CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA Health and Wellness Director Angie Paxson instructs Todd Stanley on how to use the EGYM equipment during a recent orientation session. Installed at the Y in January, EGYM is state-of-the-art equipment that adjusts to your settings automatically allowing for more efficient workout times.

Whether you go to the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA for fitness, socialization, swim lessons, to foster a new hobby or use as a childcare/after school resource, its staff strives to eliminate barriers.

In 2024, 8,500 people participated in programs and membership services. Thousands more attended special events, swim meets and sports.

Y CEO Kim Jass-Ramirez said its strategic plan centers on outreach, program, membership and finance. In 2024, the facility became available for 24/7 usage. Current members can access the Y after hours using a special key fob to use exercise equipment and the gym. This accommodates people who want to use the Y but may have a work schedule or family obligations that don’t allow them to come in during normal business hours.

“We have had over 250 people take advantage of this,” Jass-Ramirez said. “I know there was some hesitation, but it’s our members using it, and they care about the Y and they check in. We haven’t had any issues.”

Molina Healthcare of Iowa recipients are eligible for free Y memberships.

“That partnership just kicked off at the end of 2024 and it’ll go through this year,” she noted. “I think we’ve already got close to 40 people here at our Y that are participating in it, and it’s nice because it covers adult and youth memberships.”

And, she adds, having Molina cover those memberships means the Y can put funds toward scholarships for other people who may struggle to afford membership fees.

On January 7, the Y officially opened its new EGYM, a line of 11 machines that offer a holistic workout experience that is personalized, tracks all fitness activities and makes progress visible to aid in motivation. While the purchase was an “investment” Jass-Ramirez said it replaced outdated equipment, some of which was 20 years old.

“You wear a bracelet with a chip and wave it in front of a machine and it knows where you need to be set up, level, seating, workout plan, specific routine, memory of where you left off, etc,” she noted. “Not only does this make it easy for the user, but it will also challenge them.”

She added research shows that a person who does EGYM comes in twice as often as a person who does regular exercises.

“Honestly, that’s what we want. We want people to be healthier, to stick with their routine. This equipment is our biggest thing so far for 2025,” she explained.

The Y saw 150 people come in the first week to get signed up for orientation. You pay a one-time $20 fee for the bracelet and commit to an approximate 30-minute training set up.

“It’s been all hands on deck with staff helping to train,” she added.

Because the Y is committed to the public, it often seeks input about what types of classes and programs folks would like to see offered.

Hot yoga (winter 2025) will take place February 7, 14, 21 and 28. This variety of yoga is performed under hot and humid conditions to increase sweating.

“We’re not necessarily a hot yoga studio, but we found a way to crank up the heat in one of our exercise rooms, and hope to offer it more often,” she said.

The Y teams up with area organizations throughout the year and is part of the Marshall County Community Response Coalition.

Last March and April, it hosted a Lazyman Iron Triathlon, followed by a Triathlon in June. Biking and walking/running options included using Marshalltown trails. Former Parks and Rec. Director Geoff Hubbard helped with coordinating.

A safety camp held every two years is a partnership between the Y and local police, sheriff and fire departments. While a variety of swimming lessons are offered, last summer, the Y launched a swim program for children with autism.

“We had received a grant from our national YMCA organization to do a pilot,” she said. “Swim lessons are a huge service we provide and with our outreach and inclusion efforts, we want to make sure we’re meeting the needs of all people.”

The response was overwhelmingly positive and the Y continues to offer it for any and all youth with special needs.

The Y also has a swim class called adaptive aerobics held Fridays for adults with intellectual disabilities.

“It’s not a lesson, but a chance to get in the pool and move their bodies,” she added.

The Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA is a non-profit organization that does its own fundraising.

“Funding goes back into our mission, and so that’s really what separates us from a gym or a fitness center,” Jass-Ramirez said. “It’s important that we manage our finances in a way that we’re offering world class facilities and programming, because we know that’s what’s going to have a huge impact on our community. We know that having a facility like ours is important to employers too, and to economic development and the vitality of our city…We want to utilize our funds in a way that goes back to our community and meets the mission of the Y.”