Stay Connected to Your Y Community While Practicing Social Distancing
The Y has always brought people together. During a time of community-mandated closures and recommendations to shut down programs and limit gatherings, Ys are maintaining connections with their communities at a distance online.
- Stay virtually connected to the Y through these activities from Ys across the U.S. that will help you maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit from the comfort of your home.
Please note that we use affiliate links, including Amazon Smile Opens a new window, which donates a small percentage of purchases back to the Y.
At-Home Workouts
YMCA 360: Your Virtual YMCA
The Y may be closed temporarily, but we’re still here for our community. That’s why we’re so excited to launch online exercise and youth programs to support your health and well-being from home with YMCA360 Opens a new window.
This is our revolution that blends the best of ballet and strength in a safe and exciting class.
Our circuit-based classes are energetic, fun and allow you to tailor the workout intensity to your fitness and skill level.
This unique martial art is for all ages and levels. Tai Chi promotes strength, coordination, posture, concentration, and energy level.
Weightlifting Opens a new window
Learn the basics of core Olympic lifts with professional instruction and demonstration.
Our homegrown boxing program, YBOX is a total-body workout featuring the basics of boxing from punching and elbow strikes to footwork and defense.
With different levels for everyone, Y yoga is an effective combination of traditional movements and mindfulness using flexibility, breathing and strength.
Recharge with the Y From Home
Find a sense of peace and connection with your body while releasing tension with this at-home video series Opens a new window led by PMA-certified Pilates instructor, certified Breathwork facilitator and Clinical Qigong practitioner, Tutu Mora (Dorothy). We'll feature a new video every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3pm CST here on YouTube Opens a new window.
My Y Virtual
The My Y Virtual YouTube channel features a variety of workouts, from Pilates, to Tabata, to mind body and cardio and strength and a 14-minute workout specifically for active older adults.
Weekly Resource Roundup
We're sourcing the web for resources on staying healthy mentally and physically while practicing social distancing, including ways to have some fun from home, like recipes and virtual museum tours!
August 5, 2020
- Give your brain a workout and have a little fun in the process with these brain games and activities Opens a new window.
- Work the muscles of your Core, including the larger supporting systems, and feel stronger and more centered with this 18-minute Core Express workout Opens a new window.
- If you’re looking to add some fresh summer vegetables into your diet, try this simple ratatouille recipe from Matt’s Kitchen.
July 29, 2020
- It's not too late to plant a victory garden. In fact, August is a good time to plant many fall harvest vegetables, like broccoli, carrots and several salad greens. Learn more about gardening in August Opens a new window from Chicago Botanic Garden.
- August is an excellent time for stargazing, with the Perseids Meteor Shower and several other exciting celestial events. Learn when and how Opens a new window you can see them.
- Did you know you can do barre workouts from home? You'll just need to grab a chair for this beginner barre routine Opens a new window.
July 22, 2020
- Lower back pain is all too common and often gets worse as we age. This 16-minute video Opens a new window will take you through supportive stretches and preventative exercises that can reduce the risk of repeated back pain.
- Never tire of the vegetables in season this summer with these 67 unique recipes Opens a new window. We can't wait to try this vegan version of creamed corn Opens a new window.
July 15, 2020
- On July 1, 2020, the Y’s African American CEOs hosted a virtual town hall on Unlearning Systemic Racism. Attendees heard from a host of knowledgeable, passionate and influential speakers on the devastating intergenerational impact of racism that leads to deeply embedded misinformation, bias and fear in all of our communities. Hear from Senator Kamala Harris, YMCA of the USA CEO Kevin Washington and others and learn more.
- Did you know that posture affects your physical, emotional and social well-being? In this 11-minute Pilates video Opens a new window, you’ll go through a short series of exercises to help re-align your posture after a long day of desk sitting. You’ll be taking fuller breaths and feeling brighter and more confident in no time!
- Chicken and fruit may seem like an odd combination, but we think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this savory-with-a-touch-of-sweet recipe for chicken and rice served with herbed yogurt and medjool dates from Matt's Kitchen!
July 8, 2020
- When life gets uncomfortable, difficult or overwhelming, we choose to cope in a variety of different ways. This video Opens a new window will walk you through how to build your own coping kit, a box full of healthy distractions, coping options and activities to get you through overwhelming times.
- While some of our favorite summer activities aren't available this year due to physical distancing guidelines, this summer doesn't have to be a bummer. Here are 43 ideas for fun things to do Opens a new window.
July 1, 2020
- The Fourth of July is almost here! Celebrations may look a bit different this year, but hopefully you can still enjoy some time outdoors. Check out these healthy recipes for summer favorites Opens a new window, like mint lemonade, BBQ chicken, collard greens with plantains, and 67 more!
