Mission + Vision

MISSION

The Ridgewood YMCA offers programs and community connections that positively impact lives through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, building spirit, mind and body for all.

The Ridgewood YMCA is a nonprofit charitable organization that serves youth, adults, and families founded on Christian principles and committed to strengthening our Northern New Jersey and Camp Bernie communities since 1902, as part of a worldwide YMCA.

VISION

As a leader and partner in our ever-changing community, the Ridgewood YMCA seeks to be a preeminent community hub, offering multifaceted programs which enhance individual and family well-being. By 2024, we seek to double our impact and serve 50,000 children, teens and adults, welcoming all throughout our communities.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Our Commitment to Inclusion: The Y is made up of people of all ages and from every walk of life working side by side to strengthen communities. Together we work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation has the opportunity to reach goals, build relationships, and feel that they belong.
Our core values are caring, honesty, respect and responsibility—they guide everything we do.”

OUR CAUSE DEFINES US

We know that lasting personal and social change comes about when we all work together. That’s why, at the Ridgewood Y, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR COMMUNITY 

The Y is a nonprofit like no other. That’s because in 10,000 neighborhoods across the nation, we have the presence and partnerships to not just promise, but deliver, positive change.

  • The Y is community centered. For 120 years, we’ve been listening and responding to our communities.
  • The Y brings people together. We connect people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs.
  • The Y nurtures potential. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
  • The Y has local presence and global reach. We mobilize local communities to effect lasting, meaningful change.

OUR IMPACT IS FELT EVERY DAY 

Serving all incomes, ages and abilities

We served more than 22,000 people in diverse communities within the state of New Jersey. We bring together young and old, men and women, people of all faiths, backgrounds and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Scholarships, subsidies and outreach provide critical access to low-income families.

Serving vulnerable populations in our community

  • Children: Our YMCA serves 20,061, members – 62.5% of those members are children and youth. The YMCA provides a wide range of activities to foster healthy, productive children including teen clubs, sports leagues, family nights and community service projects. All youth activities incorporate the YMCA Core Values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
  • Low Income Families: We are one of the largest providers of affordable summer camps for youth and teens in our area. We offer high-quality overnight and day camp programs to working families regardless of ability to pay.
  • Seniors: One of the fastest growing segments of our membership are members over 60 years of age. We provide group exercise, swim instruction, senior fellowship club and senior fitness day specifically to meet the needs of that population.

With a mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, our impact is felt when an individual makes a healthy choice, when a mentor inspires a child and when a community comes together for the common good.

STRENGTH + CONDITIONING

METCON

Challenge yourself with circuits consisting of strength, conditioning, and plyometric exercises. This style of workout taps into all three metabolic systems to improve muscular power, strength, and endurance—plus, the clock is ticking, so you’re competing against yourself for time and reps! Class ends with mobility work for joint health.

HIIT SQUAD

High Intensity Interval Training pushed to the max. Monday classes involve functional and athletic training using the TRX, treadmill, bikes, kettlebells and more. Wednesday classes mirror a Crossfit type workout.

UPGRADE BOOTCAMP

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BODY CONDITIONING

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TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING

Strength work challenging your body with a variety of equipment. Classes may include hand weights, balls, steps, disks and bands.

UPPERCUTS + CORE

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WOMEN’S BARBELL CLUB

Develop strength and technique to approach the bar with confidence! Led by two experienced female lifters, this class will focus on basic power and Olympic lifts as well as accessory exercises to build strength and power.

Female identifying and gender expansive individuals welcome.

SMALL GROUP FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

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BODY SCULPT

In body sculpt classes, you’ll use equipment like hand weights, resistance bands, and your body weight to sculpt and tone your muscles. With sculpting and toning exercises, you’ll develop lean muscles rather than large or bulky ones.

PILATES

PILATES

Pilates is a method of exercise that consists of low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Pilates emphasizes proper postural alignment, core strength and muscle balance.  

PILATES MAT

Mat Pilates is a strengthening and lengthening form of exercise that focuses on your core (trunk) muscles while also training your arms and legs. Mat Pilates is based on the original exercises Joseph Pilates developed to strengthen his own body as a very young man and then began teaching others.

POP PILATES

Pop Pilates is an evolution of regular Pilates, challenging people to develop incredible core strength. It is a mat-based fusion of abdominal muscle exercises and moves which benefit your entire body, with it putting core muscles to work more than regular Pilates would.

YOGALATES

Yogalates combines the balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and yogic awareness of mind and body with Pilates techniques that improve posture, core strength, and stability.

