To help meet demand from members and keep up with industry trends, the Kokomo Family YMCA in Kokomo, Indiana, installed a new sauna recently in February.
Trish Severns, the CEO of the Kokomo Family YMCA, said the Y needed to enhance its wellness amenities in order to improve the recreational experience and combat overcrowding.
“Our members love it,” said Severns. “Our sauna is open to any of our members 18 and older. We have a wide range of people who use it from young athletes to those using our wellness and aquatics areas to active older adults participating in activities at the Y.”
Recovery Details and Benefits
Severns said the Y’s research shows saunas aid recovery by increasing blood circulation, reducing muscle soreness and promoting relaxation. The heat helps muscles relax, reduces inflammation and supports detoxification through sweating — all while improving cardiovascular health.
“Regular sauna use can even enhance sleep quality, so the benefits go beyond the bench,” said Severns. “We also have guidelines in place and encourage users to stay hydrated, limit session times and exit the sauna if they feel uncomfortable or dizzy. We’ve already received positive feedback from our members.”
While there’s a value-add component to making sure the YMCA brings new offerings to members, Severns said the ultimate goal is to have a place where people can get or stay healthy.
“Healthy individuals are where building a strong community starts,” said Severns. “And believe it or not, we’ve also had members tell us how their sauna time is a great way for them to sit and have conversation with friends, which is another way to look at community building.”
Expansion Possibilities and Tips
Moving forward, the Y wants to keep expanding on its recovery and wellness offerings. In fact, Severns said they are currently in the process of renovating a large storage area to become a recovery suite.
“We’re in talks with a community partner to bring their expertise into the area, ensuring we can provide the best possible resources for our members,” said Severns. “Community collaborations are so important and can truly enhance the member experience, thus creating a more comprehensive approach to health and wellness.”
The suite will aim to focus on healthy movement, which includes an overlap of mobility, flexibility, stability and balance. By incorporating balance training, the Y can better support members working on post-injury recovery, fall prevention and improving athletic performance.
As the plan stands now, the recovery suite will have space to host specialized classes like Pilates, which is known for its benefits in core strength, flexibility and postural alignment.
“This aligns with our broader vision of rehabilitation,” said Severns. “We’re creating a holistic wellness environment that will support a diverse range of needs, from post-surgery recovery and chronic pain management to athletic performance and overall well-being. This expansion is a significant step forward in making our YMCA a leading resource for life-long health and movement.
For other rec center leaders who might be considering jumping into the recovery space, Severns said the best thing you can do is create intentional channels of conversation with your members, from paying attention to social media comments/messages to sending out surveys to having real face-to-face talks with them.
“Once you know how you can serve your members better, then you can do the research to assess the feasibility of bringing a recovery option to your facility,” said Severns. “If you have a good team around you like we have, it actually becomes a fun way to find creative solutions. Seeing your members take advantage of the new additions is what it’s all about.”
