Page 528 - Demo

Phoenix Fall Education SpecialNow More Than Ever. The Brooklyn Y%u2019s Have ItBY LIZ KOCHFamily trips to the Y are an American tradition, although with the advent of health clubs, the Y%u2019s may have begun to lose customers to fancier, more modern facilities. Over the years, Y%u2019s have expanded programs to include a wide ranging selection of activities from a dip in the pool to GED classes.The YWCA on Atlantic Avenue and the YMCA on 9th Street, have beefed up their programs and facilities to compete for numbers. Indeed, they are opting to change with the tide, go with the flow and do whatever else necessary to make certain that their facilities continue to be well used. And the plan is working.For the YWCA on the comer of Third Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, part of going with the flow meant conducting extensive work on their indoor pool to install a better water cleaning system, and the pool opened again this year in time for summer use. In addressing the recent nationwide fascination with exercise machines, the facility has also been slowly adding to their collection of work out machines, with the recent acquisition of a Leg and Thigh Curl Machine.GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT%u201cWe are trying to expand what we offer,%u201d Public Information Director at the YWCA Julia Bryant explains. %u201cWe would not want to be left in the dark ages. People come by every day and ask for something that we don%u2019t have and we have decided to begin responding to that now,%u201d she adds.Not being left in the dark ages covers a lot of ground for the YWCA. Under consideration right now are more computer classes and, Bryant says photography and painting classes wrill be offered in the near future. %u201cEveryone is moving forward. To stay in the race we have to move forward,%u201d Bryant says.New programs already instituted by the Y include a smattering of new classes for the fall season and the whole hearted splash into the swimming program. New for autumn are double dutch jump rope classes for children and a hark back into history with baton twirling. %u201cFrom conferences we learned what other places are offering and baton twirling is something that%u2019s now new again,%u201d Bryant says of the new item on the course list. Another class now offered is quick and easy karate for those interested in learning self-defense, but they want to do it in a fun way,%u201d Bryant explains. SWIMMING MAKES SPLASHPerhaps the biggest project ongoing right now at the YWCA is the re-establishment of the swimming program. The YWCA hired Arthur Grossman as the director and he has a number of plans in mind for the future. One is to start a swim team and another is to set up both master swim class and tinyContinued on Page /Vi i m i I *%u25a0%u25a0%u25a0%u00bb%u2022. fNautilus is new at the YM CA and just one program the facility uses to com pete with health clubs. (Phoenix/Kirk Photo)The YMCA is a traditional place to toss afew baskets through a hoop, but for peoplelike Edward Johnson it has become muchmore. A 30-year member, Johnson nowuses the facilities to do a little weight training on the Nautilus equipment.(Above) Steven Gonzales, Anthony Moor and Lisa Recioppa take a break from their duties at the YMCA At theYW CA, (right) swimmers Christine Sm ith, a 20 year mem berof the YW (left) takes a dip with Lois Rood. Aerobics areanother popular class at the y w . (Phoenix/Kirk Photos)We are trying to expand what weoffer. We would not want to be leftin the Dark Ages.Page 18, THE PH O EN IX, Septem ber 4, 1986