BARRE

BARRE

Classical dance movements and positions drawn from yoga and Pilates. Using equipment, in addition to the barre, such as resistance bands, gliding disk and exercise balls.

BARRE SCULPT

This full body workout combines high-rep strength training and traditional barre exercises to challenge your mobility and core.

SOUL BODY BARRE

Experience the power of Soul Body’s signature method and flow that is smart, functional, more athletic yet mindful in its approach. This results-driven program brings that “boutique barre experience” to Group Fitness. Shape, tone and strengthen the body.

STRETCH

STRETCH

The perfect ending to a long day! Learn simple, safe and easy exercises to lengthen and limber the whole body. 

TAI CHI

TAI CHI

Experience an ancient Chinese martial art with health benefits for body, mind and spirit. A meditation in motion that relieves stress, encourages relaxation and improves balance.  

TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS

Tai Chi is a recommended exercise for people with arthritis because it is low-impact and can help you improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. It involved performing slow, controlled movements with an attention to your breath. It can help with chronic pain management as well as promote relaxation and mental well-being.

MARTIAL ARTS

MARTIAL ARTS FOR SELF DEFENSE

Are you interested in learning martial arts and self defense? If yes, then consider joining our program and attending our classes.

Our Mixed Martial Arts system incorporates techniques and methods from Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Grappling, and Karate. Our Mixed Martial Arts system strives to deliver an integrated and comprehensive ideology and framework with the goal of producing skillful, accomplished, and well-rounded students proficient in the art of self defense.

All new students must be at least 18 years old, sign a liability waiver, and purchase a white karate gi online (with a white belt) prior to beginning any class.

BOXING

CARDIO BOX

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HEAVY BAG

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UPGRADE BOXING

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DANCE

ZUMBA®

Zumba® is an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance workout.

LABLAST® FITNESS

LaBlast® Fitness is an energizing dance fitness class blending the true skill of ballroom dance with the calorie blasting properties of interval fitness.

CYCLE

CYCLE

A fast-paced workout on a stationary bike. You can climb, sprint and ride to incredible music in our cycling studio.

CYCLE EXPRESS

All the benefits of a cycle class condensed into a 30 minute session.

AQUA

AQUA EX

Shallow and deep water exercises that tone and improve range of motion, cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength.

AQUA ZUMBA®

Enjoy Zumba® on land? Try your favorite dance workout in the water for a great low impact workout!

DEEP WATER RUNNING

Deep Water Fitness is a low impact, joint-friendly workout routine that builds strength and cardiovascular health. Participants will have fun taking part in new and exciting resistance exercises and underwater running drills with help from a floatation device.

WALKING

Y WALK CLUB

Our Walking Group will help keep you moving and working towards better health and fitness. The group will meet outside at the Y for warmups then continue to Veterans Memorial Field where we will walk for 20-30 minutes. Class will wrap up back at the Y with stretches, mobility work, and some simple exercises. This class is outdoors and is weather dependent, however will still occur in the event of safe, yet inclement weather.

YOGA + MEDITATION

YOGA

Learn the “ins and outs” of Yoga postures. The practice of yoga improves our well-being, not just physically, but on all levels: physiologically, mentally, emotional and spiritually. Yoga is to be experienced. All are welcome to join.   

HATHA YOGA

Experience the transformative power of moving mediation by practicing various yoga postures with a focus on creating awareness gaining strength and increasing flexibility. 

HATHA FOR HEALTHY BONES

Hatha for Healthy Bones focuses on balancing poses, building strength in your legs and using body weight to build bone density.

IYENGAR YOGA

Iyengar yoga begins with standing, sitting and lying down postures and later inversions and more vigorous backbends and breathing techniques. The Iyengar method emphasizes proper alignment and builds strength, flexibility and inner peace. 

DYNAMIC YOGA

Dynamic yoga focuses on flowing movements and breathwork. It is a more vigorous style of yoga than traditional hatha yoga, and it can be a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.

GENTLE YOGA

This form of Hatha Yoga practice involves breath, body, and mind, with poses not as strenuous as in a traditional yoga class.

YOGALATES

Yogalates combines the balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and yogic awareness of mind and body with Pilates techniques that improve posture, core strength, and stability.

MEDITATION + RESTORATIVE YOGA

This is our gentlest yoga class. Designed for those who wish to find healing, recovery physically and emotionally, and to learn to release chronic tension and stress. 

Thank you for your interest! Let’s get a little more information.

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