The Chambersburg YMCA has a Masters swimming training group. The group of adult swimmers trains together in the Huber pool at the YMCA from 6:00 – 7:15 AM Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There are multiple ability levels ranging from new fitness swimmers to former competitive swimmers and tri-athletes.

“It’s a great program for both members and non-members in the Chambersburg community who enjoy swimming laps and training in the pool” said Aquatic Director and Coach, Chris Chance. The program, now in its second year is looking to grow and include new members eager for the physical and social benefits of an adult swim team where competition is optional. “It’s a great program, I’ve become much more fit and built some new relationships at the same time” said former YMCA Charger swimmer turned masters swimmer and Coach Adam Leeper.

Adult swim teams are active in every state and there’s even a YMCA Masters National Championships in Fort Lauderdale every spring. The team sent 2 swimmers Kate Miller and Anthony Addlesberger down to represent the Chambersburg YMCA in Florida during 2008. To learn more about the YMCA and there adult swim team contact Coach Chance at the YMCA.

When the students return to school for the 2009 – 2010 school year, many new member friendly improvements to the swimming pool schedules will occur.  Swimming lessons for preschool and youth will have early evening family friendly class times, while master swimmers will have their own workout times with a dedicated coach.  Lap swimmers will be able to swim right after work from 5:15 to 6 pm, without competing for lane space with other YMCA programs.  The YMCA’s Swim Team will have extended practice time and more individual attention too.  The YMCA’s Aquatic staff hopes everyone enjoys their expanded use of the YMCA’s aquatic facilities.

Armed Services YMCA and Department of Defense partnership gives military families access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs

 As part of the new Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Outreach Initiative, the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA is providing military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs.  Membership fees for these families are underwritten by the DoD and administered through Military OneSource, an information and referral service for military families.

“The Chambersburg Memorial YMCA is happy to help meet the critical needs facing families of deployed military service members,” said Jen Gossert, Director of Family Services, Chambersburg Memorial YMCA.  “Families are the most affected when a loved one gets deployed, so we are deeply committed to providing them with the support they need.”

The ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all deployed National Guard and Reserve families, and some active duty families in certain special categories. 

Military families participating in the initiative are eligible for YMCA memberships based on participation requirements. Those eligible to participate in the new initiative include:

All interested families of joint deployed National Guard and Reserves of all military branches;
Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel and their families; and
Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel.
 

“The YMCA has a long history of supporting military service members and their families – since the Civil War – so it was natural for us to join this initiative,” said Gossert. “During this time of conflict, it is more important than ever that we continue providing services and support to these families in the absence of a deployed spouse.” These services are beneficial to military families, as evidenced by the responses of members of the program.

 “Having the benefits of the YMCA at the military families’ disposal is a God-send.” said Sasha Coleman Arnett, whose husband Jeremy is currently serving in Iraq. Arnett is caring for their young daughter, London, while her husband is deployed.  “Since we do not have any family even remotely close to Chambersburg, I was a bit concerned as to how I would be able to get some “me time” and also have London get used to different atmospheres and people.  Using the Y’s child care during my workouts has been wonderful. The staff is always so nice, and I never worry about leaving her there.  She enjoys her time with the staff and children, and I enjoy my time to better me as a person, and in turn, as a mom.”

For more information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative, please visit www.asymca.org. or www.ymca.net.

In these tough economic times, when everyone has to work to make ends meet, how do you balance time at work and quality time with your family? Here are some tips to help you balance work time and family time:

♦Make Your Boss Your Ally: Talk with your boss honestly about your family. Let him/her know your family comes first, but demonstrate your serious commitment to work by showing progress.
♦Stay Busy and Focused: Get your job done during work hours so you do not have to work overtime and sacrifice your family time.
♦Show Your Family Commitment: Schedule family commitments like you do work ones, that way you will be less likely to sacrifice that time. Display family photos and your children’s artwork in your office so everyone can see how proud you are of your family.
♦Use Work Benefits that Help You Balance Work and Family: Inquire as to any benefits your employer might offer such as flextime, shift swapping, etc.
♦Make Career Decisions as a Family: If you are looking for a job, try to find one that limits stress in your life. Compare the benefits of the job to how it will affect your family time.
♦Limit Work on Weekends, Vacations, and Holidays: Do not get into the habit of working on your days off. Have a co-worker cover your shift while you are on vacation, that way you do not worry about work during your family time.
♦Be With Your Family Every Day: It is wonderful if you can occasionally plan special events just for your family. It is even better if you can turn off your phone, laptop, or pager during this time. If this is a busy time and such events are not possible, fine little ways to spend time with your family every day. Have dinner together, read a story before bedtime, or take a walk together. These moments bring you together as a family and although they are “little” things, they add up!

This article was adapted from “12 Ways to Balance Work and Family,” a resource published by the National Fatherhood Initiative.

With spring just around the corner the YMCA is accepting registrations for their Scramble Golf League slated to start on April 6th at the Majestic Ridge Golf Club. Two person teams will play nine hole handi-capped matches against other two person teams through August 17th.  An 18 hole league championship will be held on August 23rd or August 30th.  Weekly prizes for men and women play.  All playing levels welcome.  Men’s, Women’s and Co-Ed teams accepted.  $25.00 per person registration fee.  League capacity twenty teams.  Registration forms can be found on the YMCA’s web page under league play.

