By By Chandler Myers
Looking for a way to meet new friends or improve mentally, physically and spiritually as a person?
The Atmore Area YMCA is more than just a place to go and work out or drop children off for daycare. It is a place to build relationships, while improving the development of human spirit, mind and body, according to executive director Tammy Graham.
Graham said this is Atmore’s mission, which is built off of the national mission of the YMCA.
As a part of the mission, the YMCA offers several programs for the community to become involved in for fitness, sports and fun.
Atmore’s YMCA offers beginning and intermediate aerobics classes for men and women, and it also offers a course for senior citizens.
Graham said the senior class is an exercise aimed at keeping them in shape.
The focus on building the relationships hits all levels at the YMCA.
One thing to help relationships build is the nursery that allows parents to bring their children to the YMCA, while they exercise.
Graham said this builds relationships several different ways.
Youth sports programs are another important aspect of the Atmore Area YMCA.
The Atmore Area YMCA is the only one of its kind with a 3-5-year-old sports program, and is also the only one in the city.
Graham said the focus of these sports programs is to teach fundamentals, experience and that it’s not all about winning.
Other fitness programs offered by the YMCA include taekwondo and gymnastics.
Graham said the taekwondo class is a great class for children, and added that parents enjoy it.
The gymnastics program that the YMCA offers it is great for little children and cheerleaders because of the tumbling involved, according to Graham.
All of the classes and programs offered by the YMCA are in place to provide the community with controlled, safe environments.
Graham said the YMCA is an organization that sets out to help the community with these programs. She added that families enjoy the programs because of the values involved.
Graham said she also wants the community to know that the YMCA is a non-profit charity that runs on donations and not government funds.