A new year always brings new year’s resolutions, and that means an increase in attendance at fitness facilities like the Bogalusa YMCA.

“There’s always an influx of new people when a new year starts,” YMCA program director Toni St. Philip said. “We try to offer a variety of programs to keep them coming back throughout the year.”

St. Philip said the YMCA has a special promotion to encourage people to join the facility in 2016. New members will be able to pay their monthly membership fee for January, and receive February for free.

In addition to a 24-hour fitness facility, the YMCA also offers a variety of classes and programs for all skill levels. Some of those activities include strength and conditioning, yoga, cardio and pilates, as well as much more. Many classes have different skill levels, including mild, medium and high intensity.

“As you progress, you can move up to the next skill level,” St. Philip said. “It’s designed to fit an individual’s needs and goals.”

St. Philip noted that YMCA members get the fitness classes included in the cost of their memberships.

In early 2016, the YMCA plans to offer a “boot camp”-style exercise class on Saturdays. Brooke Kennedy will lead a lower-impact cardio session early in the day, and then Andrew Moses will lead a more intense strength and conditioning session.

St. Philip said the YMCA is planning a “trial run” of the boot camp program next weekend, and plans to make it available to the public shortly after that.

“We have had several members who have asked if we can offer classes on Saturdays as well,” she said. “This is one way that we can do that. It’s a popular program, and we’re hoping that we can get a lot of youth involved as well.”

Stuart Parker, chief volunteer officer of the YMCA, said he’s not surprised that the facility usually sees a heavy increase in attendance in January.

“We all splurge a bit during the holidays,” he said, with a chuckle.

Of course, the YMCA’s goal is to keep those new year’s resolution makers coming back all year long.

“Most people do well that first month, and even into the second month,” St. Philip said. “But around March, it becomes easy to make excuses — I’m too tired, or I don’t have time … and once you break the habit, it can be tough to get back into the routine.”

The Bogalusa YMCA is located at 411 Ave. B. For more information, call (985) 732-3741.