YMCA Secunderabad (Sports Coaching)

Remember when you were a child and you showed a flair for painting, and the next thing you knew, your mom was taking you to a place called YMCA? The name stuck and you probably always knew that this is where you got a start, whichever part of the country you were in.

The Young Men's Christian Association, or the YMCA, was started in London in 1844 by Sir George Williams, and more than half a century later, the Secunderabad branch of the organization was born. The present quaint building of the YMCA came into existence in 1938.

Currently, YMCA offers a range of courses and classes, a bulk of which are sports-related. There's basketball, table tennis, karate, taekwondo, gymnastics, gym training, and skating for sports maniacs. The timings are all mostly early mornings, between 6:30am and 8:30am. Sports activities are also pursued in the evenings, between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.

The cultural activities include coaching in the guitar, the keyboards, and in break dance. While guitar classes are held between 6:30am and 8:00am every Monday and Wednesday, the keyboard classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday at the same time. Classes in break dance are held between 6:30pm and 8:30pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The weight-conscious can attend the non-impact ballet aerobics technic between 6:30am and 7:30am daily.

Karate classes are a huge draw here. Coaching in Karate (Japanese Karate-Do) is held between 6:30am and 8:30am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Coaching in Karate (Okhinowa-Goshin-yu) is held on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the same time. Karate Taekwondo classes are held between 7:00pm and 8:30pm every day.

YMCA also has other programs such as the Young Orators Club, the members of which meet every Saturday evening between 6:30pm and 8:00pm. There's, of course, K-Circle, too, that meets every Friday evening at the same time.

Special activities of the organization include gospel meetings, gospel singing competitions, Christian workshops, seminars, and pot luck dinners.

Three different classes of membership is available at YMCA: an annual student membership of Rs. 100 for students, Rs. 200 per annum for Business/Professional membership, and a lifetime membership for Rs. 2500.

Besides all the activities, the best part about YMCA is that it is a meeting ground for people. It is a place where any newcomer in the city can hope to find other people with similar interests, and feel less out of place.

Also read: YMCA Narayanguda