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Health & Wellness

THE COACH APPROACH®

THE COACH APPROACH® is an exercise support process that is free with your facility membership and only available at the YMCA.

This nationally-acclaimed process is a specific and comprehensive system of support for anyone starting to work out. A Wellness Coach will assist you, the member, in creating and reaching short- and long-term goals.  Members will then have an opportunity for follow-up meetings with their coach in order to receive continued assistance in their success.

This flexible approach is designed to help you form the habit of regular exercise. It teaches specific skills that help you set realistic goals, adjust your work out, and provide reinforcing feedback and support.

OUR PROMISE
After six, free one-on-one wellness coaching sessions, you will:

  • Believe in your ability to start and stick with exercise;
  • Know how to be active, doing what you like;
  • Improve your mental and physical well-being;
  • Increase your power to protect yourself with a better lifestyle.


REASONS TO BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITY TO START AND STICK WITH EXERCISE
You will know how to:

  1. Customize your physical activity to minimize your risk for dropping out.
  2. Accomplish overall goals by setting short-term S.M.A.R.T. goals.
  3. Use a computer to track your mood, energy level, and progress.
  4. Operate the fitness equipment you choose to include in your plan.
  5. Pick a class that is paced properly for you.
  6. Plan for slips in attendance and how to recover when they occur.
  7. Enlist social support from Y staff, friends, co-workers, and family.
  8. Stop destructive thinking and start supportive self-talk.
  9. Make sure your physical activity leaves you refreshed, not worn out.
  10. Make exercise persistence pay off.
  11. Balance rewarding yourself with praise and setting new challenges.

FITLINXXTM
This program coaches members on strength and cardiovascular workouts and provides the Wellness staff the tools needed to create training programs and track member performance. 

FitLinxxTM is an interactive computer system that allows members to keep track of their workouts, including Cybex strength training and all cardio exercise. Members can access information about their workouts such as calorie expenditure, amount of weight lifted, progress reports, and goal-specific tracking.  Once a member is registered, they can also track workouts from any computer at home, work or on vacation through FitLinxx.  Schedule an appointment with one of our Wellness Staff and shape your future today!

YOUTH FIT FOR LIFE
The YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta is declaring war on obesity.  In response to this epidemic, Dr. Jim Annesi, Metro Atlanta YMCA’s Director of Wellness Advancement has created the "Youth Fit For Life” initiative.  "Youth Fit For Life” is a twelve-week physical activity program consisting of cardiovascular activities, resistance exercises and behavior skills training.  The program is delivered three times per week by after-school counselors.  As a result of their participation in this program, over 2,000 YMCA children showed positive physiological and psychological improvements. Look for more information as the YMCA continues the fight against childhood obesity.

NUTRITION WORKSHOPS
These workshops are designed to help members supplement their fitness regimen by developing healthier nutritional lifestyle practices.  The classes, taught by a Certified Nutritionist, are held in our Aerobics studio every Monday and Wednesday.