any other way: reduced memberships, before and after-school daycare, making exercise accessible to kids, literacy programs and much more. Recently we asked on ...more

December 09, 2009

Y is basketball offered at most YMCA's?

by Downtown Admin

The YMCA is actually noted for the invention of Basketball. Dr James Naismisth a professor at the Y.M.C.A. Training School (now Springfield College located in Springfield, Massachusetts), was challenged to create a vigorous indoor sport that was suitable to play during the New England winters. Initiall ...more

November 19, 2009

Y was the pool closed?

by Downtown Admin

Originally this building was operated by the Armed Service YMCA. When the Downtown YMCA moved into the building in 1985, the pool had been closed for a number of years. It was partially rebuilt and reopened at that time. As with any aging facility, different parts, piping, mechanical & electrical begin t ...more