Blog by Beebe Cline, PREC*

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Ten Things We Love About the New YMCA

APRIL 29TH, 2010

Ten Things We Love About the New YMCA

The Village People recently revealed that they wrote their 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A” in Vancouver, and after getting a private tour of the renovated downtown location, we think they should release a reprise singing its new praises. Herewith, ten reason to play at the new YMCA:

1. While the space retained its cool historical exterior, there's nothing dated about the open, light-filled interior of windows and glass.

2. You don't have to be a member to enjoy the Licious café (which also offers nutritional counseling and food delivery) and quiet meditation room on the ground floor.

3. Five different change rooms, including one just for families, with card-access lockers large enough to fit your moped helmet and a machine to ring all the water out of your bathing suit in 10 seconds.

4. Its Membership Plus service, which offers separate adult-only change rooms with towel service, Aveda products, lounge with internet and TV, and private sauna and hot tub.

5. The 25-yard pool with a movable floor that is UV filtered (no green hair!) and kept warm using reclaimed heat from the building.

6. Fitness classes like yoga, spin, personal training and even stroller-baby boot camp for moms and tots to take together.

7. Two rooftop playgrounds for the wee ones with a view of the 1910 church building next door that the kids have already dubbed “Hogwarts.” With licensed daycare and child-minding services, your muggle can play there while you work or workout.

8. An outfitted, open concept kitchen and meeting area upstairs that will offer cooking classes by Vancouver chefs or can be rented out for that family reunion you don't have room for.

9. Full gymnasium, racquetball/squash courts and 70 cardio and strengthening machines.

10. The fact that one very affordable monthly fee (from $43) gets you access.

Robert Lee YMCA (opens Monday, May 3, 2010), 955 Burrard St., Vancouver, 604-689-9622, www.vanymca.org/centres/robertlee

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