Welcome to the Chippewa Falls YMCA! This past year has been a time of reflection for me in many aspects of my life, particularly in my transition from Healthy Living Director to Executive Director of this branch. Although I first connected with the Chippewa Y during high school, it truly became my "home" when I started my first job out of college at the Southdale YMCA in Bloomington, MN. At that time, I was feeling lost after graduating and not enjoying my job. My cousin, who began working at the Downtown Minneapolis Y and attending fitness classes, invited me to join her. Before I knew it, I was organizing my entire week around the classes I could fit into my schedule. I never anticipated the profound impact that group fitness would have on my physical and emotional health. There's something special about disconnecting for an hour, conversing with like-minded individuals, and following an instructor's guidance, which was unlike anything I had encountered before. That year, I completed all the necessary training to teach kickboxing classes, and the rest is history.

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We returned to Chippewa in 2010, and I thought I was done teaching, but someone discovered my past as an instructor, and Jan Ziegler-Hunt encouraged me to join the Chippewa team. I agreed to substitute only, thinking I didn't want the commitment of my own classes. Well, look where that led me! Fifteen years later, I never imagined I would be the Exectuive Director of this branch.

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What’s the takeaway from my journey? Group fitness is incredible, and the Y is a truly magical place. Until you experience it firsthand, you may not realize how transformative combining exercise with enjoyment can be—it's one of the most impactful things someone can do to change the course of their life. This isn’t limited to group fitness; over the years, I’ve heard countless stories—from individuals achieving their goal of walking 500 miles on our track, to forming genuine friendships through pickleball, or finding support during tough times through the Livestrong program. The YMCA continually amazes me with the difference it makes in people's lives every single day. I feel incredibly thankful and blessed to be part of this community.

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Where does your Y story begin? Is it making new friends after signing your child up for the swim team? Is it joining our Pedaling for Parkinson's group following your diagnosis, feeling uncertain about where to turn next? Or perhaps it's conquering the challenge of swimming the entire Chippewa River in our pool. No matter your goals, I assure you that God has plans that far exceed your wildest dreams—paths laid out for you that you could never have imagined. Thank you for being a member of the most magical place on earth (it’s the YMCA, not Disney, just so you know).

 

Happy March! May all your dreams come true!

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Kara Goossens

Executive Director