Whether it is swimming laps, running miles on the treadmill or shooting hoops; the YMCA has these and many other ways to spend quality time together with your children, spouse or special friend.  Weekends at the Y are a great time to re-connect with yourself and your family.  Upcoming weekend events for families include the Nov. 16th Ornament Making Class, the Dec. 6th Breakfast with Santa and the January Snow Tubing trip.  For teens and adults, the Y is offering a Stuffed Turkey Spin class on Black Friday, Nov. 28th and several tournaments for all skill levels.

 But beyond special trips and classes, the Y is open every Saturday and Sunday with great ways to keep healthy and connected with your loved ones.  So the next time you are looking for someplace to go, remember your YMCA membership offers you and your family lots of fun.

Only two more months of 2008 are left, which for most folks means two more months of holiday gluttony until they announce another “Get in Shape” New Year’s Resolution.  Why wait until January, when you can start right now and help beat the holiday bulge.
From Nov. 1st until Nov 30th the Y will offer 6 Total Access Fitness Classes a week.  These classes are 30-45 min weight training group exercise classes held in the Y’s new Total Access Fitness Room.   The goal is simple – attend 12 classes during the month of November averaging 3 times per week and you will receive a free T-shirt.  For those who struggle with time commitments if you attend 9 classes in November you will receive a free water bottle. 
The rules are simple:  1 – you must be a current Y member with Fitness Center privileges; 2 – you must participate in 30 minutes of the scheduled class time; 3 – you should know how to use each piece of Cybex Total Access equipment before taking the class.
Each class accommodates 11 students, they are free to Y members and they are on a first come first serve attendance basis.   For more information please contact Michele Sheppard a msheppard@chbgy.org

1. Add Weight to Lose Weight
Should I do more reps with less weight? Or use more weight and do fewer reps?  If you are looking to shed pounds, the answer is to use more weight and do fewer reps.  Select a weight heavy enough that you are able to do 15 reps maximum.  Work up to completing three sets of 15 reps.  It seems contradictory – but increasing lean body mass is the best way to lose excess fat and maintain a long-term healthy body weight.

2. Best Butt Workout
Get on the EAGLE Leg Press and adjust the back to position #4.  Adjust the footplate so that when your toes are at the top of the footplate, your knee is at a 90 degree angle.  Select a weight where you can’t do more than 15 reps.  Repeat 15 reps three times.  (Extra tip: for added variety, do one leg at a time placing less stress on the back and greater emphasis on the glutes.)

3. Flattest Tummy
Get on the EAGLE or VR3 Ab machine.  It may not look like it is going to work your abs – but from the first lean-forward you will know it is working just the area you need to tighten up those ab muscles.  (Extra tip – REALLY IMPORTANT: Always work opposing muscle groups in tandem.  Do 10-15 reps on the ab machine and then 10-15 on the Back machine.  Repeat 3 times.)

It’s that time of year again … the Sam’s Club begins on Tuesday, October 7 at 6:30pm.  Sam’s Club is open to students in 1st-7th grade.  In addition to providing full privilege YMCA memberships, every Tuesday night from October-April children are transported by YMCA buses to the Y for physical activities, swimming, fellowship, mentoring and Christian education.   Registration is required!  Registration forms are available on the website.  For more information stop in or contact April Braxton at 263-8508.

The YMCA’s competitive swim team has been in existence since 1956. Over the years the team has provided a steady diet of structure, exercise and life lessons to hundreds if not thousands of local boys and girls. The sport of swimming is unique in that young athletes compete in an individual sport in a team environment. There are many physical, social and psychological benefits to participating in competitive swimming. At the Chambersburg YMCA swimmers ages 5 – 18 who are already members of the Y can register as  members of the Charger Swim Team. The new season begins on 9/15/08. Please contact Coach Chance at extension 105 for further information.

The Many Benefits of Joining a Competitive Swim Team

Physical Development:

Swimming provides aerobic endurance and is the most beneficial form of cardiovascular exercise. It is the best sport for overall muscular development. It enhances natural flexibility, develops coordination, and it is the most injury free sport for children. It is also the only lifetime sport you can carry into old age.

Mental Development:

Learning proper technique engages the thinking process as new skills are learned. Swimmers must develop and plan movement sequences. They learn that greater progress results from using their creative talents and exploring new ideas. Structured programs of physical activity develop a stronger self-image. The commitment of time required for competitive swimming teaches time management skills. Swim team members learn about self-discipline and sportsmanship. Swimmers learn that excellence can be continually sought. Charger swimmers are taught respect, responsibility, caring and honesty.

Emotional Development:

The nature of the sport dictates that swimming is a self-achievement activity: the responsibility of the performance ultimately lies with the individual in any given lane in a race. That individual, over time, will have many experiences positive and negative, encouraging and discouraging. Learning how to handle the success and failure and self-achieving responsibility develops self-confidence. Through perseverance,
swimmers learn courage, dedication, commitment and how to overcome adversity. Swimmers learn to handle pressure and stress, sometimes self-imposed, sometimes by others. Through experiences in swimming, swimmers learn attitudes and habit that will remain with them throughout their lives. Most swimmers learn to be “can do” people.