- The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture launched Talking About Race Opens a new window, "a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society." Explore digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles and more.
- With the rate of openings and re-closures due to COVID-19, it can be hard to keep up with where you can and can't go. Here's a comprehensive guide Opens a new window on going to gyms, restaurants and salons along with links to locate your area's specific restrictions.
June 24, 2020
- Looking to change up your home workout routine? Try these upper body Opens a new window (25 min.) and lower body Opens a new window (32 min.) bootcamp workouts from YMCA360. Both include modifications to fit different fitness levels and can be done with weights or objects around your home.
- If you're working from home, you may enjoy sleeping in a bit since you don't have to commute, yet you find that you feel even more tired lately. Here are six reasons why Opens a new window and how you can counteract the fatigue.
June 17, 2020
- At this point, you've probably worn a mask several times and maybe even tried working out with one. Here are four tips for strengthening your lungs Opens a new window and making it easier to tolerate breathing with a mask on.
- Losing a job is more than just a loss to income; it can impact how we see ourselves. These eight steps Opens a new window will help you cope with your own personal job loss and support others who lose their job.
- Have you checked out Matt's Kitchen recently? We can't wait to put our asparagus to use (in season now!) in his latest recipe, served with steamed mushrooms, sieved eggs, Dijon vinaigrette and mayo toast.
June 10, 2020
- They don't call it comfort food for no reason. Recipe developer Tabitha Brown makes comfort food favorites with a twist—it's all vegan! Follow her on the channel of your choice for videos and recipes, all delivered with the warmth and charm that is making her famous. Learn more Opens a new window about Tabitha and where you can access her recipes.
- There are days when we only have a few minutes left for physical activity. These five total-body workouts Opens a new window can be done in your spare moments without any equipment.
- Many small businesses have been devastated by the coronavirus. Support small businesses and the Black community with these 10 apps and directories to help you find Black-owned businesses Opens a new window in your community so you can offer your support as a consumer.
June 3, 2020
- As we struggle to process the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others and the subsequent protests across the U.S., this list of anti-racism resources Opens a new window can help us learn, grow and take steps to change. The list includes links to books, articles, podcasts, movies and more.
- Working from home? Mayo Clinic put together a simple guide Opens a new window to making your home office ergonomic.
- The summer concert and music festival season is upon us and it looks much different this year. Coca-Cola has partnered with #BeApp to livestream 100 concerts Opens a new window over 60 days.
May 27, 2020
- Is there a 2020 grad in your life? On May 28th, the Y will host a Senior Celebration featuring guest speakers, interactive prompts and a virtual voter registration drive. Invited speakers include Olympians, governors, Y leaders and more! Register here Opens a new window.
- Have you stepped into Matt's Kitchen yet? Make simple, healthy meals using common ingredients. Our recent favorite? A unique chickpea polenta sandwich!
- Spend six hours decompressing on the "Isle of Calm Opens a new window," a playlist of songs "encompassing classical, folk, jazz, ambient, pop, blues, soul, hip-hop, indie-rock and more" assembled by NPR Music's staff.
May 20, 2020
- Have you been spending a lot of time sitting, like in virtual meetings? This is your invitation to release some of the tension that builds in the neck and shoulders after extended periods of sitting with an easy 10-minute Pilates routine Opens a new window from our Recharge with Us From Home Opens a new window series.
- While most restaurants are closed, now is a good time to get creative in the kitchen. What to do when you're missing an ingredient for that delicious new dish you want to try? Check out this guide to ingredient substitutions Opens a new window you can use instead.
- Make your shopping trips a little easier and healthier with this comprehensive guide Opens a new window based on what will keep the longest.
- Chances are you've already taken a few virtual tours of museums and far off locales from the comfort of home. Now take a virtual trip to Italy's gorgeous Cinque Terre Coast Opens a new window with nearly an hour of drone footage set to soothing music.
May 13, 2020
- Wedding season is upon us, and you may know a couple who has had to postpone or adjust their wedding plans. Here are some tips for supporting them Opens a new window from afar.
- Have you've been experiencing brain fog, lack of motivation or other unfamiliar feelings lately? Learn more Opens a new window about the physiological responses in our bodies that lead to these feelings during times of stress and uncertainty and tips for how to manage them.
- Shine, in partnership with Mental Health America, has curated a wealth of resources to help you manage anxiety Opens a new window related to coronavirus, from isolation, xenophobia, financial fears, to ask an expert, and more.
May 7, 2020
- Join us at Matt's Kitchen, a cooking series that use everyday, common ingredients to prepare delicious meals. Look for new recipes every Wednesday!
- Allow yourself a 20-minute break to be transported to a forest blooming with English bluebells Opens a new window. Emerge feeling more relaxed and at peace.
