Cherokee Nation offers subsidized gym memberships to promote health

The Cherokee Nation wants to get more of its citizens in shape.

This YMCA is one of the places that Cherokees can join for half price, giving them access to work out— even if they’re not close to a Cherokee Nation rec center.

The Pryor Creek Recreation Center serves everyone, offering a complete range of workout options, including a pool. They have room for more swimmers and more walkers, and the Cherokee Nation is encouraging its people to join.

“We just want to encourage people to access physical activity; it’s part of this holistic approach to health care,” said Cherokee Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

He signed paperwork obligating $750,000 toward gym memberships for Cherokees not within easy reach of a tribal facility.

The nation is adding workout areas in every new community center, with plans to build more.

The Pryor Creek Rec Center is one of 18 nonprofit workout spots the nation has designated for citizens to use right now.

“And this new program will put $25,000 into each of those facilities to subsidize Cherokee Nation citizens who want to go to the gym,” said Hoskin Jr.

Pryor Creek has 1,800 members, with 650 of them being Cherokees who don’t have to pay the usual $48 monthly fee.

“Half of that is split between the nation and the individual, so it’s a heck of a benefit they’re providing for their people,” said rec center director Mike Moore.

The nation figures the subsidized memberships are as good an investment as a medical clinic, with the prospect that healthier people will need less medical care.

“This helps the rec center,” Cherokee Nation Councilor Danny Callison said. “The more people who are in it, the more it helps the Cherokee Nation be a healthier people.”

The program is active now, and all Cherokee Nation members have to do is show up and sign up to start working out.

Complete list of subsidized workout facilities:

YMCAs 

1. Richard Kane YMCA - Bartlesville, OK 
2. YMCA of Greater Tulsa (locations on the reservation are listed below) 
3. YMCA Owasso 
4. Tandy Family YMCA 
5. YMCA Tulsa - 1120 E Pine St., Tulsa, OK 
6. Grand Lake Family YMCA - Grove, OK 

YMCA in Contiguous Counties  

1. Daily Family YMCA of Bixby 
2. Herman and Kate Kaiser YMCA 
3. R.C. Dickenson Family YMCA 

Recreation Centers 

1. Pryor Recreation Center - Pryor, OK 
2. Claremore Recreation Center - Claremore, OK 

Recreation Centers in Contiguous Counties  

1. Booker T Washington Rec Center - Sapulpa, OK 
2. South County Recreation Center - Bixby, OK 
3. South Haven Recreation Center - Tulsa, OK 
4. Muskogee Parks and Recreation - Muskogee, OK 
5. Muskogee Teen Center 
6. Muskogee Swim and Fitness 

YWCAs - 2 community health/wellness facilities in Tulsa:

1. Patti Johnson Wilson YWCA - in reservation  
2. 1910 E Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74464 
3. East YWCA - outside reservation  
4. 8145 E 17th St, Tulsa, OK 74112 

Other Nonprofit Health and Wellness Centers: 

1. MYKC Live Bliss Yoga (non-profit yoga studios in reservation) 
2. 414 E 3rd St d, Grove, OK 74344, USA 
3. 27600 OK-125, Monkey Island, OK 74331