YMCA Of Austin Launches Virtual Fitness Programs
AUSTIN, TX — Just because the coronavirus has halted some activities doesn't mean you can't stay fit. With that in mind, the YMCA of Austin is launching an online platform for members offering a fitness experience for them to remain active and healthy, officials said.
Launching this month, the Virtual Y includes access to more than 20 hours of YMCA Live exercise classes each week plus an on-demand library of hundreds of instructional fitness classes. Classes range from yoga, barre and tai chi to cardio fitness and HIIT (High-Impact Interval Training). Classes are suitable for people of all ages and abilities, including a full complement of senior programs such as balance exercises and low-impact workouts for people with reduced mobility.
“On-demand fitness platforms are everywhere these days, but what sets the Virtual Y apart is the local, personal connection we can provide with our instructors, other participants and the community as a whole,” James Finck, YMCA of Austin President & CEO, said in a prepared statement.
The Virtual Y is just the latest in the Y’s long history of innovation, which spans from the invention of basketball and volleyball to the creation of group swim lessons and summer camps. After the citywide shutdown in March, the Austin Y began piloting virtual programming that drew a nationwide audience. Since then, thousands of people have enjoyed a wide variety of programs that have included coffee clubs, kids’ yoga, virtual storytimes, senior fitness, Zumba and even bible study.
“Our Y has worked quickly in response to this public health crisis to meet community needs, whether by distributing thousands of pounds of food, providing child care to essential workers or performing outreach to isolated seniors,” Finck said. “The Virtual Y is yet another way that we are innovating to help people maintain their health while following safety guidelines.”
The Virtual YMCA is a benefit available to all full-facility YMCA of Austin members for no extra cost. An exclusive stand-alone Virtual YMCA membership is also available for $25 per month. More details are available at the YMCA of Austin homepage.
In the coming weeks. The Y will launch virtual Personal Training exclusively for members as well as Youth & Family programming. The Y is also currently offering fee-based virtual youth programs such as dance, martial arts, boxing, art and educational enrichment. More details are available at the Virtual Program Options portal of the YMCA of Austin website.
About the YMCA of Austin
The YMCA is a nonprofit organization that has served the Austin community since 1953, providing health and wellness, aquatics, youth sports, day camp, childcare, youth leadership and family enrichment opportunities for more than 100,000 members and 30,000 program participants annually. More information on the YMCA of Austin is available at the YMCA of Austin homepage.
This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