May 5, 2020
- Celebrate taco Tuesday and enjoy the health benefits of eating avocados Opens a new window by making Chipotle's famous guacamole recipe Opens a new window.
- Chances are, you are probably sitting a bit more than usual right now. A chiropractor shares her advice for preventing pain or injury Opens a new window while working or studying from home.
- With less frequent trips to the store, it can be hard to stock up on fresh produce and keep it fresh. A nutritionist shares tips on which items will last the longest Opens a new window so you can plan your meals accordingly.
April 30, 2020
- If you are still working, learn why it's more important now than ever to extend compassion to your coworkers Opens a new window.
- Take advantage of free online courses from Ivy League schools Opens a new window, from poetry, to justice to science and cooking and more!
- As you adjust to wearing face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you may experience some skin irritation. Learn how to remedy it here Opens a new window.
April 28, 2020
- You may have already taken a few virtual tours of art museums. Now you can also take free online courses on art and design Opens a new window from MoMA artists.
- Take yourself on an island getaway with a soothing virtual trip to Aruba Opens a new window.
- Qigong is a form of Chinese movement meditation similar to Tai Chi. Continued practice can lead to increased health, wellbeing and awareness. Qigong movements are gentle enough for all and can even be done sitting. Get started Opens a new window with this introductory video.
April 23, 2020
- 20-30 minute walks in nearby nature while maintaining social distancing can greatly reduce stress according to this study Opens a new window.
- Are you bored and figuratively climbing the walls? This 15 year-old girl built Opens a new window an 8-foot climbing wall in one week so she could literally do just that.
- Pets need exercise too. Here are tips on keeping them active Opens a new window during stay-at-home orders.
April 16, 2020
- If you've been considering ordering takeout to help your local restaurants (or to give yourself a break from cooking), here are some tips for doing it safely Opens a new window.
- Time to dust off that old board game and play it virtually with your friends. Here's how Opens a new window.
- If you're new to yoga or want to revisit the practice, here's a primer for getting started Opens a new window.
April 14, 2020
- Get new recipes every Tuesday with Tasty Tuesdays Opens a new window from MetroWest YMCA's Opens a new window director of nutrition services.
- Famous illustrators are offering free online drawing classes Opens a new window so you can brush up on your creative skills from home.
- Now is a good time to take stock Opens a new window of items in your pantry and put them to creative use.
- Bring Broadway into your home with these 15 plays available to stream Opens a new window.
April 10, 2020
- Perhaps you watch the news regularly or have increased your consumption recently due to COVID-19. Here are some tips for staying informed Opens a new window while reducing any stress the news may cause.
- Self care is always important. Learn how this doctor is taking care of herself Opens a new window.
April 8, 2020
- For many of us, it's impossible to completely avoid going out in public to pick up essentials. Catch up on the CDC's recommendations Opens a new window for running essential errands.
- Social distancing may lead to feelings of loneliness. Here are five tips to combat loneliness Opens a new window when working from home.
- The CDC has recommended that everyone wear face masks. Here are some tips for making them Opens a new window at home with materials you may already have.
April 6, 2020
- Brush up on your culinary skills or learn something new with cooking demos Opens a new window from celebrity chefs.
- Or just try one of these 30 recipes for lunch at home Opens a new window, from lentil soup to grilled cheese with apples.
- Track the blooming of Washington, D.C.'s iconic springtime cherry blossoms with the BloomCam Opens a new window.
April 3, 2020
- Take in the beauty of the Vatican museums Opens a new window with a 360 virtual tour, including close-up views of the magnificent Sistine Chapel Opens a new window ceiling!
- Spring is here and you may be missing your usual outdoor gardening. Here are some tips for growing indoors and on decks Opens a new window during quarantine.
April 2, 2020
- If you find getting 150 minutes of physical activity each week daunting, read these tips Opens a new window to fit it in or break it up and have fun in the process.
- Animal shelters in New York City Opens a new window and across the country are emptying out as people adopt dogs and cats. Contact your local shelters if you'd like to welcome a new friend to your home!
April 1, 2020
- Two resilient who women survived the Spanish Flu, Great Depression and the Holocaust share their advice Opens a new window for getting through this difficult time.
- Just because you're home may not mean you have more time for meal preparation. Here are 35 healthy dinner recipes Opens a new window that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
- People are decorating their windows with hearts and messages of hope. Find some inspiration Opens a new window and try it yourself!
March 31, 2020
- Scribd is making their library of millions of ebooks, audiobooks, magazine articles, and more available to anyone, free, for 30 days through this link Opens a new window.
- Learn new career skills or brush up on current ones with free virtual events and webinars Opens a new window from the likes of Salesforce, Adobe and more.
