SARASOTA – Nearly a year after almost shutting down completely and coping with a pandemic, Our Y is working out ways to welcome back guests personally and virtually.
“We’re starting to see, I believe a light at the end of the tunnel,” said President of Our Y, Jim Purdy.
Masked up, six feet apart, and cleaning between every work out is the new routine at Our Y.
“I think this has really kind of brought the best out in people in being creative and innovative,” said Purdy.
Creative innovation for virtual fitness classes…
Eric Hoskins- Director of Memberships at Our Y
“We sort of recognized that not everyone is comfortable being in a group being back in a group fitness setting just yet, so it allows us to create a more of a personalized schedule for our members, it allows them to come in at their own time to do classes wherein a live class you might have 35 or 40 people showing up and even though they’re social distancing not everyone is comfortable in that environment,” said Director of Memberships at Our Y, Eric Hoskins.
Members can take a virtual class by themselves or with a group of up to 8 people.
“They get to tailor the workout to whatever they feel like doing that day and they’re not limited by what we offer in our live settings,” said Hoskins.
Our Y is also offering programs for children
“Great opportunity especially for parents to come in with their kids, do a workout with them so that we get kids involved in what we’re doing. We don’t want the gym to be just where mom and dad go to work out but we want kids to be plugged in,” said Hoskins.
Our Y has also partnered with local artists in the Sarasota community to give them a place to display their work.
“This gives them a place to put it where there are people traveling in and out that are interested in purchasing things,” said Director of the Advancement Committee at Our Y, Libby Soderberg.
For more information on Our Y, you can visit their website.