In this issue:

Meet Y-Nona: Kitten Adoption at the Woodfin Y!

Once upon a time, in the land of Woodfin, very, very early on a summer's morning, a tiny little kitty was found crying...scared and hungry at the door of the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin.  Now everyone far and wide knows that this Y is known for its kind and caring members and they can always make great things happen.

Jane Robinson and Ron Dame, two very loyal Y members, rushed home and brought back some kitty food and a cozy carrier with a cuddly blanket.  In no time at all, our little friend, now name Y-Nona, had her tummy full and was curled up to settle down for a peaceful nap.

Then entered Cindy Trisler and and Rod Bowling and it was love at first sight!  This lucky little kitty curled up in Rod's arms, purring away.  A smitten kitten to be sure!

The kitten was well on its way to a happy new life!

Get a FREE MONTH with the YMCA Membership Referral Program!

Get A Free Month From Us…

Pick up a post card from the membership staff or print off the post card from the link above, write your name on it and give it to a friend.  When they join ,we will send you a FREE month coupon. You can refer up to six friends and receive a total of SIX FREE MONTHS.

 *Offer is limited to current full pay Adult or Family Bank Draft members who refer new full pay Adult or Family members. New members must complete 3 months of membership for the current member’s bank draft to be skipped. Members receiving Y Access benefits already receive a greater financial support monthly, therefore are not eligible.

Healthy Groups for Healthy Living: Y Connect

Connecting for Healthy Living

 The YMCA of WNC wants make sure you are connected. Not only to the many activities you can enjoy within the YMCA branches but to a knowledgeable community of like-minded members who hold similar interests to you.

 Y Connect is a project dedicated to forming healthy groups for the interests of the members of the YMCA of WNC. The goal of Y Connect is to create small, healthy groups within the YMCA community based on the interests of our members. As these groups grow, we hope to witness healthy relationships build as well as provide unique experiences and education that is shared across members and the community on a whole.

Ranging from Book Clubs to Cycle Clubs, the YMCA wants to inspire and support you!

Get Connected.

 Connect

                       Healthy Groups for Healthy Living

 Y Connect Groups happening at the Woodfin YMCA: Summer 2010

 Garden Club:

  Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6pm.  Location changes monthly.

 Next meeting Date: August 18th

Meeting Topic: GREENHOUSES!

  The mission of the Garden club, first and foremost is to HAVE FUN! This is opportunity to develop your gardening skills in whatever direction you choose. The group is there to support you with information, resources and a good ol’ time. We are looking forward to a field trip to the WNC Agricultural Center in September for the Master Garden’s Flower Show!

The location to meet will change from month to month. Joining our e-mail list will keep you informed of the Garden Club where-bout’s and topics.

For further information on this month’s location or to join the email list for future involvement, please email woodfincoach@ymcawnc.org.

 Book Club:

 Meets on the 2nd Friday of every month at 10am in the Multipurpose room at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin!

 Next meeting Date: August 13th

The Book Club has selected their first book:  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  It's not too late to join and start reading!

 Y Connect Coming Soon to the Woodfin YMCA

Programs to Inspire Youth Well-Being and Health: Ages 8-11 & 12-15

If your youth is looking for an after-school activity, one that emphasizes sport-training, nutrition information, health topics, body awareness, core training and more, this could be the program for them!

  Look for these programs in the fall!  We are currently in the process of collaborating member interest and designing these programs!

Email: Christine at woodfincoach@ymcawnc.org with any questions or suggestions.

Values-based Leadership: Save the Date!

August 26th, 10 am

NC Center for Creative Retirement

UNC Asheville Campus

A Better Way to Lead

Values-Based Leadership recognizes that the ethics of materialism, individualism and elitism have generated a world view that will not sustain our society into the future.

Keynote Speaker: Bill Grace, social justice activist, traveling teacher, and an architect of ideas.

Please join us after the event for a cooking demo,12 o’clock noon at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin, 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 101, Asheville NC 28804. The demo is hosted by the YMCA and Earthfare, and includes samples! Call for info: 505-3990.

This event is FREE and open to all, but seating is limited so register online today!

Register for either event or both at:

YMCA - www.ymcawnc.org or Activate Asheville Area www.activateashevillearea.org

 For more information, contact Kristen Weaver, YMCA Director of Association

Wellness Advancement Kweaver@ymcawnc.org (828) 210-9658

What's New?

Y Buddy?  Y Not?

That's right! Y Buddy is back!

Y Buddy is a program that allows you to connect with another YMCA member who has similar goals and interests as yourself.  The YMCA will match you with a workout partner who can help you stay motivated.  This is a great way to make a new friend and get in shape while having fun. 

The Y Buddy forms are located on the Programs board upstairs on the Wellness Floor. Please see a staff member or email woodfincoach@ymcawnc.org for more details.

Teen Orientation

Teen orientation is for youth, ages 12-15, to learn proper use of the facility equipment.  All teens within this age group are required to undergo the teen orientation before they are permitted to exercise on the wellness floor.  Sign your teen up today at the membership desk.

Next Teen Orientation Dates:

Thursday August 12, 8am-10am at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin

Saturday August 21, 8am-10am at the Downtown Y

Journey Dance Movement Workshop

Come and explore a new type of workout dance; Journey Dance! Journey dance is a simply-guided, free exploration movement to inspiring world music.  No previous dance experience required.