- Good news—the same physician whose 1964 vaccine beat back rubella is working to defeat the new coronavirus Opens a new window!
March 30, 2020
- Curious about meditating and reaping all of its wonderful benefits? Get started with free meditations and support from Headspace Opens a new window!
- The arrival of spring may have you hankering to take your workout outside. Learn more about outdoor activities Opens a new window in the time of coronavirus, and as always, please heed the advice of your personal physician.
- Visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World from your home with this virtual tour of the Great Wall of China Opens a new window.
March 27, 2020
- Take these seven steps Opens a new window to manage your mental and physical health during social distancing.
- These uplifting stories of neighbors helping Opens a new window during the coronavirus will inspire you to do the same.
- Watch the aurora borealis Opens a new window (Northern Lights) live from directly underneath the aurora oval in Churchill, Manitoba, which is one of the best places on earth to view this ethereal phenomenon!
March 26, 2020
- Yesterday, we took you on a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Opens a new window. Today, visit 10 more museums Opens a new window around the world, including an opportunity to spend some time in the ornate rooms of the Palace of Versailles Opens a new window and even get up close to the faces on the ceiling frescoes!
- Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D. shares 10 ways to boost your immunity Opens a new window, many of which you may already have in your pantry (hint: garlic is one of them).
- With unprecedented mandates like social distancing and the many unknowns surrounding COVID-19, not to mention the actual loss of lives, you may find yourself grieving without even realizing it. Learn how to acknowledge and work through those feelings Opens a new window.
March 25, 2020
- It may feel like there isn't much good news about coronavirus, but Harvard Health Publishing has listed a few reasons for optimism Opens a new window.
- CNET has rounded up 10 ways to enrich and entertain yourself from home Opens a new window, including how you can access live streaming opera from The Metropolitan Opera!
- Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art without the crowds (and with soothing music) through the Met 360° Project Opens a new window.
March 24, 2020
- These are the kitchen staples Opens a new window we're stocking up on—plus 25 family-friendly recipes you can make with them.
- Catch up with six positive pieces of news Opens a new window from this week.
- Getting bored? Here's a list of free things Opens a new window that weren't free before coronavirus.
- Yale's massively popular 'happiness' course Opens a new window is available free online.
March 23, 2020
- Here are 19 immersive museum exhibits Opens a new window you can visit from your couch.
- Check out this list of comforting streaming TV shows Opens a new window.
- Need to get outside? These five national parks Opens a new window offer virtual tours.
- Psychology experts share their tips for safeguarding your mental health Opens a new window during quarantine.
March 20, 2020
- Dear Therapist’s guide Opens a new window to staying sane during a pandemic.
- New York Times rounded up some easy recipes Opens a new window for while you're quarantined.
- Fight stress with these healthy habits Opens a new window recommended by American Heart Association.
- Learn how to relieve stress through laughter Opens a new window.
- What to do if your'e anxious about coronavirus Opens a new window.
March 19, 2020
- How to stock up on nutritious food Opens a new window.
- Fourteen world-class museums are offering virtual tours Opens a new window.
- Learn what therapists are telling patients Opens a new window who are anxious about coronavirus.
- Keeping a routine Opens a new window during uncertain times can be good for your mental health.
Stories of Hope and Inspiration
Looking for inspiration or solidarity? Look no further!
- In one of the regions hardest hit by COVID-19, individuals and organizations, including Meadowlands YMCA Opens a new window, are stepping up to serve their communities. Learn more about their work in this inspiring photo series Opens a new window.
- North Suburban YMCA Opens a new window and Covenant Living have launched the "Brighten Someone's Day Opens a new window" outreach program. Designed to bring joy to senior residents struggling with isolation, they are putting a note, drawing, or message inside the resident's grocery bags.
- YMCA of the USA Anti-Hunger Initiatives Specialist, Stacey McDaniel, speaks about feeding food-insecure kids and families during a pandemic on this podcast Opens a new window from Add Passion and Stir.
- Colorado lined up child care for 1,000 essential workers in one week, Colorado Sun Opens a new window
- YMCA offers emergency child care for front-line workers desperate for help, Today.com Opens a new window
- YMCA of Silicon Valley Opens a new window served over 1,000 meals in one day at one site alone!
- This teen Opens a new window donated her tax return to YMCA of Centre County as they help feed kids in the community during school closures.
- Lakers star Kyle Kuzma Opens a new window has teamed up with YMCA of Greater Flint Opens a new window to donate meals to seniors being affected by the coronavirus.
Stay in Touch
Many Ys have set up hotlines so they can stay in touch with their community during closures. Find your your nearest Y through the link below to see what services they are offering to stay connected right now.
