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By ZACHARY SEIFTER/ Staff Writer

 

For those looking for a new and fun way to get in shape, the YMCA of Chilton County now has a bungee class available.

The class, taught by instructors Brittney Pickern, Alexis Byrd and Kacy Gray, was brought to the YMCA in February 2021.

The way the class works is each student wears a harness attached to a bungee, then they do different strength and cardio workout moves. The bungee resists one’s movement to build strength. The bungee is also used to assist students while they are doing moves like pushups or squats, putting less pressure on one’s joints.

“It’s a high-cardio, low-impact workout,” Pickern said.

Pickern was exposed to the workout by the CEO at the YMCA, Lori Patterson. Patterson had seen advertisements of the bungee workouts and wanted to bring it to the YMCA, and Pickern was her first choice to instruct the class.

After agreeing, Pickern was sent to Minnesota to train for the course. The skills she picked up there ended up helping another instructor, Byrd, who was trained by Pickern to instruct the course.

Byrd got introduced to the bungee class as a student. She initially took part in it at the YMCA because a friend of hers was teaching the course. Soon after, her friend was no longer able to teach the course, and Byrd was asked to step in. She happily agreed.

“It’s really a great, fun class and a fun place to be,” Byrd said. “I’ve enjoyed it myself a lot, and I’m glad that I took the opportunity to teach the class.”

The class is available three days a week at the YMCA, Monday at 9 a.m., Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 9 a.m. Each session is 45 minutes long.

Both members of the YMCA of Chilton County and non-members are allowed to take the course. There is a difference in price, however.

“It costs $3 for members, $10 for non-members,” Pickern said.

For more information on the course, go to https://ymcaofchiltoncounty.com/fly-bungee/.