Published: 08/10/2026 - 9:00 AM
As a certified personal trainer, Jessica knows what good instruction looks like the moment she sees it, and she's picky about where she brings her family. When she found the Y, that search was over.
"I was so excited and relieved that I finally found a place that teaches skills appropriately."
Her daughter has ADHD, and Jessica started bringing her to yoga classes hoping the practice might help. At first, her daughter just fidgeted through the sessions. Over time, that shifted into real participation, and the classes became something more: a bonding experience the two of them now share.
On days her daughter isn't up for class, she doesn't have to sit it out entirely. She can settle in at one of the Y's tables or quiet areas to do homework or grab a snack, close enough to watch her mother take care of herself. For Jessica, that visibility matters. Packing food and bringing along a laptop for homework means she never has to choose between her own wellbeing and her kids' needs, she can plan for both.
"The YMCA is a family geared facility that wants to make it so that you can take care of you without any reason not to."
What keeps her coming back is the range of what's available under one roof: outdoor walking and running, swimming, an indoor track, and classes taught with real attention to proper form and body mechanics, the kind of instruction she looks for professionally. Her kids can join her in class or head to KidZone while she trains. And when class ends, she's often not ready to leave. That time is hers, even if it just means a shower without a small voice on the other side of the door asking what's for dinner.
For Jessica, the Y isn't just a place to work out. It's a place where being a good role model and taking care of herself can happen at the same time.
There are tons of benefits to having a family membership. Learn more below.