YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 80 million adults have high blood pressure in this country. Less than half have it under control. The YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program encourages participants to track their blood pressure at least once a week while making manageable lifestyle changes to lower their blood pressure. Participants meet with a Heart Healthy Ambassador to monitor their progress, ask questions, and learn about healthy changes they can make to their diet.
This 16-week program includes support from trained Heart Healthy Ambassadors, Nutrition Seminars, and other materials to make tracking your blood pressure easier.
**4 Nutrition Seminars will be offered 1 time a month over the course of this 16-week program.
Where: Williams YMCA of Avery County’s Blackburn Athletic Facility and Wellness Floor
When: (Starting Monday, Jan. 5)
Mondays: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM at the Blackburn Athletic Facility
Thursdays: 12:30 PM-1:30 PM in the YMCA Wellness Center
*Any businesses interested in having blood pressures taken for your employees, contact Katie Willett at [email protected] to set up a schedule
Who: Adults who have been diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and have not had a recent cardiac event in the past 6 months.
Cost: Offered at no cost upon registration. Blood Pressure Cuffs are available upon request for $25 per participant.
For more information, contact Katie Willett.
“The Delay the Disease program for Parkinson’s Patients.. simply great ….the inclusiveness of your program is more than I expected…..you have addressed both the physical and cognitive issues that we Parkinson patients face.”
Moving Mountains With Parkinson’s
PWR!Moves Group Exercise Classes
A Parkinson-specific exercise class that “makes function exercise” to keep you moving and doing more of what you want to do! As you practice, you will be challenged physically and cognitively while working on fitness goals: strength, balance, agility, aerobics, and flexibility. Exercises are designed to improve your fitness, counteract your PD symptoms and increase your daily activity. This whole body, function-focused exercise class will push you to do more than you think you can in a fun, empowering, and enriched environment!
Where: The Healthy Living Room, Williams YMCA Main Facility
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays; 10:00 AM-11:00 PM
Who: Anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
Cost: No cost upon registration
Start Dates:
Session 1: January 6, 2026 – March 26, 2026
Session 2: April 7, 2026 – June 25, 2026
Session 3: July 7, 2026 – September 24, 2026
Session 4: September 6, 2026 – December 17, 2026
For more information, contact Deana Acklin.
Healthy Aging programming at the A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA in Mitchell County is presented by Hopscotch Primary Care, which offers accessible healthcare for Medicare adults in rural communities. Learn more about the partnership here.
Delay the Disease – Parkinson’s Program
Each class coordinates movement, flexibility, strength, balance, and cardio fitness designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s Disease. Group encouragement and support set this program apart from standard workout routines. Taught by trained instructors, this program has helped participants delay the onset of signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Where: A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA of Mitchell County
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays; 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Who: Free for anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
Know of someone with Parkinson’s Disease who could benefit from exercising with others just like them? Contact Jessica Thomas.
Enhance®Fitness
A proven arthritis management program focused on fitness. Helping older adults become more active, energized, and empowered for independent living. The program focuses on cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance, which could help reduce the severity of arthritis symptoms in a group that is supportive and understanding – a vital part of anyone’s health and well-being. Enhance®Fitness has been nationally recognized by the CDC, Department of Health & Human Services, Department on Aging, and the National Council on Aging.
“I wanted to express my appreciation to the Enhance Fitness program for giving back my confidence to participate and enjoy physical activity that has improved my posture, balance, and overall wellbeing.”
Williams YMCA of Avery County
Where: Blackburn Athletic Facility – GYM B, Williams YMCA of Avery County
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays; 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Who: Anyone who has been diagnosed with arthritis or other mobility limitations
Cost: $40 for YMCA Members $60 for Non-YMCA Members
Start Dates:
Monday, January 5, 2026
For more information or to register, contact Chris Kennedy, our EnhanceFitness Instructor.
