Welcome to the
The Walla Walla YMCA strengthens the foundations of our community through well-being and fitness, camps, family time, swim, sports and play, and other activities for people of all ages, incomes and abilities. We’re more than just a place to work out. At the Y, we help build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all with the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility at the heart of everything we do.
With a commitment to nurturing youth development, promoting healthy living, and fostering a sense of social responsibility, the Y ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow and thrive.
03 October 2011
-Leah Robinson’s Focus on Fitness at the Y
Let’s set up a scene here: an average-sized young woman enters the third gym of the Y one fine afternoon, feeling somewhat unconfident of what she is about to experience in the new cardio kickboxing class. Will she be able to keep up with the rest of the participants? Does she actually have to kick anyone or anything? She’s definitely never done this sort of a class before. One hour later, this same woman strides confidently from the gym, glowing from head to toe with unexplainable radiance and pride. She has just spent the best hour of her life training to become the next Chuck Norris equivalent; perhaps a world class superhero; or, at the very least, someone with a very swift ability to kick your butt should you give her reason. This woman is me. This woman could be you. In fact, man or woman, this new class offered at the Y holds the opportunity for greatness in all aspects of one’s physical being.
Instructor Leslie Snyder led our class that day with a contagious sort of enthusiasm. And, thanks to her motivating guidance, we punched and kicked the living daylights out of our imaginary opponents. The self-defense attitude in this class made it easy to connect our workout with real-life situations, thereby encouraging us to really take note of our form and the intensity of our jabs.
“HUAH!” Our war cry echoed through the room as we kicked into the air. I admit, it did feel a little silly at first to yell, but after a while, I got into it. Our movements were actually accomplishing something. There was nothing more invigorating. After a while of practicing our moves with the guiding mirror staring back at us, it was time to put our new knowledge to the test by partnering up.
I ended up face to face with Barbara Roloff, a Walla Walla YMCA member for 11 years with a very cheerful smile yet a very powerful punch. After we were all settled, Leslie had one of us partners throw the punches while the other would dodge and block. We all moved to the beat of the music, first slow then fast before switching up who would block and who would punch. If this part makes you nervous, don’t worry, no contact was actually made between the partners. However, this technique did help us practice the movements of what it would be like should we ever find ourselves face to face with a fighting opponent.
“It’s a good way to get all your aggression out,” Barbara said of the class. As someone who works out often, she mentioned that cardio kickboxing was also a great cross-training opportunity; different from anything else she normally does. By the end of the hour, after some abdominal exercises on mats, I was completely pumped and ready to take on the world. Now I am definitely planning to go back to get my kicks higher, my abs more defined, and my punches even stronger.
Check out the Y’s group fitness schedule, grab your friends and come learn some important self-defense techniques in this powerful cardio kickboxing class. Guaranteed, your body will feel empowered like never before.
