Category: Healthy Living

What do you hope for in 2025?

As we embrace hope this January, here are some practical ways you can nurture hope in your own life: 

1. Set Realistic Goals: Start small and build momentum by setting achievable goals that align with your values and aspirations. 

2. Get Involved: Join a YMCA program, volunteer in your community, or find other ways to connect with others who share your vision for a better future. 

3. Practice Gratitude: Take time each day to reflect on what you’re thankful for. Gratitude can strengthen your sense of hope and optimism. 

4. Encourage Others: Share words of encouragement and support with friends, family, and colleagues. Sometimes, a kind word is all it takes to inspire hope in someone else. 

As we journey through this new year, let’s make a commitment to carry hope with us—not just for ourselves, but for our community. At the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a brighter tomorrow. 

Stay Healthy in 2025: Health Screenings & Services at YMCA Locations in Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, and Pawleys Island

Taking charge of your health is the first step toward a happier, healthier future, and we’re making it easier for you to do just that. Join us at one of three convenient YMCA locations for a series of free health screenings and services that could make a real difference in your well-being. Whether you’re looking to learn more about your bone density, manage your blood pressure, or get advice from physical therapists, we’ve got you covered!

All in the community are welcome to attend!

What You Can Expect:

Our health event offers a wide variety of screenings and services, including:

• Bone Density Screening 
• Hands-On CPR
• Physical Therapy
• Stroke Awareness Information
• Blood Pressure Screenings
• Weight Loss Surgery Program Info 
• Laboratory Services 

On-Site Lab Tests:

For those interested in lab tests, we’re offering several key screenings at affordable rates. Please bring cash or check to pay for these services:

• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel – $20 (requires fasting)
• Lipid Panel – $10 (requires fasting)
• PSA Index – $15
• HGB/A1C – $21
• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) – $15
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) – $20

These lab tests are a great way to gain deeper insight into your health, from cholesterol and blood sugar levels to thyroid function and more.

When & Where:

We’re offering these health services on the following dates and locations:

• January 23, 2025: 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA
  5000 Claire Chapin Epps Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC
• January 29, 2025: 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA
  529 Browns Ferry Rd., Georgetown, SC
• February 6, 2025: 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA
  12965 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC

This is the perfect opportunity to check on your health, ask questions, and get the professional advice you need to stay at your best. Whether you’re looking for specific screenings or just want to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we’ve got experts available to guide you.

Make Your Health a Priority

Taking care of your body is the best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones. Start your new year with the knowledge and tools you need to stay healthy and live your best life. We look forward to seeing you at one of these convenient YMCA locations!

Don’t forget to bring cash or check for lab tests, and come ready to take charge of your health!

You did it! This year, you’ve followed along with our Healthy Habits challenge to be 1% better, every day.  

Think back to January of 2024 and the lifestyle you lead. While still focusing on your healthy habits, use this month to reflect on how the 2024 Healthy Habits challenge changed your lifestyle. Answer the following questions:

1. At the beginning of 2024, what was your daily routine? What is it now? 

2. How has your mood and motivation changed over the course of 2024? 

3. What was your goal when starting this challenge? Have you reached that goal? 

4. Which habits were the easiest to build, and which were harder? 

5. Rate yourself! On a scale of 1-10 (10 being perfect), how consistent were you? 

6. What would you like to see out of yourself next year? 

Next, it’s time to set new goals. Using your reflection from 2024, set yourself 5 new achievable goals for 2025!  

For more information on Self Reward, check this out! 

https://ymca360.org/categories/8582/videos/8589

The holidays are right around the corner! This time of year brings joy, cheer and … sweets. Keeping yourself in a consistent routine of healthy habits can be hard when you are surrounded by holiday parties and holiday foods. That’s why this month, focus on building holiday habits.  

Holiday habits are healthy ways to enjoy the season, while still improving 1% better every day! First, enjoy the sweets! Avoiding sweets altogether will most likely backlash into giving up and binge snacking. However, if you can allow yourself to eat a few sweets without overindulging, you can stay on the right track! 

Next, stay moving! With shorter and colder days, it can be hard to stay motivated. You only have two months left! Make the most out of 2024 and keep pushing. Whether you go to the gym, workout from home, or take a brisk walk outside, you are keeping up with your healthy habits! 

Lastly, keep using all the healthy habits you have learned this year. Building up these habits each month should give you a great routine to fall back on, even amongst the holiday chaos. Don’t throw away all your hard work! Keep logging your habits every day to stay on track. 

For more information on relapse prevention, check out this link to YMCA 360! 

https://ymca360.org/categories/8582/videos/8586

Lanette Barnes, Parkinson’s advocate and Power thru Parkinson’s participant, held a fundraiser for Parkinson’s this past weekend. On October 7th, Lanette presented the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA a donation to support the class.

Tricia Harrison, Center Executive for the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA shares, “Lanette is an inspiration to us all. She changes lives every day with her positive spirit. We are so grateful she is a part of our Y Family, and for this incredible gift to support our Power thru Parkinson’s work.”

Learn more about the YMCA of Coastal Carolina Power thru Parkinson’s classes

Health Fair

• What: Tidelands Health is offering a quick and easy way to get several health screenings right at the Y! Screenings will include A1C, lipid profile, PSA and CBC lab work, blood pressure checks and more. 
• Please note: the lipid profile testing will requireovernight fasting and some of the screenings include a fee.
• When: September 12 from 7 – 11 a.m.
• Where: Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA
• More info: [email protected]

Labor Day Hours

• YMCA Center Location Hours: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• When: September 2, 2024
• Where: Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA, Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA, Tidelands Health Georgetown YMCA

SAFE SITTER® Class

• What: SAFE SITTER® is designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting.  This class is led by a SAFE SITTER® instructor. 
• Students will learn: 
  • Safety Skills 
  • Childcare Skills 
  • First aid and rescue skills 
  • Business skills 
• When: September 28, 2024
• Where: Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA
• Register: Safesitters® – YMCA of Coastal Carolina (coastalcarolinaymca.org) 

NON-PROFIT OF THE MONTH AT TIDAL CREEK

• What: Donations and round-ups when you visit Tidal Creek will support YMCA of Coastal Carolina programs.
• Where: Tidal Creek Brewhouse at The Market Common
• When: Every day in September

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Back to School Fundraiser

Bridging the Afterschool Gap

As summer comes to an end and families begin to plan for the upcoming school year, one significant decision weighs heavily on parents’ minds:

The hours after the last school bell and before parents come home from work are a risky time for children and teens to be unsupervised. That’s why the YMCA provides afterschool programming to more than 300 kids in our community each day.

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina Hope and Possibilities Fund makes it possible for parents to say “yes!” to out of school support like Afterschool and summer camps.

Donate to help a family in need send their kids to Afterschool.

Through the support of generous and caring neighbors like you, the Y is able to provide high-quality and affordable after school care to local families – even those on already stretched budgets.

When you give to the Y, you give children the opportunity to thrive, teens a place to belong, and parents the support they need.

Please consider a special back-to-school gift to the Y today. We are all in this together. Thank you for caring for our community’s kids!