By by Chris Henley
Made a New Year's resolution to get into shape? The Atmore YMCA is here to help.
Starting tomorrow, Jan. 3, and running until Jan. 8, the 'Y' has suspended its joining fee for its annual membership drive.
"We plan to have a lot of new members sign-up next week," said Tammy Graham, Business Manager and Member Service Director. "We had just reopened after the hurricane three weeks prior to the holidays and had to shut down several programs due to lack of participation. But we're back and ready for the new year."
Graham said the 'Y' has improved in several areas including new machines in the weight room, a new cardio workout room, a revamped after-school care facility, and upgraded facilities.
Fitness Director Tony Glover said the new equipment in the weight rooms should help decrease the weight time for those exercising.
"The new cardio room will also allow many ladies working on the tred mills to not have to work around those using free weights," Glover said. "We're expecting a lot of new members to sign up for the new year. Many unfortunaely may get discouraged when they don't see immediat results but I'm going to keep them motivated."
"We're also going to get a computer in here and I'm going to do fitness testing," he said. "This will help give people an idea of what they need to work on and how to train."
The biggest question Graham said she's been getting is on the aerobics classes.
"We are going to start them Monday," she said. "We stopped them before the holidays when two of the classes were empty but there's been a big response to them for the next year."
The three classes held at the Y are set for individual needs whether you are a beginner or seasoned stepper.
"We'll easily fill all three classes next week," Graham said. "We usually run 10 to 14 people per class."
For those with children, the YMCA also offers free childcare services while the member is working out.
An after school program can accommodate 18-20 children.
The hurricane damaged the program's playground and Graham said they were in real need of better equipment.
Starting January 10, the YMCA will start-up one of its most popular programs, youth basketball.
"We run something pretty much year-round," Terry said. "Basketball draws about 100 children and we break it into three age groups. We have a lot of games with as many as 300 people coming to watch their children play."
Blair Nasser is still holding classes in gymnastics on Thursdays and Tuesdays though she said she would like to have more participants.
"We have had 50 students but now I'm down to about 30," she said. "We don't have the facilities for a lot so I have to teach tumbling mainly. I'd love to have a full gymnasium as I could teach uneven bars, beam and floor work. We just don't have the facilities yet."
Nasser said she has been un gymnastics for 18 years and has trained all over including under famed teacher Bella Carrolli.
"For those not looking for athletic programs, we're looking to add some different programs," Graham said. "We're about to start a scrap booking class for example. We're going to supply the time and materials even and I've got about five or six ladies interested in it already."
As for the cost of joining, Graham said the YMCA was the best value around.
"We're dirt cheep," she said. "In fact we depend on grants to keep us running."
One can sign-up for membership in the YMCA at the office on Pensacola Avenue. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.