Courtesy Saratoga TMCA
By Christine Graf
The Saratoga Regional YMCA recently celebrated the grand opening of its newly-expanded West Avenue facility. The $8.9 million expansion project was funded in part by a $3 million gift from Stewart’s Shop and the Dake Family. The Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation Inc. contributed $1 million towards the project, and additional funds were provided by individual donors and community partners.
“We’re still raising needed funds to help offset the cost of the project,” said Saratoga Regional YMCA Executive Director Steve Butler.
The 23,000-square-foot expansion includes a new gymnasium, an indoor play center, a wellness center, and an intergenerational lobby that connects the YMCA to the brand-new Saratoga Senior Center. The center relocated to the YMCA campus from its previous location on Williams Street and operates independently of the YMCA.
“Members of the SRYMCA and members of the Saratoga Senior Center can now access both facilities seamlessly through our Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation Inc. Intergenerational Lobby,” said Butler. “The spacious lobby area has various seating options for individuals and families to connect and engage with one another, enjoy a cup of coffee together, participate in a virtual meeting, or play a board game. It’s also a place where our Before & After School Program children can focus on their academics and finish up their homework during our care.”
The C.R. Wood Foundation basketball gym, located on the first floor of the new building, will be used for much more than basketball. Although not a full-sized gym, it does have two basketball hoops.
“We are currently running a lot of our smaller mini-active play groups in the new gymnasium. We will also be able to use this new space for our preschool program, youth sports programs such as our 3 vs 3 basketball leagues and Little Rookie classes, and also offer members open gym time,” said Butler. “This space allows us to expand our program options and serve more children and families.”
The Mike and Linda Toohey Indoor Adventure Center, a multi-level play structure for children between the ages of 2 and 9, can also be found on the first floor of the new building. The adventure center will be utilized by the YMCA’s child care programs, open play times, toddler times and family times will be scheduled throughout the week. The Adventure Center can also be booked for birthday parties, which has been a hot commodity currently, with parties booked through January!
The Fort Miller Group Inc. Wellness Center, located on the second floor, is a 7,200- square-foot fitness center. It contains 3,000 feet of turf as well as a variety of functional fitness equipment.
“It has squat areas, functional areas, battle ropes, sleds for pushing, tires for flipping, and cardio equipment options as well,” said Butler. “A little something for everyone with a more modern fitness flare.”
In addition to the wellness center, the second floor features a 2,200-square-foot cycle studio that can accommodate more than 40 people. Down the hall from the cycle studio is the Dave and Stephanie Collins Multi-Purpose Studio 2. The multi-purpose studio contains 6 different half-racks and rigs that can be used for deadlifts, squats, and benching ad many other weight-based training opportunities. The room is also being used for large group training classes including many of our Evidence Based programs like our Livestrong Program, a program for cancer survivorship, Enhanced Fitness, a community-based senior fitness and arthritis management program, Moving for Better Balance, a 12-week evidence-based, instructor-led group program designed to improve strength, balance, and flexibility through the slow and therapeutic movements of Tai Chi. The SRYMCA also offers a Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program as well as Walk with Ease, a program for those dealing with mobility issues, and coming soon, a Bariatric Recovery Program.
“We will also be using our new space for our newly developed Elevate classes that will be launching in January 2024,” said Butler. “Elevate is a series of large group training classes offered six times a day at five days a week to really challenge yourself through circuit training. 50-minute classes where you will be pushed to your fullest potential from two certified personal trainers. Members will be able to sample our classes completely free for the month of December before fully launching in January.”
As for group exercise classes, they will be held in the building’s new 2,200-square-foot group exercise studio. Class offerings include Les Mills Body Pump, Silver Sneakers, Zumba, Power Moves, and Body Combat.
“It’s a large, beautiful room that gives people a more private area to take a class compared to some of our current spaces,” said Butler.
The Saratoga Regional YMCA also provides opportunities for members to participate in evidence-based health initiatives. Three of those initiatives– Pedal for Parkinson’s, Power Moves, and Rock Steady Boxing—are designed for people with movement disorders.
In addition to offering a wide variety of evidence-based, fitness, aquatic, youth sport, and adult sports programs, the Saratoga Regional YMCA also offers HydroMassage. An affordable alternative to traditional massage, HydroMassage utilizes pressurized heated water. For $25 a month, members are entitled to receive a daily 10-minute massage.
For an additional monthly fee, members also have access to EGYM. By interfacing with a series of 9 different strength training machines, EGYM provides efficient and versatile workouts for all training objectives. Seats and weights are adjusted automatically, and users are guided through a full-body workout that takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Through the EGYM app, users are able to track their progress and evaluate their fitness level.
“We are the only health center in a 100-to-200-mile radius that has EGYM which is great for the individual new to strength training and not really sure where to begin,” said Butler.
According to Butler, membership costs have not increased as a result of the expansion. He also said financial assistance is available for those who can’t afford the cost of membership.
“The Y never turns anyone away for the inability to pay. Even if you don’t think you qualify, at least give us the opportunity to get you into a fitness at a cost that works for you. No other Health and Fitness Organization outside of YMCA can say they do that for people.”