Beyond Fitness
by Brett Buckner
The John P. Thayer YMCA serves
as a beacon for wellness of
the mind, body and spirit.
Despite the gathering storm and
pebble-sized drops of rain obscuring
his vision, Justin Landers pauses in
front of the large bank of windows and
peers innocently inside.
What he sees is personally inspiring—a long line of exercise machines, most of
which are empty on this early weekday
afternoon.
“It makes me feel good just knowing it’s
here,” said the 22-year-old, looking away
long enough to prop his muddy mountain
bike near the curb. “I’m not a member yet,
but it won’t be long. And the new building
helps. Joining the Y is what being part of
the community is all about.
“It’s just what you do…to belong.”
Such insights would make David Steele,
executive director of the Metropolitan
Columbus YMCA, proud. And had he seen
the young man peddling past, Steele would
have invited him inside not only for a
proper tour of the new building but also to
explain that the YMCA is about more than
exercise.
“We have a beautiful new facility that is
attracting an awful lot of attention,” Steele
said. “But the YMCA is not a fitness club.
We are a charitable, faith-based organization
founded on Christian principals, and
we put those principals into practice
through the programs we offer.
“That’s the story we want to screamfrom
the mountaintops.”
The John P. Thayer YMCAcelebrated its
official opening on Feb. 1, but programs had
been steadily hosted in the new facility, located
at 24 14th St., since mid December as
membersmade the transition fromthe Central
YMCA, which has since been sold to the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus.
From the glass encased rock wall that serves as a spectator
sport for those walking through the main entrance to the regulation
size basketball court, the state-of-the-art Matrix exercise
machines and FitLinxx Interactive Fitness Network to the swimming
pool and racquetball courts, this new 50,000 square-foot,
$11 million facility makes a grand first impression.
It will serve as a beacon of health and wellness—both physically
and spiritually—for Columbus and beyond, says branch
director Kim Pilcher.
“We are more than just a building made of brick and mortar,”
she said. “Only the facility has changed. Our message and our
values remain the same.”
Through its numerous youth sports programs and day camps,
along with the aquatics, exercise groups and adult activities, the
YMCA—not only the John P. Thayer facility but the D.A.
Turner YMCA as well—is committed to promoting its core values
of honesty, respect, caring and responsibility among its members,
no matter their age or level of involvement.
“We talk about everything in terms of character building,”
Steele said. “The programs and everything else are conduits to
channel people into the Y.We’re not Bible thumpers and Columbus
already has enough churches.We witness to those who can’t
be reached any other way.”
For example, when a youth basketball game or a T-ball game starts
off with a prayer that might not only be the first prayer that child
has heard in a long time, but their parents are exposed to it as well.
This Christian influence, though perhaps overlooked or taken
for granted by the more than 8,000 members who may have been
initially attracted to the YMCA for its pool or basketball courts, the
sauna or cardiovascular machines, is what the YMCA has stood for
in Columbus since the first facility opened on Nov. 18, 1856.
And a new building isn’t going to change that approach. It
only makes the message a bit easier to appreciate.
“This is not the end,” Steele said. “This is only the end of the
first step.”
Thayer YMCA
Located at 24 14th St., Columbus
For more information, call 706-322-8269
or visit columbusymca.com
Membership Pricing:
Adult (19 years old and up)
$32 monthly plus a one-time joining fee of $60
Family $48 monthly plus a one-time joining fee of $75
Youth (under 13) $80 annually
Teen (13-18) $12 monthly and a $15 joining fee
Student (minimum of 12 hours) $18 monthly
and $30 joining fee
Senior citizen (62 and older) $28 monthly
and $30 joining fee
Senior family (husband and wife only) $44 monthly
and $40 joining fee
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Phone: 706-324-6214
E-mail: contactus@columbusandthevalley.com
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