Drums Alive is a popular new fitness program that started this year at East Lycoming YMCA in Muncy Township. It fosters a healthy balance all over the body both physically and emotionally. Led by athletic trainer and director, Buffy Basil, Piloxing is a cross between Pilates and Kickboxing giving participants speed and agility while sculpting the body.

MUNCY – Get in gear, get in shape! It’s fun with the new classes that are now being offered at East Lycoming’s YMCA. Several residents got to experience the new classes being offered starting this year when they attended the open house on Sunday afternoon.

There were 7 classes being offered for guests to try. Three of them are brand new according to Mark Casson, Branch Executive Director for the River Valley Regional YMCA. Board members greeted everyone and staff were on hand to give tours which included the pool and Susquehanna Health’s Physical Therapy Center.

Door prizes and refreshments were available throughout the afternoon and guest speaker, Terri Fry gave two presentations on nutrition basics in the community room. “We are pleased to introduce these new classes for 2012,” said Casson who also noted that there was a trial period for them in December, and they were well attended.

Drums Alive, is taught by Diana Logan who also instructs the Silver Sneakers program. This class is offered each week and combines the benefits of a traditional physical fitness program with music and rhythm. “It is good for the left side of the brain,” acknowledged Logan. Drums Alive is described as a program that fosters a healthy balance physically, emotionally and mentally. It starts with a warm-up, then the workout progresses using upbeat, all-moving percussion music.

Another popular class is Piloxing and is the latest fitness craze in Hollywood since the Zumba. It uniquely blends power with speed and uses the agility of boxing with the flexibility and body sculpting of Pilates. “It is a fat torching, muscle sculpting, core-centric interval workout, guaranteed to whip you in shape,” described trainer and instructor, Buffy Basil.

Not including the pool and the aerobics classes, the East Lycoming YMCA offers 21 classes to choose from to get back in shape for the new year. There is something for everybody, no matter what age or what level of shape you are in said many of the board members to the new participants who came to the open house.

Beth Myers was pleased to see that her new class, Pickleball, was also well attended. She has started a Wednesday night League and is now taking sign-ups at the front desk. According to Myers, Pickleball is a cross section among the sports tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. “Any level can participate,” she said. “It can be played indoors or outdoors.” The sport is currently popular in the Southern states but it is soon becoming more popular up here. Muncy High School is currently using it as part of their phys ed program, played in the gym.

One does not have to be a member to participate in any of the classes at East Lycoming YMCA. For a small fee, anyone can come and just do the classes. Every month a new group exercise schedule for the classes is posted in the lobby, and a class is offered each day of the week. So why not start the new year with a new exercise, and make it fun too!