My Home Away From Home… the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA.

I absolutely love writing! I love the excitement of finding a topic that intrigues me, the research in educating myself on said topic and the writing process itself.  My hope is that you’ll able to take away one thing from any blog you read and use or adapt it into your own life… Enjoy!

If I’m not home or helping my customers sell their home or find their dream home… you’ll more than likely find me at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA (DPY).  The Y, the staff, the members and the Advisory Board are always on my mind.

Interesting fact… the Y actually rebranded themselves to “the Y” in 2010.  Communities and members for years prior had affectionally call the “YMCA” the Y” for many years so they rebranded!

I was first introduced to the Y in 2013 when watching one of my nieces play soccer at the DPY for the team my twin brother was coaching. That same season my niece asked if I would coach her team with her daddy and who could say no to that? As my niece would say “we’re a soccer family” dating back to grandpa who played semi-pro soccer, my dad who played college ball and my twin and I playing through high school. I jumped at the opportunity, soon after I joined the Y as a member then a volunteer.

So let me tell you about everything the Y has to offer our community…

Amenities

Wellness floor for state-of-the-art exercise equipment.

Racquetball and handball courts.

Lap swim pool.

Splash pad and slide.

Gymnasiums.

Locker rooms with showers, sauna and steam rooms.

Childcare for your children while you work out.

Teen Center.

Outdoor and front patio.

Café

The lobby at the Y is a beautiful space and although I can’t say anything yet, they are finalizing contracts with two fantastic food and beverage vendors to move into these spaces soon.  Needless to say we’re all very excited!

Equipment

Like a lot of gyms (though we’re much more than a gym), the Y has state-of-the-art exercise equipment.  You can watch TV, listen to music and countless other things depending on the equipment being used.  They do a good job of two things.  1) maintaining and upgrading equipment as needed and 2) listening to members about equipment needs.

Personal Training

And I might add that the Y has a team of personal trainers to help you progress towards achieving your fitness goals whatever they may be.  I’ve used their trainers several times over the years and it was a great experience.  It was nice having an accountability partner.  The trainers are a good source for developing fitness plans, learning technique and everything you need to get excited about a living a healthier lifestyle!

Group Exercise Classes

I’ve belonged to a lot of health clubs and I am very confident in writing the Y has not only the largest variety of group exercise classes than other brands, but has a higher frequency to accommodate members’ time constraints.  Why don’t I name a few…

P90X, yoga, Body Pump, Latin Cardio, Kickboxing, Pilates, RPR, pickleball, Indoor Cycling and Zumba… to name a few.  And yes, I’ve tried Zumba, it is a lot of fun and I’m still just as uncoordinated now as I was when I was clubbing in my youth.

The Y also has programs catered towards all demographics i.e. kids, young adults, and older active adults.

Sports

My parents did a great job of getting my twin brother and I involved in many different sports growing up and the Y has so many to choose from. Aside from playing, organized sports can provide kids with confidence, social skills and help them recognize the importance of hard work and being a team player. I think the Y’s athletic director sleeps at the Y and they go over and beyond giving players and coaches the resources needed to make sure the kids have fun and learn the game. The Y is always in need of coaches that align with their core values and honestly, I think the parents have just as much fun as the kids at practices and on game day. Some of the sports offered include: basketball, soccer, volleyball, futsal, and pickleball.  There are sports and leagues available for virtually every sport and every age group.  By the way, Pickle Ball has gained quite the following at the Dr. P. Phillips Y!

Camps

Summer time at the Y is absolutely insane!  There are so many camps and kids enjoying activities like athletics, arts and crafts, STEM offerings and more!  Let’s face it you’ve got to keep your kids occupied during the summer and spending time in a fun and safe place like the Y where your kids can make new friends is a great way to spend a summer!

Events

I subscribe to several of the Y’s social media platforms as well as their emails.  They do a fantastic job of keeping members engaged outside of fitness. In a pre-covid world the Y did something for just about every holiday and they are slowly getting back to this.  I’ve attended many events where the Y simply spares no expense.  Some of the past activities include: a multicultural holiday party including visits from Santa and Mrs. Clause,  5k community runs, health fairs, Easter Egg hunts, Healthy Kids Day, food drives and countless other family fun events. Whether it is to entertain the kids, a charitable cause or just to get out and meet new people… the Y is fairly certain to have something you can get behind, support and have fun.

Community

I can’t say enough about they Y’s involvement in the community through volunteering, fund raising, health awareness, educating youth and countless other programs. Their philanthropy efforts extend globally, nationally and in your community where you can volunteer your time, make a donation or help with other resources.  Of the few causes I support like my church (Holy Family Catholic Church), it’s nice to know that with the Y you know where your money is going and can even choose exactly what programs you want to benefit from your gift. They keep you well informed of the impact your contributions make through social media and other outlets.

Friendships

As I am frequently at the Y, a larger part of going is to socialize with the staff, friends and meet new people. I can’t think of a time where a staff member hasn’t greeted me with a smile or offered to help with something.  And let’s face it, some of the classes there challenge you both physically and mentally. What better way to meet new people than bonding during a class where we’re all challenging ourselves?

Staff

I really do need to give a shoutout to all of the DPY staffers.  Like many other professions including educators and first responders, they work tirelessly at and for the Y cause not only because they get paid to so, but because they believe in the Y’s mission and core values.  The staff voluntarily pledge to the annual support campaign.  They are engaged with events outside the scope of their job responsibilities. And they love it!  In many professions, you weave your professional life into your personal life.  At the Y, the staff weave their personal life into their professional life as they work long hours, with varying schedules and the Y is always top of mind for them!  Big shoutout to Chris D, Michele M, Bobby V, Lauren S, Brian, Christopher, Karen, Vonda, Steven M., Nate, Debbie M., Jody A., Kevin B, Michelle, Justin H, Craig, the entire 2022 DPY Advisory Board (and all Y employees) for all you do to selflessly support the Y!

In summary…

It’s really just a matter of finding what motivates you be it health goals, music, socializing or as cliché as it sounds… being a part of something bigger than yourself. Once you start going to the Y and participating in the many activities, it’s kind of hard to stop the self-perpetuating cycle of progress (not perfection) to your goals in mind, spirit and body.

I consider the DPY the “unofficial hub” of the Dr. Phillips community.  I scroll through NextDoor regularly and see posts where new residents to our community ask for places to meet new people.  And on more than one occasion, other neighbors respond with the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA… and I couldn’t agree more!

Also, I’d like to add that I wasn’t asked to write this for the Y. It’s just such a large part of my life.  I’m not only a fan of the Y…. I’m a volunteer and have coached, volunteered for events and now am blessed with the opportunity to serve as Board Chair for the DPY Advisory board!

That being said… I do hope you’ll consider visiting the Dr. Phillips Y!