Two Times offered:

August 21st 3:00pm-4:30pm at the Downtown Y

August 30 7:30pm-9pm at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin

Cost:    Members: $5.00

                Non-Members: $7.00 

  Y Book Exchange

The newly established Y Book Club has started the “Y” Read Library book exchange in the front lobby.  Lots of members are participating and it is fun to see the range of books that are making it into the pile.  If you see a book you would like to read, please take it and enjoy.  You can pay it forward by bringing in some of your books that you think other members will enjoy.  We hope to see the book collection grow in the coming months so be sure to take a look.

United Way Back-to-School Supply Drive a Success

The Neighborhood Y at Woodfin partnered with the United Way to help support their back-to-school supply drive to help provides school supplies to over 500 children in the community. The drive was conducted from June 2 8 to July 19 and the drop off bin at the Y didn’t stay empty for long. By the end of the drive we had collected a nice assortment of backpacks, notebooks and pencils thanks to the caring and generosity of our Y members.  It’s great to know we have so many community minded individuals in our ranks.  Thank you everyone.

Ask The Woodfin Team!

ATTENTION WOODFIN MEMBERS: Got Questions? We’ve got answers!

 With the combined knowledge of the entire Woodfin Wellness and Membership teams, any questions you have concerning a variety of topics will be answered. We maintain staff with a wide range of knowledge, so ask away!

 AREAS OF EXPERTISE include, but are not limited to group exercise, nutrition, strength training, community wellness, photography, gardening, stretching, interior design, and much more! 

 On the wellness floor, large column to the left just up the stairs, you will find a grey suggestion box, now the “ASK THE WOODFIN TEAM!” box. Submit your questions there. Two or three questions a month will be addressed in the newsletter.

Questions:

Question: I have been trying to eat less and eat healthier, but I am hungry all the time. I know I need to lose weight and control my cravings; however, I need some suggestions.

Answer: Avoiding cravings and controlling hunger is a huge part of weight management, especially when someone is trying to lose weight. There are some simple suggestions to help anyone struggling with their weight.

Suggestions

1)      Eat breakfast. Studies show that people who eat breakfast are more likely to eat less calories throughout the day and have a much lower chance of becoming obese.

2)      Make smart choices. Eating foods that are high in protein and fiber will help to keep you full longer. Protein and fiber leave the stomach much slower than carbohydrates.

3)      Drink lots of water! Water can fill you up and is calorie free, not to mention you’re working hard in the gym and it’s hot outside!

Question: I am really enjoying my experience here at the Y, but lately I have been feeling like I am getting into a "rut".  How can I take my workouts to another level?

Answer:  It is normal to feel your body start to plateau after a while.  The good news is that the YMCA has many options for you to enhance your workout!

Suggestions:

1) Try a new group exercise class.  The YMCA of WNC offers over 225 classes per week association wide.  Group exercise is a great way to stay motivated and realize new limits for yourself.

2) Make and appointment with a wellness coach.  If you have not already, schedule an appointment with the YMCA's certified wellness coaches.  The coaches are trained to keep you motivated. They serve as an accountability partner and are extremely knowledgeable!

3) Get a Y Buddy.  Pair up with another Y member who has similar goals and interests as yourself.  Ask a wellness coach for details on this program!

Staff Spotlight: Matt Boulos

I have been a member at the YMCA since I was a young child, and have always thought of the Y as a home. In the summer of 2006 I first worked for the YMCA as a camp counselor at the Reuter branch. In January of 2010 I rejoined the YMCA’s team as a member of the Youth Fit For Life staff and I have also been becoming more involved at the Wellness center’s for Woodfin and the Downtown branches as a Wellness Coach.

Working at the Y is important to me because it is something I believe in. The involvement with Youth Fit For Life is a way I can give back to the community by taking an active role in the fight against childhood obesity. Additionally, as a Wellness Coach

 I enjoy the interaction with members and the opportunity to use my undergraduate education in Exercise Science. I have always been a gym rat for basketball and a bookworm for science. I have worked basketball camps for Duke and Campbell, and I aspire to be a physician in the future. Those are two pretty easy things to learn about me from a short conversation though. I have also been playing chess since I was in second grade, so if any members out there can offer a challenge bring it on!

Some friendly advice to members: This summer has been one of the hottest summers that we have ever experienced here in the mountains, and with that being said, hydration is extremely important. It is very important to make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids day-to-day and making an extra effort to drink enough fluids on days you are spending longer in the sun and doing more activity. The recommendation is at least 8 cups of fluid a day for MINIMUM consumption. Keep those fluids nearby, and opt for water as often as possible to eliminate unwanted calories. Members be well, be active, and drink up!

Member Stories: Darrel Bowles

Darrel Bowles

How long have you been a member at the Y?  2 months

Hobbies:  Reading and listening to music – and now exercising!

Tell us something interesting about yourself:  Pastor of Salem United Methodist in Weaverville – husband to Robin (for 22 years) and dad to Jessie (girl age 12) and Zach (boy age 4)

What has been the best part of your experience here?  I love the friendliness of the staff and of the members. Everyone is willing to help you out with a question or show you a technique. The Coach approach has been the best part of the membership for me. My coach is my accountability partner and gives me great feedback and constant encouragement. The equipment and facility are excellent.

About Giving

The charitable work of the YMCA is supported in part through contributions to the YMCA's annual Strong Kids Campaign, endowment program, and other contributed income. It is our belief that NO ONE should be turned away for their inability to pay. 

Visit http://www.ymcawnc.org/give.php for more information about how to give.