The best thing about my virtual Les Mills YMCA class—outside of sheer convenience—might have been the cycle instructor’s charming New Zealand accent.
Before joining the Y, I had three different gym and studio memberships. One at a traditional gym, one at a yoga studio, and one for virtual classes only. It’s not that I’m a natural-born overachiever—I just thought that was normal. And few things felt as good as canceling those memberships (and simplifying my life) when I joined the YMCA.
In addition to their diverse in-person classes, the YMCA recently introduced virtual programming across their five Greenville County locations. Under the respected Les Mills name—courses designed by expert fitness instructors with the aforementioned New Zealand accents—this suite of on-demand programs includes sculpting and strength training, cycling (spin) classes, high-intensity interval training, and more. All you need to do is choose a room, dial-up your preferred class on the iPad, and log into your sweat session.
“An in-person class is a great chance to meet people and experience a great instructor,” says Brian Vest, executive director for the YMCA of Greenville, “but for many people, the first time can be intimidating. One of our critical missions is helping people overcome that barrier to meeting their goals. These virtual classes allow you to experience that class by yourself or with a friend, and try it out in a safe space.”
Even bigger news? Those on-demand classes are about to become even more convenient with the upcoming launch of Les Mills fitness programming on the Y’s web-based app, called Virtual YMCA. “You can enjoy our courses at home, in the office, on the go—anywhere you need more flexibility or mobility,” adds Vest. “We’re really excited about this as a complement to our already robust services. As we’ve all seen over the past 2 years, flexibility has become king. Everyone wants wellness on their schedule, and we’re making it easier than ever.”
100+ classes offered, including . . .
- 15-Minute Abs
- Body Combat
- Body Pump
- HIIT Training
- Strength Training
