The Valparaiso Family YMCA is located at 1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive. For information, call (219) 462-4185, ext. 249.
Ballroom dance lessons
Lessons will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays. Session I, from Sept. 10 through Oct. 22, will include foxtrot, waltz and Viennese waltz. Session II, from Oct. 29 through Dec. 10, will include the hustle, meringue and cha cha. Sign up as a couple or individually. Each week is a one-hour lesson plus a half-hour practice. No prior dance experience is required. Register for one or both sessions online at www.valpoymca.org or at the Y courtesy desk. Non-marking, soft-soled shoes are required.
Intermediate ballroom dance lessons
Lessons will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays. Session I, from Sept. 10 through Oct. 22, will include rumba, cha cha and swing. Session II, from Oct. 29 through Dec. 10, will include foxtrot, waltz, and Viennese waltz. Couples or individuals are welcome. Each week consists of a one-hour lesson and a half-hour practice. Prior ballroom dance experience is preferred. Register for one or both sessions online at www.valpoymca.org or at the Y courtesy desk. Non-marking, soft-soled shoes are required.
Meditation, stress lecture
Dr. Steven Kalisch, a clinical psychologist, will lecture from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 16 about basic techniques of meditation and stress reduction. He has practiced meditation for nearly 40 years. There is no charge. Register at the Y courtesy desk by Sept. 15.
Fitness testing
Ultimate Testing Lab will conduct fitness testing from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 4. Tests measure body fat, lean body tissues, oxygen consumption, calorie burn rate and resting metabolic rate. Registration is required by Sept. 20 and can be done at www.valpoymca.org or at the courtesy desk.
Basketball fundamentals clinic
There will be a basketball fundamentals clinic from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Fridays beginning Oct. 1 for boys and girls ages 8 to 13. The five-week clinic will help children prepare for the Y winter basketball league, which will start in January. Space is limited. Register online at www.valpoymca.org or at the courtesy desk.
Indoor soccer league
Players ages 4 through fifth-graders learn skills such as quickness, agility, passing and ball control. There will be seven weeks of games and eight weeks of practice. Parent coaches are needed. Divisions are determined by age and grade. One-hour practices are between 5 and 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays at Bridgepoint Church (former YMCA), 105 N. Washington. Games are between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Y and Bridgepoint Church. League begins Oct. 12 and ends Dec. 5. Requests will be accepted only for a specific day of practice. T-shirt sponsors are needed.
Coed adult soccer league
An adult soccer league for men and women will play from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays beginning Nov. 6. Informal games are designed with a recreational atmosphere. Sign up as an individual and join other soccer enthusiasts. Members and community participants can register for the seven-week segment or pay by the night.
Coach approach
Wellness coaches can help participants with Y programs. There is no cost. Schedule an appointment at the courtesy desk.
Family wellness boot camp
The boot camp will have short intervals of cardiovascular drills and strength training, and there will be a nutrition component. The class, free to members, is 5 to 5:45 p.m. Fridays. Parents are encouraged to attend with children. Participation is first come, first served.
Porter community health nurse services
Registered nurse Laurie Wehner-Evans provides members and the community with health care assessments, referrals, resources and education. Health care assessments will include blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, cholesterol, stroke risk, bone density and sleep apnea screenings. See a monthly schedule and a list of Wehner-Evans' office hours at www.valpoymca.org or at the YMCA.
Yoga for Kids
Certified Yogafit instructor Anita Beaudoin teaches Yoga for Kids, for boys and girls ages 4 to 10. She teaches traditional yoga poses in fun and educational ways. Classes are 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Saturdays for ages 4 to 6 or 11 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays for ages 7 to 10. Register online at www.valpoymca.org or at the courtesy desk.
Youth strength and conditioning
The free Total Body and Strength Training and Conditioning class for members ages 10 to 13 is 5 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 7.
Wii bowling for seniors
Senior Y members can spend an hour each week playing Wii bowling and meeting new friends. The program will run for 10 Fridays, excluding Thanksgiving week, beginning Sept. 17. Teams will begin bowling at 10 a.m. and continue each hour depending on the number of teams.
Youth fitness class
Member youth ages 8 to 13 can take this free, high-energy class from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The class includes games, drills, challenges and relays.
Valpo Reads a Book
The Valpo Reads a Book program has two discussion groups at the Y. Discussion for the young adult book, "Seed Folks" by Paul Fleischman, will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7. Registration is required by Oct. 5. Discussion for the adult book, "The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who Have Lived the Longest" by Dan Buettner, will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5. Registration deadline is Oct. 3.
The Portage YMCA is located at 3100 Willowcreek Road. For more information, call (219) 762-9622
Outdoor soccer and flag football
Youth flag football and outdoor soccer registration has begun. The programs will run from Aug. 30 to Oct. 16. Cost for each program is $26 for primary plus members, $36 for primary members and $72 for nonmembers. Practices are one night each week at Real Life Community Church. Games are Saturday mornings. Soccer is for children ages 3 to 8 and football is for ages 5 to 7.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10, and 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 7 and 9 in the YMCA lobby. Money raised will benefit the YMCA Child Care and Development Center in order to buy new books and puzzles. Other items available will be calendars, posters, cookbooks and activity books. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted.
Girls on the Run
This eight-week program weaves training for a 5K run with empowerment lessons for girls ages 10 to 14. The program will run from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 20 through Nov. 4. Participants will run the 5K race Oct. 30. Cost is $35 for primary plus members, $50 for primary members and $75 for nonmembers.