A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA of Mitchell County
Where: A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA of Mitchell County
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays; 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Who: Anyone who has been diagnosed with arthritis or other mobility limitations
Cost: $40 for YMCA Members $60 for Non-YMCA Members
Start Dates:
Monday, January 5, 2026
For more information or to register, contact Jessica Thomas, Mitchell County Healthy Living Director.
Healthy Aging programming at the A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA in Mitchell County is presented by Hopscotch Primary Care, which offers accessible healthcare for Medicare adults in rural communities. Learn more about the partnership here.
Pedaling for Parkinson’s™
This 8-week Healthy Living Program is an evidence-based indoor cycling program, grounded in research led by Dr. Jay Alberts at the Cleveland Clinic, and shown to reduce Parkinson’s symptoms by up to 35%. Designed to help participants improve mobility, build strength, and live well today. Join our class and discover how movement can make a difference!
Where: Williams YMCA of Avery County
When: Mondays & Fridays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM; Wednesdays, 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Who: Free for anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
Duration: May 4-June 26, 2026
Know of someone with Parkinson’s Disease who could benefit from exercising with others just like them? Contact Deana Acklin.
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA
Helping adult cancer survivors improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, and develop supportive relationships to improve their quality of life. This program creates a welcoming community in which survivors can reclaim their health and well-being at their own pace.
This small-group, 12-week evidence-based program contains two 90-minute sessions per week. Instructors are trained in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilitation exercise and supportive cancer care. Recent research from the Yale Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Institute confirmed that LIVESTRONG at the YMCA participants experience improved fitness and quality of life and significant decreases in cancer-related fatigue.
Starting June 1, 2026!
Where: Healthy Living Room
When: Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Who: Adult Cancer Survivors. We consider someone a Survivor from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment, after treatment, and everything in between.
Cost: Offered at no cost upon registration, YMCA Membership included for the duration of the program
Dates:
June 1, 2026 – August 27, 2026
For more information or to register, contact Chris Kennedy, LIVESTRONG Instructor.
” I was skeptical of participating as I was very ill. With a little coaxing from Y staff I signed up. From day 1 till the last day, the program concentrated on my wellbeing. The Staff at the Y stepped up to fill the voids and the loss I suffered.”
Healthy Living Program Benefits
Participant Results from Pre and Post Program Assessments
Group Facilitated Programs
“When I realized that losing weight is not just numbers on a scale but instead it’s better blood values, more energy, losing inches off your waist, having a balanced diet, I realized I was healthy and happy. This was a turning point for me and my success because I was able to appreciate the small wins, the hidden gems of success. I have learned that standing on a scale doesn’t define your health but your determination to keep pushing when it isn’t a number you can read, is what will help you be healthy. Instead it’s a variety of things that add up to define your health and all of those things need to be addressed, not just your weight on a scale.”
YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps adults reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by taking steps that will improve their overall health and well-being. Through group discussions facilitated by a trained Lifestyle Coach, participants work to lose weight and increase their physical activity over the course of 25, 60-minute sessions. Research by the National Institutes of Health has shown that programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program Prevent T2 can reduce the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58%, and 71% in adults over the age of 60.
Registration Now Open!
Where: TBD
When: TBD by participant availability
Who: Adults who have been diagnosed with Pre-diabetes or meet the qualification criteria
Start Dates: TBD
For more information, contact Jessica Thomas.
YMCA’s Weight Loss Program
The Weight Loss Program is designed to help people seeking a healthier weight achieve their goals by making small, modest changes to their daily behaviors, and forming sustainable healthy habits and impactful lifestyle change.
Registration is open!
Where: Williams YMCA Main Facility, Healthy Living Room with Virtual Options for health concerns or inclement weather.
When: Every Tuesday
Time: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM
Who: Adults 18 years or older
Cost: $60 Members $80 Non-Members
Program Dates: February 3-April 21
For more information, contact Katie Willett, or Sheila Bauer, Community Outreach Director.
CONTACT US ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS
