WEST CHESTER, PA — As the holidays bring joy, merriment, and yes, a bit of chaos, the YMCA is sending out a timely reminder: Don’t forget about your health and wellness amidst the festive cheer. To help you keep your well-being at the forefront, the Y is offering both new and existing members the opportunity to win exciting prizes, including up to six or three months of membership!
Holiday season distractions can cause us to neglect healthy habits, warns Jackie Canan, Senior Director of Group Exercise. “It is easy to lose sight of healthy habits at this time of year between holiday shopping, baking and entertaining, attending celebrations, events at school and more,” says Canan. “It is important to find the balance between doing for others and maintaining self-care. Our own health is the best gift that we can give to ourselves – and to those we love.”
This initiative, aptly named the ‘Gift of Health,’ aims to encourage the community to prioritize healthy habits during the holiday season. After all, what better gift to give yourself than the gift of health?
New members have 21 chances to win one of the amazing prizes on offer. Seven branches across Chester County will each offer one Grand Prize and two Runner-Up Prizes. To be automatically entered into the drawing, simply join YGBW by December 31, 2023. But don’t worry, current members aren’t left out. Those who joined before October 1, 2023, and maintain an active membership through December 31, 2023, also have a chance to win in a separate drawing of 21 prizes.
But the YMCA’s Gift of Health isn’t just about prizes. It’s about encouraging everyone to put their health first. They’re offering holiday health tips to help you do just that:
- Keep It Simple: Integrate healthy habits into your already-planned activities. Meeting a friend for coffee? Make it a walking date. Planning your holiday meal? Include fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. Shopping for gifts? Opt for brick-and-mortar stores to keep moving. Short on gym time? Squeeze in a quick 20-minute exercise, or tune into YMCA360 for on-demand workouts.
- Start Slowly and Stay Focused: If you’re new to a fitness routine or want to mix up your existing one, pick one goal to focus on for 2-3 weeks before moving to the next. This can be anything from replacing one takeout meal per week with a homecooked one, attending a group exercise class, meditating once a week, or having a weekly walk with a friend.
- Say Yes to Yourself: Amidst the holiday hustle, remember it’s okay to prioritize your self-care needs. Your health is paramount, so make no compromises when it comes to eating well and regularly exercising your body and mind.
So this holiday season, let’s celebrate with health and wellness at the top of our checklists. Join the YMCA’s Gift of Health today and give yourself the gift that keeps on giving!
To read more about prioritizing yourself:Â https://ymcagbw.org/blog/put-yourself-your-checklist
To access YMCA360:Â https://ymca360.org/home
To learn more about the Gift of Health:Â https://ymcagbw.org/gift
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