by Mary Rupert
New exercise equipment at the Providence YMCA-Ball Family Center might help residents make their New Year’s resolutions become a reality.
The Providence YMCA – Ball Family Center at 8601 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan., has added a new line of exercise and training equipment.
New strength training equipment and new cycling equipment at the YMCA represent a $200,000 upgrade, according to Providence YMCA-Ball Family Center executive director Chad Jansen.
The new equipment will be more effective in workouts and will help more individuals, according to Jansen, who has been executive director there about two months. He has more than 21 years experience with the YMCA.
Jansen said there has been a tremendous positive response from patrons to this new equipment, which has been in place about a month.
The YMCA also includes a new floor layout to accommodate the new equipment, he said.
A ribbon-cutting for the renovations was held today, with representatives of the Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce participating.
Danny Helmich, healthy living director at the YMCA, said YMCA members who sign up for exercise programs can have a coach and a fitness coordinator.
When members sign up, their fitness coordinator and coach will be able to help them come up with a workout individually tailored for them, and it will specify what equipment they should use, Helmich said. The YMCA is working with area hospitals in specific programs for patients.
Besides individual workouts, there are also exercise classes and workshops for groups. There are more than 61 group exercise classes currently at the Providence YMCA – Ball Family Center, including water and land exercise classes, he said. Some classes are geared to active older adults. The center has about 7,000 members, according to YMCA officials.
Helmich said the new strength training equipment allows members to work the entire body and keeps track of their exercise.
Exercise classes keep people motivated, as participants often work with partners, and have instructors who encourage them to continue with their exercise, he said.
